Category: Individual

Who is Thomas Newton Crouch?

Thomas Newton Crouch was born on July 19, 1900, in Atkins, Arkansas, as the third child of Susannah Belle Gillum, age 27, and Isaac Newton Crouch, age 49. He died on December 20, 1977, in Modesto, California, at the age of 77.

Other children of Susannah Belle Gillum and Isaac Newton Crouch were William Monroe Crouch (16 Jan 1892 – 25 November 1958), Theo Myrtle Crouch (5 Aug 1895 – 28 May 1906), and Joseph Ray Crouch (1910 – 16 Sep 1936).

Thomas Newton Crouch was born in Pope County, Arkansas near the present day town of Atkins. He was the third generation born there. His maternal great great grandfather was William Burnett (4 Oct 1774 – 5 July 1855) who was an early settler in the area before statehood and has a township named after him. William Burnett’s father, John Harrison Burnett (1750- Oct 1778) died at Valley Forge (PA) from an illness while serving with the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. (Thomas Newton Crouch [1900-1977] -> Susannah Belle Gillum [1872-1966] -> William Perry Gillum [1843-1923] -> Frances Howard Burnett [1804- abt 1865?] -> William Burnett [1774-1855]).

His sister Theo Myrtle died on May 28, 1906, in Hughes, Oklahoma, when Thomas Newton was 5 years old. She is buried in the Gerty Cemetery (Hughes County) in Oklahoma near her father Isaac. Rumor is that she died as a result of boiling water spilling on her while the laundry was being done.

Thomas is found in the 1910 US Census in the state of Oklahoma, county of Hughes, township of Newburg, district 0111, page 5a, in dwelling number 86. Also listed is his father, mother, older brother Monroe, and younger brother Joseph.

The father of Thomas Newton Crouch, Isaac Newton Crouch, passed away on June 29, 1912, in Oklahoma at the age of 61. The obituary says he was kicked by a horse and died the next day. The mother of Thomas later married William Adolphus James (1857-1936)

Thomas is found in the 1920 US Census in Oklahoma, county of Pottawatomie, township of Davis, District 0208, page 2a, as a lodger in dwelling 25, working as a flour packer at a flour mill. He is living with Ed and Pearl Long. Pearl is the daughter of Thomas’s step father William James. Also in the house is Thomas’ aunt Tennie McConnell, the older sister of Thomas’ mother Susannah.

Thomas Newton Crouch married Myrtle Scott (1903-1988) in McLoud, Oklahoma, on September 27, 1921, when he was 21 years old. They had 10 children together.

His daughter Viola C was born on June 25, 1922 in Okalhoma.

His daughter Zona Marie was born on June 13, 1924, in Fresno, California. The family had recently moved to California to look for work since Myrtle did not want Thomas working in the mines in Oklahoma.

His daughter Dorothy Allene was born on October 6, 1925, in Fresno, California.

His son Thomas Newton (Jr) was born on March 14, 1927, in Fresno, California.

His daughter Pauline was born on October 19, 1928, in Fresno, California.

His son Richard Lee was born on May 8, 1930, in Fresno, California.

His son George was born on March 13, 1932, in Fresno, California.

His son Paul was born on October 7, 1935, in Fresno, California.

His brother Joseph Ray died on September 16, 1936, in Fresno, California, when Thomas Newton was 36 years old.

His daughter Joyce May was born on May 29, 1938, in Fresno, California.

Sometime in the late 1930s, Thomas went into partnership with another man and bought a truck. Myrtle did not want Thomas to join the union. One day while waiting at a facility to drop off a load of grapes, the truck in front had Thomas move in closer. Then a second truck pulled in behind him boxing him in between the two trucks. Then both trucks started to take parts off as if they were doing repairs. This caused Thomas to be stuck and not able to deliver the load of grapes before they spoiled. As a result Thomas was liable for the cost of the load and had to file bankruptcy. The union members had succeeded in reducing the number of non-union drivers by one.

