Crouch, Andrew 1849-1945

CROUCH, HOGLE, ROESCH

Posted By: Plymouth CC (email)
Date: 12/14/2003 at 15:08:19

CROUCH FUNERAL TODAY

[This article included a picture of Andrew Crouch on horseback in the parade mentioned--see the picture caption below:]
"One of Mr. Crouch's last public appearances was when he led the Decoration Day Parade here a number of years ago."

Andrew Crouch Passes Away at Advanced Age
Was Last Surviving Plymouth County Civil War Veteran

Andrew W. Crouch, only surviving Plymouth County Civil War Veteran and one of this country's oldest residents, died at 10 p.m. Thursday, January 11, 1945, at his home in LeMars. Had he lived until February 16 he would have been 96 years old. Until the last few years, Mr. Crouch's health was good and he was often seen downtown looking after business affairs.

Andrew W. Crouch was a native of the Empire state, but had been a resident of Iowa since 1874. He was born on a farm in Chautauqua County, New York, February 16, 1849. A son of M. F. and Mandana (Hogle) Crouch, both members of colonial families. Mandana Hogle's grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, serving for six years. M. F. Crouch's father was a drummer in the War of 1812, when a child he moved from Pennsylvania to New York state with his parents. The family moved to Grant County, Wisconsin, in 1858. M. F. Crouch came to LeMars in 1874 and settled on a farm in Plymouth County and moved to LeMars in 1878 where he lived until his death in 1900. Andrew Crouch was about eight years old when his parents moved from New York to Wisconsin. He received his education in the schools of Grant County. At the age of fifteen years and eight months he enlisted for service in the Union Army for the remainder of the Civil War, as a member of Company G, First Wisconsin Cavalry, attached to the Army of the Cumberland and served with that command for ten months, or until the close of the war, and was mustered out at Edgefield, Tennessee, July 19, 1865. During his term of service in the army Mr. Crouch saw much active service but never received a wound. His command was with Wilson on the latter's celebrated raid through Alabama and Georgia and Mr. Crouch retained vivid recollections of that notable expedition.

Upon the completion of his military service, Andrew Crouch returned to his home in Wisconsin and engaged in farming with his father. He was married in 1871 to Magdalena Roesch. In 1874, he came with his parents to Plymouth County, locating in Liberty township, where for two years he lived on a rented farm. He then in 1876 bought a tract of eighty acres, paying $6.60 an acre and there farmed for five years, at the end of which time discouraged by the continued ravages of grasshoppers throughout this section returned to his former home in Wisconsin. Dissatisfied with conditions there after having lived in Iowa, Mr. Crouch returned to Plymouth County and bought a farm of 160 acres in Perry township, paying $7.50 an acre, and established his home. When he took possession of the place a few acres were broken and there was a small house. He proceeded to develop the land and soon had a fine farm, on which he continued to make his home until 1901, when he bought a tract of ten acres adjoining the city of LeMars on the southwest where he lived until 1910 when he moved into town.

During his active years in farming he prospered in his operations and increased his holdings in Perry township to two hundred and forty acres of land. During his residence in Perry township he was chairman of the board of trustees for several years and was a member for eighteen years. He also served on the school board as director and secretary. After coming to live in LeMars, Mr. Crouch was engaged in the insurance and real estate business until his retirement. He was one of the charter members of Mower Post, G.A.R. and held offices in the organization at different times. He was also a member of the Knights of Pythias. Mr. Crouch was a republican in politics and was an active worker in the party in his mature years.

Mr. and Mrs. Crouch celebrated their seventy-third wedding anniversary on September 15, 1944. Mr. Crouch's death was the first in the family including all the descendants.

The survivors besides his widow, are six children, Mrs. Conrad Hauff (Claudia) of Merrill, Oscar of Hinton, Mrs. Hyman Van Dyke (Mable) of Sioux City, Mrs. Wm Douglas (Cora) of Hampton, Mrs. Allen Lemon (Frankie) of Moscow, Idaho, and Mrs. Harold Pew (Esther) of LeMars. There are nineteen grandchildren, nineteen great grandchildren and one great great grandson. Five grandsons and three grandsons-in law are in the service and they are S. Sergt. Richard R. Pew in England, Sergt. Donald Douglas in the southwest Pacific, Lt. Clyde Van Dyke U. S. N. with the Pacific Fleet, Lt (jg) Dean Lemon, Salem, Oregon, V-12 Student Ralph Lemon, Maj Guy H. Todd in France, and Pfc Richard Stillinger and Pfc Raymond Hodapp both in the United States. William E. Bergman, a great grandson-in-law, was killed May 29, 1944, in Italy.

The funeral servies were held Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock in the Methodist church. Rev. J. J. Share officiated at the services. The music was by the Methodist choir quartet. The pallbearers were grandsons and grandsons-in-law, Wm Pew, Lloyd Crouch, Warren Hauff, Dwight Hauff, Leo Graham and Albert Swanson.

The interment was in the city cemetery and Wasmer Post of the American Legion was in charge of the services at the cemetery.

Military Honors Accorded Civil War Veteran
Final Rites Held for Andrew Crouch, Plymouth Pioneer

Full military honors were accorded Andrew W. Crouch, 96, Plymouth county's last survivor of the Civil War, who died Thursday night, at impressive services held Monday afternoon at the First Methodist Church in LeMars.

The services were attended by a large number of people who gathered to honor the memory of a gallant soldier and pioneer settler of the community. Rev. J.J. Share conducted the services at the church and graveside services were in the charge of World War veterans, members of the American Legion, Wasmer Post, Company D, Iowa State Guard and men in service.

The casket, draped with the national flag, was placed at the altar during the church service, with Fay Terpenning representing the G. A. R., and Leroy Crowley representing Wasmer Post, American Legion, at the head and foot, bearing the Stars and Stripes, at half mast. Presentation of arms was made as the casket was borne within the portals of the church, and at the conclusion of the service color bearers formed an escort, preceding the honorary pallbearers: John W. Strouse, Clarence Langendorfer, William Niehus, Fred Pashan, Vincent Harker, Vincent Conway, Roy Rounds, Ed Willging, Al Orban, Arthur Wetrosky, Henry Heidbrink, Frank Scholer, George Pavlik, Harvey Klukhohn, and Ray Claussen.

The solemn ritual of the G. A. R. was impressively deliverd by Capt. J.G. Koenig followed by a parting volley by the firing squad and the final taps by buglers sounding in far away echoes. As final notes of the bugle sounded, Capt. Melvin R. Kanago and Lieut. Ernest E. Nelson withdrew the flag from the casket and presented it to the wife of the departed soldier.

George Merritt and Cpl. William Boyle were color guards. Members of the firing squad were Walter F. Bogen, sergeant in charge, Sgt. Frank Luken, Sgt. Irving Smaltz, Cpl. Dale Becker, Walter Nussbaum, Roman Kovaleske, Cpl. Glenn Gearke, Frank Lauters, Cpl. Ray Orban. Buglers were Gerd Grahlman of Wasmer Post and Miss Carolyn Mischler.

~Source: The LeMars Globe-Post, January 15, 1945

A. Crouch Memorial Day 1937 Parade
 

Plymouth Obituaries maintained by Linda Ziemann.
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