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We Served, We Settled
Patriots and Pioneers - The legacies of the Shane and Beck families
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 1839 - 1926 (86 years)
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| Name |
Crouch, Ansel [1, 2] |
| Birth |
31 Aug 1839 |
West Springfield, Erie, Pennsylvania, USA  [1] |
| Gender |
Male |
| Death |
19 Jul 1926 |
Nortonville, Jefferson, Kansas, USA [1] |
| Burial |
Hallock, Peoria, Illinois, USA [1] |
| Person ID |
I5132 |
Shane and Beck |
| Last Modified |
14 Jun 2023 |
| Family |
Smith, Letitia, b. 1 Mar 1859, Indiana, USA d. 5 Nov 1932, Nortonville, Jefferson, Kansas, USA (Age 73 years) |
| Children |
| | 1. Crouch, Royal, b. 23 Sep 1884, Akron, Peoria, Illinois, USA d. 5 Sep 1959, Winchester, Jefferson, Kansas, USA (Age 74 years) [Father: natural] |
| | 2. Crouch Saunders, Minnie Myrtle, b. 1886 d. 1962 (Age 76 years) [Father: natural] |
| + | 3. Crouch Langworthy, Edna Grace, b. 29 Aug 1891, Peoria County, Illinois, USA d. 29 Sep 1958, Winchester, Jefferson, Kansas, USA (Age 67 years) [Father: natural] |
| | 4. Crouch Stephan, Sarah Alice, b. 8 Sep 1894, Peoria County, Illinois, USA d. 2 Mar 1974, Winchester, Jefferson, Kansas, USA (Age 79 years) [Father: natural] |
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| Family ID |
F1922 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
| Last Modified |
14 Jun 2023 |
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| Notes |
- UNMARKED GRAVE!! A Civil War style government issue upright marble stone like the ones issued to Civil War veterans needs to be ordered for this veteran, who stood guard over President Abraham Lincoln's body while it lay in state in the Washington, D.C.)
Private ANSEL CROUCH, Co. B & Co. C, 86th Illinois & Co. H, 12th Regt. V.R.C.
Ansel Crouch was born on August 31, 1839 in West Springfield, Erie County, Pennsylvania, the youngest of six children known to have been born to Dr. Phineas Crouch and Julia Ann (Overocker) Crouch. About 1845, when Ansel was about 6 years of age, his parents moved the family west to Illinois where they may have settled for a short time in what is now Radnor Township in Peoria County. By 1860, however, the family is found residing in Medina Township in Peoria County. Ansel grew to manhood working on the family farm there in Peoria County.
On August 13, 1862, Ansel Crouch volunteered in Peoria County to serve in a company which was being raised primarily in the Henry, Illinois area of Marshall County, by a man by the name of Elias C. Brearly. At the time he volunteered listed his place of residence as Medina Township.
ILLINOIS CIVIL WAR DETAIL REPORT
Name CROUCH, ANSEL
Rank PVT Company B Unit 86 Illinois, USA US INF
Personal Characteristics
Residence MEDINA, PEORIA CO, Illinois, USA Age 22 Height 5' 9 1/2 Hair DARK
Eyes GRAY Complexion LIGHT Marital Status SINGLE Occupation FARMER
Nativity Pennsylvania, USA
Service Record
Joined When AUG 13, 1862 Joined Where PEORIA CO, Illinois, USA
Joined By Whom CPT BREASLEY Period 3 YRS
Muster In AUG 27, 1862 Muster In Where PEORIA, Illinois, USA
Muster In By Whom N/A Muster Out N/A
Muster Out Where N/A Muster Out By Whom N/A
Remarks TRANS TO CO C 86 ILL INF SEP 10, 1862
When Brearly had about 100 volunteers, he led the Marshall County company into Peoria where they went into camp at Camp Lyon, near present day Glen Oak Park. On August 27, 1862, Brearly and 88 of his volunteers, including now Private Ansel Crouch, were mustered into service as Co. B of the 86th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Brearly was elected Captain of Co. B.
