This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Crouse, Christman, Hevison, Humphrey, Ogo, Royalty, Saunders, Stewart Classification: Biography Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Hi.2ADI/1768 Message Board Post: Past and Present of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, Illustrated, Vol. 2, pp. 683-686 B. F. Bowen & Company, Publishers, Indianapolis, Indiana, 1909 ALEXANDER HAMILTON CROUSE The founder of this well-known Tippecanoe County family was of German origin. GEORGE CROUSE came across the Atlantic long before the Revolutionary War and settled in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. He left a son named HENRY, who was born July 6, 1768, and married a MISS HEVISON whose birth date is recorded as February 15, 1766. The date of births of their children are thus given in the old family Bible: CATHERINE, May 20, 1792; LEAH, March 6, 1794; HENRY, August 1, 1796; MARIA, July 15, 1798; SIMON, July 25, 1802; JOHN, April 15, 1805; DAVID, September 18, 1808; ELIZABETH, October 15, 1810; DANIEL, November 20, 1814. About 1820, the father of this family removed to Germantown, Ohio, and cleared a farm in that locality. In 1830 he settled in Marion County, Indiana, where he purchased and cleared a section of land, including the site afterward selected for the Indiana Asylum for the Insane, west of Indianapolis. He died in the prime of life, as the result of injuries from a falling tree. His son, JOHN W., who was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, came with his father on his removal to Butler County, Ohio. March 17, 1825, he was married to ELIZA CHRISTMAN, in Preble County, Ohio, the ceremony being performed by Bishop Kumler, a well-known ecclesiastic of that day. She was born in Preble County, Ohio, June 5, 1805, her parents being DANIEL and MADALINA (OGO) CHRISTMAN. They were both natives of Guilford County, North Carolina, the father being born March 27, 1793 (sic; should be 1773?), and the mother, December 8, 1776. They had five children, JOHN, ELIZA, SOLOMON, JACOB and ! DANIEL. The family were early pioneers of Preble County and highly respected as citizens. DANIEL entered land and became prosperous as a farmer, at one time owning about three hundred acres. He was a member of the United Brethren Church, straightforward and honorable in his business dealings, and died on his Ohio homestead when eighty years of age. After his marriage, JOHN W. CROUSE located near Liberty, Union County, Indiana, where he purchased land and a sawmill. In the fall of 1828 he removed to Tippecanoe County and located on land in Wayne township two miles from the present Crouse homestead. Besides the quarter section entered from the government, he bought one hundred and forty-two acres and there remained until his death, September 13, 1844. He cleared off the timer and turned the first furrows on the prairie land, developing three hundred acres of rich soil, the greater part of which he brought to a high state of cultivation. He and his wife were members of the United Brethren Church, in which he served as class leader and held other offices. He was a very zealous member, contributing liberally to build and support the work of the denomination. At one time he was a Whig candidate for state senator. He was loyal as a citizen, practical as a farmer, straightforward in business and in every way reliable. ! His wife died March 26, 1883, aged seventy-eight years. During her long widowhood of nearly forty years, she depended on her son Alexander to manage her business affairs. Her children were as follows: MARY A., born October 5, 1826; ALEXANDER H., October 23, 1828; DANIEL FRANKLIN, June 11, 1837, died July 11, 1866; MARY A. married JAMES W. STEWART and died March 23, 1874. ALEXANDER HAMILTON CROUSE was born in Union County, Indiana, October 23, 1828, and was but six months old when brought by his parents to Tippecanoe County. His early life and training was passed in the pioneer period and he never lost the coloring of character and sturdy qualities acquired in those days of heroic hardship. What little education he got was in a log school house. He knew all about the soft side puncheon seats and helped put the ten-foot backlog in the yawning fireplace. At intervals, between his sixth and fifteenth year, this pioneer boy attended this rude school, going occasionally to a school of a little better grade near O'Dell Corner. His father early began to teach him practical business methods and when still a boy he knew how to bargain for cattle, his father giving him the money and showing him the points of good stock. He was an unusually bright farm boy and when only nine years old cultivated thirty-five acres of corn. At the age of sixteen, t! he death of his father left the management of the farm on his shoulders. In time he became quite prosperous as a cattle dealer and amassed wealth. June 24, 1894, MR. CROUSE was married in Hardin County, Kentucky, to MISS TEE P. HUMPHREY, a member of a distinguished family of the state. More than twelve hundred people attended the ceremony, which was performed by the bride's brother, REV. FELIX HUMPHREY. MR. and MRS. CROUSE gave a reception on returning to their Indiana home, which was attended by over six hundred friends and neighbors of the family. MRS. CROUSE