Embracing Montana: The Methodist Ministry of Reverend Charles D. Crouch, D.D. 1863-1947

By Jerry Crouch

In 1903, nearing age 40, Charles Crouch became a Methodist Minister. It had been a long journey since his conversion from Mormonism eight years earlier. With an eight-grade education, he had studied to gain enrollment in the Montana Wesleyan University at Helena, Montana. Graduating from that University in 1901, he then completed the additional qualifications to become an Elder and full minister in the Methodist Church.

From here he would go on to pastorships of six congregations. His Great Falls Montana pastoral service from 1904 to 1908 was typical. A prior minister had built a church that was only half full and in debt. Reverend Crouch filled the church with members and paid off the debt.

As superintendent of the Yellowstone District from 1908 to 1912, the Reverend established congregations in many cities and built church buildings. This was the period of greatest growth for his area of Montana. He was awarded a Doctor of Divinity degree for his great accomplishments.

Reverend Crouch was recognized as an exceptional fund raiser. This ability was utilized by his many congregations on various fund drives. His greatest success in fund raising and building, however, was with new Deaconess Hospitals- first in Great Falls, then in Bozeman and lastly in Billings, Montana. Crouch's final assignment as a full time Methodist Minister was in 1922. He was sent to Billings to raise money, build a Deaconess hospital, staff the hospital and be the business manager until his retirement in 1931.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: Oct 5, 2006
• ISBN: 9781466934139

Jerry Crouch

Jerry Evan Crouch was born in 1934 in a house near the adobe home of his great-grandfather John Evans, a Union soldier in the Civil War. He graduated from the University of Utah and practiced public accounting in Utah for 38 years. During his working years he also served as president of the Weber County Board of Education, chairman of the Utah State Board of Family Services, chairman of the Weber-Morgan Board of Health and in many other civic and business positions.

Book preview

Contents

Acknowledgements

Illustrations

Introduction

Chapter 1  The Mormon Beginnings

Chapter 2  On to Montana

Chapter 3  Becoming a Methodist Minister

Chapter 4  The Early Years

Chapter 5  Building Montana

Chapter 6  The Middle Years

Chapter 7  Reverend Crouch Builds a Hospital

Chapter 8  The Retirement Years

Sources

Acknowledgements

My aunt, Edith Crouch Casper, was an excellent researcher. She had many files and correspondences with information about her uncle, Charles Crouch. Aunt Edith’s daughter and my cousin Dixie Casper Nelson provided copies of the many items from her mother’s files.

My brother-in-law, Alma D. Eakle Jr., who was also a grandson of Miriam Adams, a half-sister of Beulah Adams Crouch, provided me with many details about the Adams family. Also, he confirmed the economic struggles of his father’s polygamous childhood on the farm in Woods Cross, Utah.

Heather Nelson was not only the typist and reviewer but also did the layout and design. She had the job of correcting my English and punctuation, no small task.

Craig Hayes, my nephew and a great-great-nephew of Charles Crouch, created the illustrations so helpful for a clearer understanding.

Librarians, historians, archivists, Methodist members and many others throughout Montana and elsewhere bent over backwards to assist.

Thanks to all.

Illustrations

Maude Adams about 1900

Beulah Adams Crouch

Montana Wesleyan University

Methodist Church Clancy,

C.D. Crouch Book Binder,

Methodist Church Butte,

South Central Montana Roads about 1880

Methodist Church

Deaconess Hospital Great Falls, Montana 1907

South Central Montana Railroads in 1910.

Deaconess Nursing School Great Falls, Montana about 1910

Montana Deaconess School after 1909

Blair Sanitorium Later Bozeman Deaconess Hospital

United Methodist Church Stevensville, Montana

Methodist Church, Missoula, Montana (Replaced by new church in 1911)

New Methodist Church Missoula, Montana Built in 1911

University of Montana Missoula about 1917

Methodist Church

Montana Wesleyan College Helena, Montana

Billings Deaconess Hospital Construction by Fall 1923

Billings Deaconess Hospital July 4, 1927

Introduction

This is a love story—a story of a strong and all-consuming love for the Methodist Church and Montana as expressed by two very special people: Charles D. Crouch and his wife Beulah Adams Crouch.

It is also a love story of how the author came to admire Charles D. Crouch, the brother of his grandfather, Ernest (Ern) Crouch. This great-uncle had done the family proud. His accomplishments were far beyond the ordinary achievements of many.

Love for America should be kept in mind as the story unfolds. Here two people could rise up, fulfill their dreams, and do much good, unshackled from many old world class restrictions. The Crouch’s of Montana could become ‘someone’ here in America, and they did.

Jerry Evan Crouch June 2006

Chapter 1

The Mormon Beginnings

Charles’ parents, William and Caroline Crouch, were a Methodist family who had joined the Mormon Church in England, in 1853. William was a bobby or policeman.¹² Charles was born ten years later and was raised as a Mormon. The Crouch family arrived in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1873, as Mormon converts from Plumsted, England. Plumsted is on the Thames River downstream from London but close enough to be considered in the greater London area.

Memories of his early life in England remained with Charles. One special day the family made a visit to the Crystal Palace in London. After seeing the many sights they entered a large room to eat their lunch. Although they had brought their lunch from home it was unthinkable to eat lunch without their tea. When the waitress came with the tea she took her pay and left. Unfortunately, the added cream and sugar needed stirring, and there were no spoons. Father took the end of his umbrella and wiped off the end and then stirred our tea with the umbrella.

Another memory of his home life was "how we always took a spoonful of treacle and brim-stone [sic] at night before we went