On September 7, 1862, the men of the 86th Illinois marched out the gates of Camp Lyon, through the streets of Peoria, with much fanfare, down to the railroad depot. There they were joined bu the men of the 85th Illinois, who had been mustered into service at Camp Peoria. Together, at the depot the men of the 85th & 86th Illinois boarded trains bound for Camp Joe Holt in Jeffersonville, Indiana, USA, located across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky. The trains carrying the men of the 85th and 86th arrived at Jeffersonville, Indiana, USA on the morning of September 9th and the men of the regiments began to drill almost immediately. On September 10th, Private Ansel Crouch, along with a couple more men who actually resided closer to Chillicothe, Illinois in Peoria County, who had joined and been mustered into service with Co. B of the 86th but actually lived close to where the men of Co. C of the 86th came from. It is not known where this was done at their request or whether the officers of the 86th decided that they should be with the men from their own area.
ILLINOIS CIVIL WAR DETAIL REPORT
Name CROUCH, ANSEL
Rank PVT Company C Unit 86 Illinois, USA US INF
Personal Characteristics
Residence Age N/A Height N/A Hair N/A
Eyes N/A Complexion N/A Marital Status N/A Occupation N/A
Nativity N/A
Service Record
Joined When N/A Joined Where N/A
Joined By Whom N/A Period N/A
Muster In N/A Muster In Where N/A
Muster In By Whom N/A Muster Out N/A
Muster Out Where N/A Muster Out By Whom N/A
Remarks TRANS TO VRC NOV 28, 1863 TRANS FROM CO B 86 ILL INF
For the next 14 months, Private Ansel Crouch would serve faithfully in Co. C as the 86th served in Kentucky and Tennessee. Early in October of 1862, the men of the 85th and 86th found themselves in the field in Kentucky as part of Col. Daniel McCook's Brigade in the Union Army commanded by General Buehl, who were in pursuit of Confederate troops. On Oct. 7th & 8th, 1862, the men of McCook's Brigade were engaged with those troops in the Battle of Perryville, Kentucky, the 86th Illinois suffering their first casualties. There would be many more to come. After the Battle of Perryville, the Confederate troops withdrew from Kentucky and the men of McCook's Brigade marched on to Nashville, Tennessee where they would go into winter camp.
The men of McCook's Brigade would spend the spring and summer of 1863 in the Nashville, Tennessee area. Then in late August of 1863, the men of McCook's Brigade began their march toward Chattanooga, Tennessee in the attempt to take control of this vital city that was in the hands of the Confederacy.
That first fall and winter in the field was hard on the green troops, the diet and life style not being conducive to good health. Even before the men of McCook's Brigade left the Louisville/Jeffersonville area, the men were having difficulty with their health and the hospitals in Louisville were full to overflowing with sick soldiers. When McCook's Brigade left the Jeffersonville/ Louisville area, many of the men were left behind sick in the hospital. After the Battle of Perryville, on the march to Nashville, still more sick men were left behind sick in makeshift union hospitals in at Bowling Green, Kentucky and at Gallitan, Tennessee and after the men of McCook's Brigade arrived in Nashville, things didn't get any better. The hospitals there were full to overflowing with sick solders and what is today the Nashville National Cemetery got it's start during the Civil War as hundreds upon hundreds of sick soldiers died during the fall and winter of 1862/63. A number of members of Co. C are known to have been left behind sick in the hospital when McCook's Brigade began the "Kentucky Campaign" or to have been sent back to Louisville sick after McCook's Brigade left the area. Among those are John Thomas, Henry Clawson and Ansel Crouch.
Private Ansel Crouch's 1863 diary still survives, thanks to several members of the family, including his great granddaughter , Linda Coulter, of Farmington, Illinois. In his very first diary enter he talks of the struggles he is having with his health. On January 28, 1863, Ansel wrote, "Went down at sick call. I got some pills for my Dyarhea. It was pretty coald. went out to the tent & saw the boys. my throat was quite sore. had the Phthisre (?)." On January 29, 1863, Ansel wrote, "I & John Thomas went to Louisville. Saw Henry Clawson at the hospital. went to No. 4 & 8 to try and find some of the Boys." At this time, most of the men of McCook's Brigade were stationed in Nashville, Tennessee.
It appears that during this time, when Ansel was not in the hospital, he was staying in some sort of Barracks, not in tents around the city. On February 3, 1863, Private Ansel Crouch was apparently considered well enough to be moved to Nashville, close to where the men of the 86th were. On the 3rd, Ansel wrote, "Arose at 4, went down to Breakfast. felt rather unwell. have the headache. It was pretty coald. went to the cars. started at 9 O'clock. got to Nashville at 11 a.m. went to the Barracks." Ansel was now in the same general area as his old Co. C. The following day, Ansel wrote, "got to the regt. about 10 (a.m.). found all well and out on picket." The boys came back in from picket duty the following morning.