was born in Hardin County, Kentucky, March 25, 1872, her parents being THOMAS and ARMANDA (ROYALTY) HUMPHREY. The paternal great-grandfather, SAMUEL HUMPHREY, SR., came from Virginia and became a pioneer of Kentucky, where he made his home among the Indians and the wild and romantic scenery of that famous region. MRS. DRUSILLA HUMPHREY, grandmother of MRS. CROUSE, was the daughter of a prominent official of Hardin County, who had Indian blood in his veins, and more remote members of the family served as chiefs of the Shawnee Indians. It is claimed that a v! ast amount of the land in Kentucky belongs to this branch of the family. The children of SAMUEL and DRUSILLA HUMPHREY were SALLIE, JOHN, LYDIA, SAMUEL, WILLIAM, WESLEY, THOMAS, RACHEL, and MAHALA, the last dying in early womanhood. The father, who was a substantial citizen of Hardin County, died at his home there in middle life. His son, THOMAS HUMPHREY, who became the father of MRS. CROUSE, was born in Hardin County, March 12, 1827, followed farming and when about twenty years of age married Armanda Royalty, who was born in Hardin County, July 1, 1832, her parents being DANIEL and ANNIE (SAUNDERS) ROYALTY. Her father, who was born in Washington County, Kentucky, was a son of DAVID ROYALTY, one of the pioneers of Kentucky. ANNIE SAUNDERS was a daughter of THOMAS and SALLY SAUNDERS, the father serving through the Revolutionary war under General Washington. He was a very strong man and weighed two hundred and sixty pounds when he entered the army, but received a wound i! n the battle which made him a cripple for life. His parents lived near one of the battle fields and the window-panes were shattered by the firing. After leaving the army, MR. ROYALTY (sic; should this be Mr. Saunders?) took up his residence in Washington County and there spent the remainder of his days. His children were ANNIE, ISAAC, REBECCA, HANNAH and several daughters whose names are forgotten. DANIEL ROYALTY was a shoemaker but owned land in Hardin County, of which he was one of the substantial citizens. He removed to that locality soon after his marriage and lived there until his death. His children were SARAH, THOMAS, JANE, REBECCA, CATHERINE, MARY A. and ARMANDA. After their marriage, THOMAS HUMPHREY and wife located on the headwaters of Mill creek, where he purchase a farm and spent the rest of his life in its cultivation. His children were FELIX, THOMAS, MISSOURI, JOHN W., ISAAC F and WYATT W. (twins), MARY, CHRISTIAN D. and TEE P. The father died December 22, 1894, aged sixty-seven. He was a member of the Baptist church and had served as clerk and moderator. In business he was industrious, energetic and trustworthy, kind and affectionate to his family and a first-class citizen in all respects. His widow makes her home with MRS. CROUSE, and, like the latter and the rest of her children, is a devoted member of the Baptist church. The Humphreys are one! of the oldest and most influential of Kentucky families. REV. FELIX HUMPREY, brother of MRS. CROUSE, was educated at Garnettsville, Meade County, Kentucky, and is now an ordained minister of the Baptist church. ALEXANDER H. CROUSE was in many ways one of the most notable citizens of Tippecanoe County. He was especially well known as a farmer, in which line he was energetic, progressive and resourceful. His management of his mother's estate showed business ability of a high order. For eight and a half years he served as justice of the peace and during that time tried many cases, whose decision gave him a reputation for moderation and justice. His good common sense proved valuable to litigants, whom he persuaded to settle many of their disputes out of court. He always favored arbitration, if this could be brought about and saved contending parties much money by inducing them to compromise their differences. He was a man of integrity, of sterling character, and his word was as good as his bond to those who knew him. At one time he was a candidate for state senator and always took an interest in politics, first as a Republican, then as a Democrat. It is claimed that he suggeste! d the ground-work for the present Indiana liquor laws, and in other ways showed constructive ability. MR. CROUSE traveled a good deal not only in the United States but through foreign countries. In 1869 he spent time in England and Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France, Germany, Spain and Turkey. His sympathies were warm, his disposition kindly and his nature generous. He was long a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he filled all the chairs, and also belonged to the Encampment. He died August 13, 1908, and is buried in Westpoint cemetery, where his widow has erected a beautiful monument to his memory. MRS. CROUSE is a lady of many charms, bespeaking of the high social connections and fine families from which she sprang. Her home is noted for its hospitality and so kindly and courteously dispensed as to make all who call desire to come again. The children of MR. and MRS. CROUSE are as follows: JOHN THOMS, born April 26, 1895, and died in infancy; WIL! LIAM ALEXANDER, born November 24, 1896; MARY MAGDALENE, born October 7, 1898; MARK HERMON, born August 29, 1903; PARTLOW LOVELESS, born August 15, 1905, and ARMANDA ELIZA, born October 11, 1908.