The Family › Temple–Catchings › Crouch
William T. Crouch
1830–1902
Life
- Born
- 25 Sep 1830 · Beallsville, Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Died
- 31 Jan 1902 · Decatur, Wise County, Texas, United States of America
- Buried
- Decatur, Wise County, Texas, United States of America
Parents
Marriage & children
Timeline
- 4 Nov 1852MarriedJosephine Allen
Life as they lived it
Not the dates — the person. What the records happen to show of work, habits, possessions and the odd episode. Each line says where it comes from.
1870 In 1870 the Southern Standard called "our energetic and popular friend, Capt. W. T. Crouch" the agent for the Wheeler & Wilson sewing machine and for "Kelsey's Movable Comb Bee-hive." In 1874 he did hauling about town with "good teams and careful drivers," and in 1878 he was cutting coats, pants and vests at W. L. Patterson's book store: "He is a practical tailor and guarantees a perfect fit."
work · The Southern Standard (Arkadelphia), 29 Oct 1870, 3 Jan 1874, 20 Apr 1878 · clipping 1 · 2 · 3
1874 In 1874 he was Worshipful Master of Arkadelphia Lodge No. 19, A. F. & A. M., and chaplain of the Odd Fellows' Bradshaw Lodge No. 60. That November he opened the anniversary meeting of the Methodist Sunday School as its superintendent.
habit · The Southern Standard (Arkadelphia), 25 Jul and 28 Nov 1874 · clipping 1 · 2
1876 In March 1876 the Standard announced that he would assist Thos. B. Parks with a "Grand Sciopticon Exhibition" at Grayson's Hall: about a hundred and fifty projected views of the Centennial buildings at Philadelphia and other places, ending with "comic pictures which will 'put the house on a roar.'" Eleven years later he advertised "a first class magic outfit, which he will sell for one-fourth its value."
unusual · The Southern Standard (Arkadelphia), 11 Mar 1876 and 28 May 1887 · clipping 1 · 2
1877 In October 1877, as mayor, he went to quiet a drunken man who was disturbing a sick woman near her house, and the man, Hector Tate, threw a brick that hit him on the right temple. A jury gave Tate twelve years in the penitentiary. The wound brought on convulsions, and in July 1889 doctors took out "a portion of the parietal and sphenoid bones" in a two-hour operation.
episode · The Southern Standard (Arkadelphia), 20 Apr 1878 and 19 Jul 1889 · clipping 1 · 2
1880 He was mayor of Arkadelphia more than once. In 1880 the town elected "Capt. W. T. Crouch, mayor, (by a majority of one vote;)" and when he died in 1902 the Standard wrote that he had "filled the position of Mayor for several terms" and that the town "never had a more highly honorable, enterprising and useful citizen."
work · The Southern Standard (Arkadelphia), 30 Apr 1903 and 6 Feb 1902 · clipping 1 · 2
Records behind this page
read the transcript
p. 1310, right column: "ISAAC T. CROUCH. ... The gentleman of whom we write is a son of Benedict, and grandson of Elijah Crouch. The latter, who was of English descent, reared a family of four children, viz.: Elisha, Benedict, Stephen, and Mary, all of whom lived over fourscore years, and are now deceased. Benedict Crouch was born in June, 1800, near Jefferson, Greene Co., Penn., there passing his early youth. He learned the saddler's trade, which he followed a short time, and was then married to Rebecca, daughter of James Wallace. ... They were tenants on a farm for several years after their marriage, when he bought 288 acres near Bentleyville, Washington Co., Penn. Here he carried on an extensive farming business, and reared a large family of children, as follows: James, Sarah, John, William, Adah, Mary Ann, Thomas, Nathan, Hiram, Isaac T., Elizabeth, Bennett and" [continues p. 1313] "Nesbit". p. 1313, left column: "... William, then residing in Arkansas, felt that duty called him to defend his home and family rather than the nation; he therefore entered the Confederate army, and served throughout the conflict as captain of an Arkansas regiment. Benedict Crouch, for his second spouse, married Charity Wallace, a sister of his first wife, and the children by this union were S. Bentley, Hudson C. and Allison B. ... Isaac T. Crouch, son of Benedict and Rebecca Crouch, was born August 22, 1842, near Beallsville, Washington Co., Penn." READ ON THE PAGE IMAGES by Claude, 5 Aug 2026 - both folios and running heads verified. Images: ancestry/sources/commemorative-bio-washington-co-pa-1893-p1310-isaac-t-crouch-sketch-part1.jpg and ...-p1313-...-part2.jpg. Register row L16.
read the transcript
"CROUCH. - Mrs. Josephine Crouch (nee Allen) was born in Baltimore, Md., October 21, 1834; was married in Washington, Penn., to W. T. Crouch November 4, 1852, and resided for a time in that State; removed to Arkansas in 1855, and to Decatur, Texas in 1895, residing in the home of her son-in-law, E. H. Baumgaertner, in Decatur, till her pure, sweet spirit was called to its 'long sought rest' April 16, 1909. She was converted and joined the M. E. Church, South, in 1848." TWO PRINTINGS, AND THEY DIFFER: the first (13 May 1909, p. 14) reads 'to W. F. Crouch'; the second (20 May 1909, p. 14) reads 'to W. T. Crouch'. Both page images were read at zoom by Claude, 4 Aug 2026, and the letterforms are unambiguous. The reprint is therefore a correction, and its subject is the initial that identifies the husband. Cite the 20 May printing for the initial and record the 13 May variant. This obituary DOES NOT NAME HER PARENTS.
Research notes
Working notes from the research, kept verbatim — what was read, what it proved, what stays open. Many open with a line grading the parentage; what the grades mean.
Research note · 15 Aug 2026
Elsewhere
This person on Ancestry (sign-in required)