His son Donald was born on October 8, 1942, in Fresno, California. Donald was reported to be a special needs child in that he was ‘slow’ in his mental capabilities. He died on 5 Apr 1957 near French Camp (San Joaquin County, California) when several boys dared him to jump in some water. He did not know how to swim and became entangled in submerged debris. All of the rest of the children of Thomas Newton Crouch reached adulthood.

His brother William Monroe died on November 25, 1958, in Fresno, California, when Thomas Newton was 58 years old.

His mother Susannah Belle passed away on January 21, 1966, in Fresno, California, at the age of 93.

In 1971 Thomas and Myrtle celebrated their 50th Wedding anniversary with a large family gathering at their home. One of Myrtle’s cousin, Dan Barker, brought a book showing the genealogy of the Barkers back to the early 1800s. Being a history buff, this fascinated me, the writer of this blog, and lead me to starting my genealogy research in the late 1990s.

Thomas Newton Crouch died on December 20, 1977, in Modesto, California, when he was 77 years old. He was buried Acacia Memorial Park in Modesto.

Please feel free to send me questions, corrections, or comments in response to this blog. I am more than happy to help and share with others, or accept information sources I have not discovered yet.

Myrtle Crouch was born on 3 Mar 1902 in Texas to Andrew Jackson Scott (1872-1946) and Maranda Barker (1873-1939).

Her sister Nora Belle was born on February 14, 1903, in Texas when Myrtle was less than a year old.

Her sister Flossie Maedell was born on July 23, 1908, in Texas when Myrtle was 6 years old.

Her sister Elvina was born on January 31, 1910, in Oklahoma when Myrtle was 7 years. old.

Myrtle Scott lived in Justice Precinct 5, Tom Green County, Texas, in 1910. She is found in dwelling 125 on sheet 7B for Justice Precint 5 along with her parents, older sister Willie V, and younger sisters Belle, Maddelle, and Elvina. the census was enumerated on 29 Apr 1910.

After Myrtle completed third grade her father did not allow her to return to school. He was a sharecropper and needed her home helping on the family farm.

Myrtle has not been definitively identified in the 1920 census. There are multiple young women living away from their family in Oklahoma at this time.

Myrtle Scott married Thomas Newton Crouch in McLoud, Oklahoma, on September 27, 1921, when she was 19 years old.

Her daughter Viola C was born on June 25, 1922.

Myrtle did not want her husband working in the coal mines in Oklahoma so they moved to the Fresno California area after Viola was born but before their second child Zona was born.

Her daughter Zona Marie was born on June 13, 1924, in Fresno, California.

Her daughter Dorothy Allene was born on October 6, 1925, in Fresno, California.

Her son Thomas Newton (Jr)was born on March 14, 1927, in Fresno, California.

Her daughter Pauline was born on October 19, 1928, in Fresno, California.

Her son Richard Lee was born on May 8, 1930, in Fresno, California.

Myrtle lived in District 0008, Township 3, Fresno County, California. She is found living at 3294 Lewis (Fresno) on page 47a, with her husband and five children.

Her son George was born on March 13, 1932, in Fresno, California.

Her son Paul was born on October 7, 1935, in Fresno, California.

Her daughter Joyce May was born on May 29, 1938, in Fresno, California.

Her mother Maranda passed away on September 5, 1939, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, at the age of 66.

Myrtle lived at 5156 Olive Avenue in Fresno, California on 1 April 1940 when the US Census was taken. She is listed on page 15a, enumeration district 10-76a, Fresno County, California with her husband and seven children. Viola and Zona were already married by this time.

Her son Donald was born on October 8, 1942, in Fresno, California.

Her father Andrew Jackson passed away on January 19, 1946, in California at the age of 73.

Her sister Nora Belle died on September 5, 1952, in Glendale, Arizona, when Myrtle was 50 years old.

