William Houston (or Husten [6] )Crouch 5 (John S.4, Hardine/Harding 3, John 2, Richard1) [1] was born September 17, 1851; died October 18, 1903 with burrial in the Southside Cemetery, Montgomery County, TN [2]; married Margaret Henry Hunter, 8th September1881, Montgomery Co. Tn.. She was born May 28, 1857 Whites Creek, Davidson, Tennessee and died February 21, 1920 Montgomery Co., TN. with burrial in the Southside Cemetery, Montgomery County, TN [2] He graduated from the University of Nashville in 1885, moved to Collinsville and began his practice. He later moved to Beef Ranch in North Dickson County, TN and practiced medicine there until he died of a heart attack in 1903. [5]
Children of William H. and Margaret Hunter:
1. John Hunter Crouch 6 born June 20, 1882.2. Marshal Combs Crouch 6 born October 30, 1886; Tennessee; died 1955.
3. Mary Eleanor Crouch 6 born July 20, 1889, Tennessee and died April 3, 1985.
4. Rufus Edward Crouch 6 born March 14, 1895, Tennessee; married but killed in a hunting accident in the west. [7]
[1] From: History of Tennessee Illustrated
13 WILLIAM H. CROUCHWilliam Crouch was born September 17, 1854 (*1) in Montgomery County, the son of John S. and Mary B. Combs Crouch. John was born in 1810 in Tennessee and died in 1873. Mary was born about 1828 in Kentucky and died in 1871.
William married Margaret H. Hunter, born May 20, 1857 in Tennessee, the daughter of Henry and Margaret Hunter. Henry was born in Tennessee in 1823 and Margaret was born in Tennessee in 1829.
William and Margaret had one child, John H., born June 20, 1882. (*2)
William was raised on a farm and began studying medicine in 1878. In 1883 he attended the University of Tennessee in Nashville and graduated in 1885.(*3) He opened his practice in Collinsville in 1885 and has been extremely successful, extending his practice to Cheatham and Dickson Counties.
(*1) While this 'History of Tennessee Illustrated' biographical sketch indicates that William H. Crouch was born in the year 1854 the [2] Southside Cemetery headstone transcription below; and the 1860, 1870 & 1880 Federal Census Records for Montgomery County as listed on the web page for his father John S. Crouch all indicate him to have been born circa 1851 to 1852. The birth month and birth day date agree between the headstone and the 'History of Tennessee Illustrated biographical sketch. Therefore it is assumed that the 1854 birth year listed in this sketch for William H. Crouch is a typographical error, or a recording error on the part of the biographer.
(*2) Goodspeed's book was published in 1886-87 so only one child being listed in the biographical sketch makes sense allowing time for the recording of the sketch and the printing.
(*3) A great-grandson of this William H. Crouch has indicated that his family oral history says that this William H. Crouch attended Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in lieu of the University of Tennessee in Nashville as indicated by the History of Tennessee Illustrated sketch. In searching for Nashville, TN medical schools on the internet I've found that Vanderbilt University's School of Medicine was originally part of the University of Nashville and was incorporated into Vanderbilt in 1874. There is also the "Nashville Medical College" originally founded in Nashville beginning in 1876 and acquired by "The University of Tennessee" in 1879 as the 'University of Tennessee College of Medicine'. In 1909 the University of Nashville and the University of Tennessee's medical programs were merged and in 1911 it moved to Memphis, TN. Rereading the last two sentences leads me to conclude that Vanderbilt's College of Medicine and the University of Tennessee's Medical College at this time were one and the same, which is validated by a statement on 'The Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture' website on 'Vanderbilt University Medical Center' stating: "In 1875, in the first graduating class of seventy one students, ten elected to receive diplomas from the University of Nashville, thirteen recieved Vanderbilt diplomas, and the remainder requested diplomas from both. Gradually, however, the majority of students matriculated in the name of Vanderbilt University." This would account for the oral history saying Vanderbilt University and the 'History of Tennessee Illustrated' as both in a sense being correct.
[2] SOUTHSIDE CEMETERY
From Gary Matthews go 9 miles to Southside Road, turn left and go 5 miles to Chapel Hill Road, turn right and go .5 mile to Southside Cemetery Road. Cemetery is on the right.CROUCH W.H., M.D. Sept. 17, 1851 - Oct. 18, 1903 Mason
CROUCH Margaret H. wife of Dr. W.H. Crouch
May 28, 1857 - May 21, 1920
Tho' lost to sight, to memory dear (footstone: M.H.C.)
[3] Odds & Ends
July 2,1889Mrs. W.H. Crouch was in yesterday meeting her many friends. It is indeed at all times a pleasure to have such visitors.
January 25,1897---SICK
Dr.W.H. Crouch is improving slowly.
[4] Census: 1900 Civil District 8, Dickson, Tennessee
[5] Above information was provided by James Patey of Charleston, S.C. provided a transcription of a biographical sketch for William Houston Crouch written by a g-g-grandson Lindon T. Cooksey from Vanleer, TN based upon his conversations with Mary Elinor Crouch who married George Tubb Cooksey. Lindon T. Cooksey's article was published in the "Dickson County Heritage Book' in Dickson County, TN.
[6] Based upon this marriage record for William H. Crouch's father his middle name most likely came from his mother's maiden name.
Aug 1, 1848 Jefferson Co., KY Marriage Records. Mary B. COMBES, dau. of Husten COMBES, to John S. CROUCH, Huston COMBES bondman (Extracted by Combs Researcher Carolyn Wimp from "Jefferson Co., Va-Ky Early Marriages, Book 2, June 1826-June 1837, by Filson Club, Cook & McDowell Publications, 1980 p. 193)
[7] Crouch Rufus Edwin 1895 born Cumberland Furnace, TN age16; on list of Dickson County, TN. list of World War I Veterans.
If you are a descendant of Richard Crouch of Goochland County, Virginia, have information different, or in addition to what's shown above (birth information, baptistry info, marriage bonds/certificates, wills, obituaries, deeds, court records, etc..) please forward to Joe Crouch and I will add it to this site.