The weather through February continued to be cold and wet. The tents leaked and the boys continued to struggle with their health. They rotated between spending rainy days in the tents, on picket duty, doing train guard and visiting the boys in the hospital, one of whom was Harvey Brown. In February, Ansel mentions having "gripping pains in my bowels", "dyarhea", "Rheumatism in my back" and "headaches." On February 28, 1863, Ansel made the following entry in his diary. Was quite Sick. the Dr. thought I had better go to the hospital. got sent to No. 25. had a pretty high fever in the afternoon."
Harvey Brown got out of the hospital about the time Ansel went in and on March 14, 1863, Ansel wrote that "Edd. (Silliman) & Harvey came to see me. brought two letters, one from home and one from L. M. Clark. I put on my clothes & sat up some. the weather was pleasant." Ansel spent the entire month of March of 1863 in the hospital. The highlight of his time there are the visits made by the boys of Co. C and the letters and newspapers that they bring from home. Of the boys, Ansel mentions, Edd Silliman, J. Bell, Harvey Brown, Adam Crawford, James (probably Marsh), Sanford Stillman and a man he calls "Sant".
On April 5, 1863, Ansel was "marked to go to the Convalesent Camp, which were in some sort of Barracks in or near Nashville, Tennessee. Ansel left for the camp on the 8th and almost immediately got a pass to try to go to see some of the boys in their camp and "found the most of the Boys gone to Brentwood Station." Two other member of Co. C, who are known to have been in this Convalesent Camp/Barracks about this same time was Frederick L. Saxton and Albanus L. Jenkins. On April 14, 1863, Ansel mentions that another Co. C boy, "Anson Stillman was down a while at night" and that on the 18th "One of Co. K's men died very sudden." Apparently there was a way to wire money home during those days. On April 19, 1863, Ansel wrote "the Captain came in at night. Edd sent me the money owed me." The following day, Ansel wrote, "sent 50 dollars home by the Captain. James Sirlott (another Co. C boy) came in and several others. Anson Stillman came came down a little while at night." On the 21st Ansel wrote, "Paid the Captain for sending home the money, what he had to pay." On April 23, 1863, Ansel wrote, "the rest that were fit for duty were ordered front. I went to see Anson a while. he had the ague. 2 of the B boys deserted." On April 30, 1863, Ansel wrote, "Saxton & I cook some Greens. they were good. the Dr. gave me some Bloodroot. It was a warm day. I went up to the battery. saw Anson & Jimmy (possibly Sirlott.)"
Ansel started the month of May of 1863 in the Convalesent Camp. On May 2, 1863, he wrote, "Lew Saxton went to the Regt. I went down town..........the Dr. talked of sending us north." By the middle of May of 1863, both Albanus L. Jenkins and Ansel Crouch were doing worse. On May 13, 1863, Ansel noted, "Washed my Napsack and Haversack. the Dr. told Jenkins & myself to be ready to go to the Hospital after dinner. Were sent to No. 2. On May 14th, Ansel noted, "Hospital No. 2, College Hill, Nashville, Tennessee. did not feel very well this morning. had the headache. am waiting to be sent north. don't know when it will be. the Dr. says I must keep my bed." On May 23, 1863, Ansel noted, "I was about the same. the Dr. ordered me to stay in all of the time. Gallop came up from camp & brought me a paper from home. said Jo. Bowers had deserted."
In late May or early June, Albanus L. Jenkins is believed to have gotten better and at least graduated back to the Convalescent Camp/Barracks, if not the company, while Ansel remained in Hospital No. 2. However, if Albanus did graduate, he was not there long, for he is believed to have been sent back to Hospital No. 2. During June of 1863, he mentions getting visits from Edd Silliman, Sant, Harvey Brown, Lewis Gibbs, Billy Baldwin, Sanford Stillman, Henry Butler, Albanus Jenkins, Lew Saxton and Jos. Hamlin. In late June of 1863, the decision was made to move Ansel Crouch back up north to an army hospital in Louisville, Kentucky. On June 24, 1863, Ansel wrote, "Went to the depot at 12 in the Ambulance. the cars did not start until 3 in the morning. it rained all day. I stood the trip very well. Arrived at Louisville at 4 P.M. went to Hospital No. 12." On June 26, 1863, Ansel wrote, "went down town with Jenkins........had some Ice Cream & Pie." The next few days were about the same. The soldiers would do a little work around the Hospital, cleaning lamps, mopping floors, etc and then they would go out in the afternoon and have some soda and a pie or Ice Cream and pie.