Her son Donald passed away on April 5, 1957, in San Joaquin, California, at the age of 14. he drowned in a slough near French Camp, San Joaquin County, California.

She celebrated her 50th Wedding celebration in 1971 with a large family gathering.

Her sister Willie Viola died on May 4, 1975, in Redding, California, when Myrtle was 73 years old.

Her husband Thomas Newton passed away on December 20, 1977, in Modesto, California, at the age of 77. They had been married 56 years.

Her sister Elvina died on December 1, 1987, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, when Myrtle was 85 years old.

Myrtle Scott died on January 30, 1988, in Modesto, California, when she was 85 years old. She was buried next to her husband in Acacia Memorial Park sharing a grave with her grand daughter Elaine Combs (daughter of Viola C) who died a few years earlier in a car crash.

When Susannah Belle Gillum was born on October 13, 1872, in Arkansas, her father, Rev William Perry Gillum, was 28, and her mother, Mary Jane Bowden, was 27. She married Isaac Newton Crouch and they had four children together. She then married William Adolphus James about 1919 in Oklahoma but did not have any more children with him. She died on January 21, 1966, in Fresno, California, at the age of 93. She is buried at Belmont Memorial Park in Fresno, California. Her headstone reads “Belle James” and she is buried next to her son Joseph Ray Crouch.

Birth

Susannah Belle Gillum was born on October 13, 1872, in Arkansas to Mary Jane Bowden, age 27, and Rev William Perry Gillum, age 28. She has three older siblings: Benjamin Franklin Gillum, Francis Tennie Gillum, and Lizzie A Gillum.

Birth of Sister

Her sister Dora Alice Gillum was born on January 3, 1875, in Atkins, Arkansas, when Susannah Belle was 2 years old.

Birth of Brother

Her brother Harris Tilden Gillum was born on January 13, 1877, in Pope, Arkansas, when Susannah Belle was 4 years old. Some records say the birth year is 1878.

Birth of Sister

Her sister Mary E. M. Gillum was born in 1879 in Arkansas when Susannah Belle was 7 years old.

1880 US Federal Census

Susannah Belle Gillum is found in the 1880 US Federal Census. She is living with her family in Wilson Township, Pope County, Arkansas (Enumeration District 139, page 132).

She is listed as Susana B Gillum in dwelling 113, family 144 listed as 7 years old.

It is a family rumor that about 1880 when her future husband, Isaac Newton Crouch (about 30 at the time) was asked if he would ever get married, he pointed at Sussanah and said “When that little girl turn s 18 I will marry her”.

Marriage

Susannah Belle Gillum married Isaac Newton Crouch in Pope County, Arkansas, on December 28, 1890, when she was 18 years old.

Birth of Son

Her son William Monroe Crouch was born on January 16, 1892, in Arkansas.

Birth of Daughter

Her daughter Theo Myrtle was born on August 5, 1895, in Arkansas.

Death of Sister

Her sister Mary E. M. died on August 13, 1896, when Susannah Belle was 23 years old.

1900 US Federal Census

Sussanah is listed in the 1900 US Federal Census living in Burnett Township, Pope County, Arkansas with her family. She is living in enumeration district 167 (169?) page 11 in dwelling 199, family 200. Her name is given as Bell Crouch with an age of 26.

Note that Burnett township is named after her great-grandfather William Burnett who was an early settle in the area prior to statehood. (William Burnett -> Frances Burnett -> William Perry Gillum -> Sussanah Belle Gillum)

Birth of Son

Her son Thomas Newton Crouch was born on July 19, 1900, in Atkins, Arkansas.

Migration to Oklahoma

Sussanah Belle and her family moved to Oklahoma sometime in the early 1900s after Thomas was born but before Theo’s death. Her parents and other siblings move to the same area in that time frame. There is an article in the Ada, Oklahoma newspaper published about 1963 that is an interview with her older brother Benjamin when he was 95. He talks about the hardships that family suffered in Arkansas after the Civil War and why they decided to migrate to Oklahoma for a new life.

