My Genealogy Hound

T. H. Crout, whose fine farm of 81 acres is located in the southwest corner of section 32, Avon township, Okland County, is one of the prominent and successful farmers of the locality. Mr. Crout was born October 1, 1840, in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Josiah and Hannah (Oyer) Crout, both of whom were born in the Keystone state. The Crout family is a very old one there, its first settlement dating back probably 200 years. Mr. Crout was a member of a family of four children and of these two sisters and one brother survive.

The boyhood, youth and young manhood of Mr. Crout were spent in his native state, where he obtained a good, common school education and learned the practical methods of farming which have made his operations in Michigan particularly successful. He was 28 years of age when he came to this state, and settled first at Rochester. He worked for some years for the farmers in Oakland township, making yearly contracts, but it is 24 years since he purchased his present farm, where he has followed general farming.

In 1860 Mr. Crout married Mary Bartholomew, who was also born in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, a member of one of the old settled families there. Two children were born of this union, namely: E. C., who is so well known as the enterprising proprietor of the fine Fairview Stock Farm, located one and one-half miles south of Rochester; and W. S., who assists his father. Both sons rank among the leading agriculturists of the county.

While Mr. Crout is not an active politician, he zealously supports the Republican party, having cast his first Presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. Mr. Crout is one of the old settlers and is well known and most highly esteemed.