On July 8, 1863, Ansel wrote, "we were all examined to fit the Invalid Corps." On July 9, 1863, Ansel wrote, "went down to the PO. Albanus went with me. got a mess of fresh fish." On the 11th, Ansel wrote, "I was Reexamined and put in the Invalid Corps. 2nd Bn." By the 18th of July of 1863, at least Ansel and Albanus had gotten well enough to get out of the Hospital. His diary entry for the day states, "Were taken down to the Invalid Camp. went back to the Hospital . got our dinner and napsacks. Went back to camp at 6 P.M. Pitched out tents - was 6 of us in a tent. I felt as well as common." On the 20th of July Ansel wrote, "went down town & got some Goldenceal to take. It was very hot. Policed the Parade ground in the P.M." On the 22nd he wrote, "got a pass and went down town. Jenkins went with me. had some ripe peaches." On July 30, 1863, Ansel states that, "We drew our Jackets." This was the Invalid Corps (aka Veteran Reserve Corps) jacket that we see Ansel pictured in here. Though not officially transferred on a permanent basis to the Veteran Reserve Corps yet, Albanus and Ansel are staying in the "Invalid Camp" and are wearing the "Invalid Corps (VRC)" uniform. The colors were reversed from the standard Infantry uniform which had a dark blue body with sky blue trim. The VRC uniform had a sky blue body trimmed in dark blue.
August of 1863 for Albanus and Ansel began in the Invalid Camp in Louisville, Kentucky. On August 2, 1863, Ansel wrote, "there were two Cos. arrived from Nashville. John Thomas was with them. I was on Guard at night at headquarters. It was a beautiful evening." Albanus and Ansel went black berry picking several times in early August of 1863. On August 25, 1863, Ansel mentions that "the Boys were having a game of Ball (Baseball)." On August 26th, Ansel wrote, "went to the P.O. bought a watermelon." On the 27th, Ansel wrote, "went foraging with Albanus. got some peaches."
On September 2, 1863, Ansel wrote that "Albanus got a letter from Saxton." In September of 1863, Ansel ran into two other members of Co. C, who continued to struggle with their health through the spring and summer of 1863. On September 5, 1863, Ansel wrote that he "went to Hospital #11. saw John More. got back to camp about 5 P.M. Harvey Brown was there." (Note Private John Moore, of Co. C of the 86th Illinois, was "officially transferred to the VRC on December 12, 1863, while Private Harvey Brown, of Co. C of the 86th Illinois, was "officially transferred to the VRC on October 29, 1863.) On Sept. 6, 1863, Ansel wrote, "Harvey & Albanus & myself went over to Spring Garden and got some apples." Lots of guard duty in September of 1863 for the boys. On September 22, 1863, Ansel noted that, "we were all examined & many of us were marked for the 1st Battalion. I was one of them."
On October 2, 1863, Ansel wrote, "we got marching orders for Jo Holt", where the 86th first reported back in September of 1862. On Oct. 3, 1863, Ansel reported that "Our marching orders were countermanded and we remain here (Louisville)." More guard duty and foraging with Jenkins were the order of the day in October of 1863.
Ansel is believed to have continued to struggle with his ailmes through the spring and summer of 1863. Nothing the doctors did seemed to help Ansel's condition and finally the doctors decided that Ansel was not well enough, at this time, to remain in a front line unit. He was however not sick enough to be discharged from the service, so it was decided that he could continue to serve his country in the Veteran Reserve Corps. The units of the V.R.C. were used to garrison important cites and fortifications as well as guard important bridges, railroads and trains. So, on November 28th, 1863, just days after the Battle of Missionary Ridge, in which the men of McCook's were close to but held in Reserve the whole time, Private Ansel Crouch was transferred to one of the Regiments of the V.R.C.