Death of Daughter

Her daughter Theo Myrtle Crouch passed away on May 28, 1906, in Hughes, Oklahoma, at the age of 10. Family rumor is that a hot tub of water being used for doing the laundry fell on her and scaled her, resulting in her death. She is buried in Gerty Cemetery, Hughes County, Oklahoma.

Death of Sister

Her sister Lizzie A. died on April 27, 1909, in Yell, Arkansas, when Susannah Belle was 36 years old.

Birth of Son

Her son Joseph Ray Crouch was born in 1910 in Oklahoma.

1910 US Federal Census

Sussanah Belle is found in the 1910 US Federal Census living in Newburg, Hughes County, Oklahoma with her family in dwelling 86, family 89, enumeration district 111, sheet 5A.

Death of Husband

Her husband Isaac Newton Crouch passed away on June 29, 1912 after being kicked by a horse, in Oklahoma at the age of 61. They had been married 21 years. He was buried in Gerty Cemetery, Hughes County, Oklahoma.

Marriage

Sussanah Belle married William Adolphus James in late 1910s. The US WWI draft registration card for Thomas N Crouch lists her name as Susan B Crouch, suggesting she was married after the 12 Sep 1918 registration date.

1920 US Federal Census

Sussanah Belle is found in the 1920 US Federal Census living in Newburg, Hughes County, Oklahoma with her family in dwelling 86, family 89, enumeration district 111, sheet 5A. Her name is listed as Belle James. Her son Joseph Ray Crouch is living with her along with the children of William Adolphus James from his prior marriage.

Death of Father

Her father Rev William Perry Gillum passed away on June 12, 1923, in Oklahoma at the age of 79. He is buried in Gerty Cemetery, Hughes County, Oklahoma.

Around 1924 her son Thomas Newton crouch moved his family to Fresno, California looking for a better economic future. Susannah Belle and her husband William James followed a few years later, maybe around 1928.

Death of Mother

Her mother Mary Jane Gillum nee Bowden passed away on February 2, 1930, in Oklahoma at the age of 85. She is buried in Gerty Cemetery in Hughes County, Oklahoma.

1930 US Federal Census

Sussanah Belle is found in the 1930 US Federal Census living in Enumeration district 10, page 110, Judicial Township 3, Fresno, California at 5152 Olive Ave with her family in dwelling 237, family 240. Her name is listed as Belle James.

Death of Husband

Her husband William Adolphus James passed away on February 27, 1936, in Fresno, California, at the age of 78. They had been married 17 years.

Death of Son

Her son Joseph Ray passed away on September 16, 1936, in Fresno, California, at the age of 26 as a result of injuries from a car crash.

1940 US Federal Census

Susannah Belle is found in the 1940 US Federal Census living in Enumeration district 101-22, page 8A, JRockford City Ward 2, Block 20, Winnebago County, Illinois living with her sister Tennie McConnell at 518 3rd St. in household 216. Her name is listed as Belle James.

Death of Sister

Her sister Francis Tennie died on March 30, 1948, in Fresno, California, when Susannah Belle was 75 years old.

Death of Sister

Her sister Dora Alice died on June 13, 1949, in Allen, Oklahoma, when Susannah Belle was 76 years old.

Death of Son

Her son William Monroe Crouch passed away on November 25, 1958, in Fresno, California, at the age of 66.

Death of Brother

Her brother Benjamin Franklin died on December 6, 1963, in Allen, Oklahoma, when Susannah Belle was 91 years old.

Death

Susannah Belle James Nee Gilum died on January 21, 1966, in Fresno, California, when she was 93 years old. She was buried on January 24 next to her son Joseph Ray Crouch in Belmont Memorial Park in Fresno, CA. Her headstone lists her name as Bell James.

