My Genealogy Hound

CHARLES S. CROUCH, an enterprising real estate dealer in Northampton, who is also a practical carpenter and builder, was born in Wardsboro, Vt., August 17, 1829, son of Elisha and Olive (Brown) Crouch. His father was a twin brother of Elijah Crouch, of Stowe, Mass., and his mother was a native of Princeton. They had two sons and four daughters. One son passed away in infancy; and one daughter, Lucinda, wife of Zimri Scott, a farmer in Gill, is yet living.

Charles S. Crouch attended school in Brattleboro, Vt., Chicopee and Springfield, Mass., studying in the latter city at the Lawton Private School. When a boy he sold papers on the street in Springfield, and developed a keen business talent, selecting the most taking, topics to call out when vending his wares. In his seventeenth year he began to learn the carpenter’s trade, which he worked at in Springfield and Chicopee. With the exception of three years when he was engaged in manufacturing tools in Northampton, he has since followed this vocation. A man of foresight and untiring energy, he deals extensively in real estate, buying large tracts of vacant land, which he divides into house lots, laying out streets and building good houses for sale.

On June 26, 1846, Mr. Crouch was united in marriage to Susan M., daughter of Isaac Alvord, of Northampton. She passed away in March, 1855, leaving three children, who are located as follows: Nellie, wife of Samuel L. Graves, a decorator, is living at Buffalo, N.Y., and has five children; Emma, wife of Elbridge Wait, lives in Hartford, Conn., and has one son; Alice, wife of Henry Lander, resides in Boston. Mr. Crouch subsequently married Jane B. Bardwell, of Hartford, Conn., who for many years was a teacher in the public schools; and one child was born to them, Anna Elizabeth, who died in infancy. Their pleasant home at 66 Pleasant Street, in which they have lived for the past fifteen years, Mr. Crouch built in 1880. In politics Mr. Crouch is a Republican. He has been a member of the Common Council two terms, and is serving the second year as Alderman of Ward One. In religious belief he is a Congregationalist. On a page near by will be seen a portrait* of this well-known, progressive, and eminently useful citizen.

*Editor's note: Portrait was included in the original printed book.