Ansel is known to have served for the remainder of the war in the Veteran Reserve Corps. His pension card states that Ansel was a member of the 9th Co. of the 2nd Battalion of the V.R.C as well as Co. H of the 12th Regiment of the V.R.C. At some point, Ansel's unit was sent to Washington, D.C. to guard the nations capital. Ansel was there in Washington, in April of 1865, when President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated.
Ansel Crouch was most likely a Sergeant in his V.R.C. company by this time, as it is known that Ansel Crouch was selected to serve in the Honor Guard which stood guard over the Presidents body while it lay in state in Washington. Ansel's obituary states that, "He stood guard over Lincoln's body as it lay in state in the National Capital and was one of the Honor Guards to escort the body to the train." It was at 7:00 A.M on Friday, April 21, 1865, when the honor guard escorted the President's body to the funeral train for it's return to Illinois. It is a well known fact that only Sergeants of the V.R.C. were allowed to be members of Lincoln's Honor Guard. About 20 members of the Honor Guard were selected to accompany Lincoln's body all the way back to Springfield. Ansel Crouch's name is not found among those members who selected to do that, though 5 members of the 12th Regiment of the V.R.C. were selected, none from his company though.
It is not known how long Ansel Crouch's unit remained in Washington, but it is guessed that he probably remained there in Washington until he was discharged from the service. After the war came to an end, General Sherman's army, of which McCook's Brigade was a part, was in North Carolina and started the long march for Washington, D.C. Ansel was almost certainly still there in the nations capital when the surviving members of McCook's Brigade arrived within site of the nation's capital on May 19, 1865. On May 24, 1865, General Sherman's army marched down Pennsylvania Avenue on the 2nd day of the Grand Review. If Ansel ever did meet with the surviving members of his old Co. C, this was probably when that occurred.
On June 6, 1865, the surviving members of McCook's were mustered out of the service. Shortly after that they were put on trains bound for Chicago, Illinois, where they received their final pay and were discharged. By the end of June, they were back home with their families in Central Illinois. The records state that Co. H of 12th Regiment of the V.R.C. was not mustered out of the service until November 25, 1865, so Ansel may not have been mustered out of the service until then. By Christmas of 1865, Ansel Crouch was probably back home with his family in Central Illinois as well.
Ansel was married to Ella A. Boyden on April 11, 1870 in Atkinson, Illinois in Henry County. Ella was born on April 14, 1853 in __________, MA, the daughter of __________ Boyden and __________ (__________) Boyden. Ansel and Ella resided initially with his parents in Akron Township in Peoria County. They are found there at the time of the 1870 census and 1880 census of Akron Township. Four children are known to have been born to Ansel and Ella. They are;
1. Ansel Boyden Crouch, born March 7, 1871 in West Hallock, Illinois. Ansel was married to Jessie _____________ in 19__.
Their children include;
A. Robert A Crouch, born c. 1914/15 in Kansas.
B. Harriett I Crouch, born c. 1915/16 in Kansas.
C. Rachel E Crouch, born c. 1916/17 in Wisconsin.
D. Boyden L Crouch, born c. 1920/21 in Kansas.
At the time of the 1930 census, Ansel and his family are found in Nortonville Township, Jefferson County, Kansas;
Ansel Crouch Head M 59 Illinois
Jessie Crouch Wife F 42 Kansas
Robert A Crouch Son M 15 Kansas
Harriett I Crouch Daughter F 14 Kansas
Rachel E Crouch Daughter F 13 Wisconsin
Boyden L Crouch Son M 9 Kansas
Ansel B. Crouch died July 14, 1955 in Nortonville, Kansas. Buried in the Northonville Cemetery.
2. Arthur Phineas "Artie" Crouch, born August 31, 1872 in Peoria County, Illinois; died in September 16, 1881 of Scarlet Fever in Tiskilwa, Illinois in Bureau County; most likely buried in the West Hallock Cemetery possibly at the same time as his mother who died the following day.
3. Reta I. Crouch, born __________ __, 1874 in Illinois. Rita moved out to New Mexico before 1910 and was a Bookkeeper for several companies through the years. Reta never married and never had any children. Reta died on February 1, 1958 and her mortal remains were laid in the Fairview Memorial Park in Albuquerque, N.M.