When Isaac Newton Crouch was born on March 27, 1851, in Milburnton, Greene County, Tennessee, his father, James, was 30 and his mother, Alvina, was 27. He married Susannah Belle Gillum on December 28, 1890, in Pope, Arkansas. They had four children (including Thomas Newton Crouch) in 18 years. He died on June 29, 1912, in Oklahoma at the age of 61.

Isaac was the fifth child born to James Monroe Crouch and Alvina Jane Milburn. His older siblings were William A (b. 1841), Joseph Larkin (b1844), Sarah E. (b.1846), and Archibald Frame (b.1847).

His sister Martha J was born in 1853 in Tennessee when Isaac Newton was 2 years old.

His sister Mary Ellen was born in 1855 in Tennessee when Isaac Newton was 4 years old.

His brother Elbert Franklin was born on February 17, 1859, in Tennessee when Isaac Newton was 7 years old.

Isaac Newton Crouch lived in family 19 in District 15, Greene County, Tennessee, in the 1860 US Census.

Isaac Newton Crouch’s maternal grandmother (Martha Anne Milburn nee Frame) died on 11 February 1861.

On 19 Sep 1861 Isaac Newton Crouch’s maternal grandfather, William Elbert Milburn married Sarah Ann Creamer.

By the 24 Apr 1862 Issac Newton Crouch was living near Dalton, Whitfield County, Georgia. On this day his older brothers William A Crouch and Joseph Larkin Crouch enlisted in Company H of the Georgia 36th Infantry Regiment (Broyles).

in July 1863 Isaac’s brothers William and Joseph are captured at Vicksburg and then paroled. They disappear prior to the end of the war and are presumed to have died later.

Isaac’s sister Melissa Caroline “Callie” was born in January 1864 in Georgia when Isaac Newton was 12 years old.

Isaac Newton Crouch is living in Militia District 631 in Whitfield County during the 1870 US Census.

Isaac Newton Crouch is living in Gregory, Conway County, Arkansas in Whitfield County during the 1880 US Census. Family rumor has it that about this time he was asked if he would ever get married. He pointed to a nearby 8 year old girl and said when she turns 18 he will marry her. They did get married 10 years later.

His sister Mary Ellen died in 1888 when Isaac Newton was 37 years old.

Isaac Newton Crouch married Susannah Belle Gillum in Pope, Arkansas, on December 28, 1890, when he was 39 years old.

His son William Monroe Crouch was born on January 16, 1892, in Arkansas.

His daughter Theo Myrtle Crouch was born on August 5, 1895, in Arkansas.

Isaac’s mother Alvina Jane Crouch (nee Milburn) passed away on July 9, 1898, in Whitfield, Georgia, at the age of 74. She was buried in the Dawneville Cemetery.

Isaac and Belle’s son Thomas Newton Crouch was born on July 19, 1900, in Atkins, Pope County, Arkansas.

Isaac’s father James Monroe Crouchpassed away sometime soon after October 11, 1904, in Whitfield, Georgia, at the age of 84. he was buried with his first wife, Alvina, in Dawneville Cemetery.

Sometime in the early 1900s Isaac moved his family to Hughes County, Oklahoma along with his in-laws, the Gillum family.

Isaac’s daughter Theo Myrtle passed away on May 28, 1906, in Hughes, Oklahoma, at the age of 10. She was buried in the Gerty Cemetery near the town of Gerty in Hughes County, Oklahoma.

Isaac Newton Crouch lived in Newburg, Hughes County, Oklahoma, in the US Census in 1910.

His son Joseph Ray was born in 1910 in Oklahoma.

Isaac Newton crouch died on June 29, 1912 in Oklahoma after being kicked by a horse the previous day. Family story, from grand daughter Zona, says he was getting horses out of a barn that was on fire when he was kicked by the horse. He was buried in Gerty cemetery near his daughter Theo.