4. Orton P. Crouch, born September 21, 1875 in Peoria County, Illinois; died on October 3, 1881 in Tiskilwa, Illinois, possibly of Scarlet Fever, two weeks after his brother and mother; buried in the West Hallcok Cemetery with his mother and brother; stone says 6y,0m,12d.
Ella A. (Boyden) Crouch died in Tiskilwa, Illinois in Bureau County on September 17, 1881 of Consumption, the day after her 2nd oldest son, Artie" died of Scarlet Fever. Her earthly remains were laid to rest in the West Hallock Cemetery in Peoria County.
"The Sabbath Recorder", Vol 37, No 40, p 5, Oct. 6, 1881.
In Tiskilwa, Ill., Sept 17, 1881, of consumption, Ella, wife of Ansel Crouch, aged 28 years. She made a profession of religion when about eighteen years of age, and united with the Southampton Seventh-day Baptist Church, continuing a member until the angel of death called her to come up higher. She longed to go, but in the family casket were four jewels it was hard to leave. She had polished, cherished, and cared for them so tenderly here that she would fain lay them as a glad offering at her Savior's feet. Scarlet fever came into the little band and bore Artie, the second child, aged 9 years, home one day in advance of his loving mother. The burden of the little sufferer's prayer during his four days' illness was that his mother might live until Sabbath-day, so he could go to heaven with her. She lived until 2 o'clock Sabbath morning. His song of welcome may have been the first that greeted her as she stepped on the golden shore of eternity. A. H.
Ansel Crouch was married 2nd to Latitia Ann Smith on October 19, 1882 at __________, __________. Letitia Ann Smith was born on March 1, 1859 at Cumberland, Indiana, USA, the daughter of William Perry Smith and Sarah (Roberts) Smith. Six children were born to Ansel and Latitia. They are;
5. Royal "Roy" Crouch, born September 23, 1884 in Akron Township, Peoria County, Illinois. Royal was married to Beatrice _____________ in 19__.
Their children include;
A. Herbert Crouch, born c. 1918/19 in Wisconsin.
B. Darlean Crouch, born c. 1935/36 in Kansas.
Royal was living in Center Line, Michigan in 1932. At the time of the 1940 census, Royal and his family are found in Nortonville, Norton Township, Jefferson County, Kansas;
Royal Crouch Head M 55 Illinois
Beatrice Crouch Wife F 48 Kansas
Herbert Crouch Son M 21 Wisconsin
Darlean Crouch Daughter F 4 Kansas
Enice Parks Sister-in-law F 34 Kansas
Barba Parks Niece F 14 Michigan
Vivian Parks Niece F 11 Michigan
Royal Crouch died on 5 September 1959 in Winchester, Jefferson County, Kansas and his mortal remains were laid in the Nortonville Cemetery in Nortonville, Jefferson County, Kansas. See his Find A Grave Memorial #84795576.
6. Minnie Myrtle Crouch, born January __, 1887 in Illinois. Minnie was married to Alden Goldsmith Saunders.
Their children include;
A. Donald C Saunders, born c. 1910/11 in Illinois.
B. Lois M Saunders, born c. 1917/18 in Illinois.
At the time of the 1930 census, Myrtle and her family are found in Fairview, Fulton County, Illinois;
Alden G Saunders Head M 43 Illinois
Myrtle M Saunders Wife F 43 Illinois
Donald C Saunders Son M 19 Illinois
Lois M Saunders Daughter F 12 Illinois
Myrtle died on __________ __, 1962 and her mortal remains were laid in the Chapin Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Fulton County, Illinois.
7. Homer H. Crouch, born April __, 1889 in Peoria County, Illinois. According to Ansel Crouch's obituary, Homer died at the age of 17, which would mean Homer died c. 1906/07. His mortal remains were very likely buried in the West Hallock Cemetery in Peoria County, Illinois.
8. Edna Grace Crouch, born August __, 1891; married Arthur Langworthy; living in Nortonville, Kansas in 1932.
9. Sarah Alice Crouch, born September __, 1894; married Earl Stephan; living in Nortonville, Kansas in 1932.
10. Julia Crouch, born __________ __, 18__. Julia died in infancy, before 1900 and her mortal remains may also lie in the West Hallock Cemetery in Peoria County, Illinois.
Soon after their marriage, Latitia united with the South Hampton (West Hallock, Ill.) Seventh Day Baptist Church, where she was a loyal member until 1911 when the family moved to Nortonville and she joined the church there. She was a faithful member of this church at the time of her death.
Ansel Crouch filed and received an Invalid Pension for his service on April 11, 1883. In 1887, some of the surviving members of the 86th Illinois organized and held a reunion of the old 86th during the week of August 27th, the 25th anniversary of the mustering in of the old 86th back in 1862. Ansel was one of 20 members of old Co. C to attend that first reunion, with more than 130 surviving members of the 86th attending in total. The 1887 reunion was such a success that they decided to continue to hold these reunions every August as long as they could and they continued to hold these reunions through 1923, when the few that were able to attend that 1923 reunion tearfully decided that they were too few and too old to continue to hold them any longer. Through the years, 34 different members of old Co. C were able to attend at least one reunion, Ansel Crough being one of the most faithful. From the 1st reunion until the 1911 reunion, after which they moved to Kansas, Ansel only missed 5 reunions, those of 1888, 1889, 1892, 1893 and 1904. Even after they made the move to Kansas, Ansel Crouch made the long journey from Kansas back to Illinois for 5 more reunions, those of 1914, 1917, 1919, 1922 and 1923, which proved to the last that he would be able to attend.
Ansel, Letitia and the children are found residing Akron Township, Peoria County, Illinois at the time of the 1900 census;
Ansel Crouch Head M Aug 1838 62 Pennsylvania
Letitia A Crouch Wife F Mar 1859 41 Indiana
Royal Crouch Son M Sep 1884 16 Illinois
Minnie M Crouch Daughter F Jan 1887 13 Illinois
Homer H Crouch Son M Apr 1889 11 Illinois
Edna G Crouch Daughter F Aug 1891 9 Illinois
Sarah Alice Crouch Daughter F Sep 1894 6 Illinois
At the time of the 1910 census, Ansel and his family are still found in Akron Township, Peoria County, Illinois;
Ansel Crouch Head M 70 Pennsylvania
Letitia Crouch Wife F 51 Indiana
Royal Crouch Son M 25 Illinois
Edna G Crouch Daughter F 18 Illinois
Sarah A Crouch Daughter F 15 Illinois
The Crouch's remained in Akron Township until 1911, when they moved west to Kansas, settling in Nortonville, Kansas. They remained there the remainder of their lives.
Private Ansel Crouch was a longtime member of the Chillicothe G.A.R. Post #136 in Chillcothe, Illinois. In 1914 a book was published entitled "Illustrated Roster of the Department of Illinois, Grand Army of the Republic." A. Crouch, of Co. C of the 86th Illinois was listed as a member of this post at this time, even though he was living in Nortonville, Kansas at this time. Other members of the 86th who were members of Post 136 at this time were, W. M. Jenkins, of Co. C; H. H. Nurse, of Co. C; C. Root, of Co. C, O. D. Stowell, of Co. C and J. Parsons, of Co. E.
Private Ansel Crouch died on July 19, 1926 at Nortonville, Kansas. His earthly remains were returned to Illinois, where they were laid beside those of his first wife, Ella, in the West Hallock Cemetery in Peoria County. At this point, I am reasonably certain that his grave was never marked In 1956 when there was a survey done of the cemetery nine tombstones bearing the Crouch name were found in the cemetery. All of them had passed away prior to Ansel's death. There was no stone for Private Ansel Crouch. A Civil War Style Government Stone, which the government will still provide free of charge for Ansel, needs to be applied for.
"The Sabbath Recorder", Vol 101, No 9, p 192, Aug. 9, 1926.
Ansel Crouch, son of Dr. Phineas and Julia Crouch, was born August 31, 1839, at West Springfield, Erie County, Pa., and died at his home in Nortonville, Kan., July 19, 1926.
With his parents he moved to Peoria County, Ill., in 1845, settling in Radnor Township, where he lived until the Civil War. He enlisted in Company C, eighty-sixth Illinois Infantry, serving three years. He stood guard over Lincoln's body as it laid in state in the national capitol and was one of the honor guards to escort the body back to the train. He was a member of the G. A. R. Post at Chillicothe, Ill., and is one of the last of his post to pass away. It was his custom to attend state and national encampments in which he found comfort and pleasure.
During the war his parents moved to a farm at West Hallock, and this was his home for about forty-six years. For the past fifteen years the family home has been at Nortonville, Kan.
He was married in 1870 to Ella Boyden at Atkinson, Ill., and to this union four children were born. The wife and second child, Arthur, died in September 1881, and were buried at the same time. The youngest child, Orton, died two weeks later. Two children remain: Ansel B. of Nortonville, Kan., and Reta I. of Albuquerque, N. M.
On October 19, 1882, he married Letitia A. Smith, of West Hallock, Ill., who survives him. To this union six children were born - Royal of Detroit, Mich.; Mrs. A. G. Saunders of Farmington, Ill.; Homer, who died at the age of seventeen years; Mrs. Arthur Langworthy, and Mrs. Earl Stephan of Nortonville, Kan.; and Julia, who died in infancy. He is also survived by seventeen grandchildren.
Mr. Crouch was a pioneer member of the Southampton, Ill., Seventh Day Baptist Church, and upon moving to Nortonville transferred his membership to that church.
The funeral services were held from the church at ten o'clock, July 22, and were conducted by his former pastor, Rev. G. M. Cottrell of Topeka, Kan.
Burial was made in the family lot at West Hallock, Ill., where a concourse of old friends and neighbors gathered to pay tribute to one who had lived among them many years. The military burial service was rendered by the American Legion Post No. 9 of Chillicothe, Ill. G. M. C.
Latitia filed and began receiving a Widow's Pension on August 11, 1926. Latitia Ann (Smith) Crouch remained in Nortonville, living out her days there. Latitia died in her home in Nortonville, Kansas on November 5, 1932. Her earthly remains were laid to rest in the Nortonville Cemetery.
"The Sabbath Recorder", Vol 113, No 25, p 598, Dec. 19, 1932.
Letitia Ann Smith Crouch, daughter of William Perry Smith and Sarah Roberts Smith, was born at Cumberland, Ind., March 1, 1859, and died at her home in Nortonville, Kan., on November 5, 1932.
On October 19, 1882, she was united in marriage to Ansel Crouch, who preceded her in death, July 19, 1926. To this union were born six children, two of whom - Homer and Julia - died in childhood.
Soon after her marriage she united with the South Hampton (West Hallock, Ill.) Seventh Day Baptist Church, where she was a loyal member until 1911 when the family moved to Nortonville and she joined the church there. She was a faithful member of this church at the time of her death.
She is survived by Ansel B. of Nortonville and Reta I. of Albuquerque, N. M., who as Mr. Crouch's motherless children grew up in her home and learned to know and love her as their mother; and by her four living children; Royal of Center Line, Mich.; Myrtle, wife of A. G. Saunders, Rapatee, Ill.; Grace, wife of Arthur Langworthy, and Alice, wife of Earl Stephan, both of Nortonville; and by a sister, Mrs. H. D. Burdick, and a brother, J. C. Smith, also of Nortonville; besides twenty grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Farewell services were conducted at the Seventh Day Baptist church on November 7, by Pastor Lester G. Osborn. Interment was made in the Nortonville cemetery, the committal services being in charge of the W. C. T. U. of which she had been an active member for years. L. G. O.
by Baxter B. Fite III and Linda Coulter, of Farmington, Illinois, who is a great great granddaughter of Ansel Crough. Linda's telelphone # is (309) 245-2207. (NOTE: Linda and her husband, Barry, have Ansel's 1863 diary, Ansel's photograph and his reunion ribbons. I need to get together with them!!)
(Baxter would enjoy hearing from anyone who might be able to add anything to the biography of Private Ansel Crouch and the Crouch family. Baxter would also love to get copies of any photographs that may still exist of Ansel Crouch, especially any showing him in uniform from his days in the service, for his Find A Grave site and for the local historical societies.)
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- [S686] Ancestry.com, U.S., Find a Grave Index, 1600s-Current, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Lehi, UT, USA; Date: 2012;), Ansel Crouch memorial/61104477.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/61104477
- [S151] Ancestry.com, U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-2020, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Lehi, UT, ; Date: 2020;), The Nortonville News; Publication Date: 23/ Oct/ 1914; Publication Place: Nortonville, Kansas, ; URL: https://www.newspapers.com/image/376423563/?article=11938185-00c4-416a-ba4a-6a49ce3a4542&focus=0.2905489,0.7691977,0.41258866,0.9486344&xid=3398.
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