The Crousers in West Virginia

There are quite a few Crousers in West Virginia. Are they all related? Who knows? Maybe when we get back a little further we will find a connection between them all. We've done well, but we still have some loose ends. Maybe you can help. What do you know about the Crousers in "the Mountain State"?

And now, here is a big THANK YOU to the folks who have shared all the information and pictures you will see on this website. Many of you have sent bits and pieces of information about your part of the family, and I truly appreciate that. Others have sent big sections of your family trees. I have been working at putting all that information together into one large family tree and posting it to this website. If you don't see the information you sent me, please be patient. It is taking time - like doing a huge jigsaw puzzle. I am working my way through my files and I hope to make an index to make your search easier!)

Meanwhile, keep those letters coming! Do you have pictures of your grandparents or great-grandparent? We don't have any old baby pictures yet. Do you know an interesting or funny story about your ancestors? Let me hear from you. Please e-mail your data and pictures to me, Betty Crouser Stumpf, at betty@crouser.com.

The Descendants of Nicholas Crouser and Elizabeth Christlieb

1. NICHOLAS CROUSER was born in Pennsylvania and died after 1850 in West Virginia. He married ELIZABETH CHRISTLIEB, the daughter of Jacob Christlieb and Nancy Singer. She was born September 5, 1781, in Mifflin, Cumberland County, PA. She died in VA/WV on January 17, 1857. They had the following children:

  • 2. MICHAEL CROUSER was born in about 1803 in PA and died 10 October 1850 in Wood County, WV. He was married in Randolph County, WV on 6 March 1829, to MAHALA KITTLE who was born to Abraham Kittle and Elizabeth Esters in about 1809. The children of Michael and Mahala were:

    • 3. DAVID CROUSER was born about 1830 and died before 1870. He may have died during the Civil War as our source has found no record of him after his record of military service. He was married on August 4, 1850, to ELIZABETH SPROUSE, the daughter of Tandy Sprouse and Nancy Sprouse. Elizabeth was born about 1830, in Wood County, WV, and died there in 1908.

      David Crouser is listed in the 1860 census of Lewis County, VA/WV as a farmer living near Weston.
      David's military service record says he was a private in the 17th VA cavalry co. C - CSA, Captain William Tavenner's company which was organized in Lewis County, VA/WV.

      To David and Elizabeth Sprouse Crouser were born the following children:

      • 4. THOMAS CROUSER was born about 1852 and died December 11, 1909.

        Minerva, Myrtle, and Albert Crouser
        photo compliments of Michael Petrone

      • 4. ALBERT G.CROUSER (one source said his middle name was Daniel, but I have found no proof either way) was born 19 December 1855 in Davis, Lewis County, WV, and died 14 November 1932. He married MINERVA ANN HULDERMAN August 30, 1879 in Ritchie County, WV. She was the daughter of Absalom Hulderman and Hellen Nay. Minerva was born July 15, 1863, in Lewis county, VA/WV and died March 31, 1943 in Waverly, Wood County, WV.

        Albert and Minerva are both buried in the Vaught Cemetery, Wirt County, WV.

        Minerva's obituary in the Wood County Death Book 6, page 341, says that she died at her residence in Waverly, Wood County, WV on 31 March 1843 at the age of 79y, 8m, and 16d. She was born in Lewis County, WV, on 15 July 1863. She was a widowed housewife. Her husband was Albert Crouser. Her father was Absalom Hulderman born in WV and her mother was Hellen Nay, also born in WV. She died of chronic myocarditis and senility. She was buried 2 April 1943 at Vaught Cemetery in Wirt County, WV.The source of the information was H.B. Crouser of Parkersburg.
        obituary compliments of Michael Petrone
        Although we have found no documentation of the fact, two different sources within the family have said that Minerva was believed to be of Native American (Blackfoot) descent.

        The chldren of Albert CROUSER and Minerva Hulderman were:

        • 5. LILLIAN C. CROUSER was born about 1883 and died after 1910. She is listed in the 1910 census as a dressmaker working at home.
        • 5. BESSIE H. CROUSER was born 13 February 1886 and died July 28, 1953, in Connellsville, PA. She was buried at Hillgrove Cemetery. She married THOMAS CURTIS PHALIN after 1910. He was the son of Martin Falin and malinda Evans. He was born April 13, 1872 in Carter County, KY, and died January 14, 1957 in Connellsville, PA.

          The 1910 city directory lists Bessie as living at home near Cairo and working as a housekeeper in a private home so she may not be the mother of the Phalin boys.
          The city directory for 1926 lists her as a notary public, and the city directory for 1934 lists her as tax collector for South Connellsville.
          The city directories for 1926, 1928 and 1934 list Thomas Phalin as pastor of the Love of God Church by Revelation, real estate and insurance salesman, Justice of the Peace, and propriator of the Phalin Apartments at 205 S. Pittsburgh, South Connellsville. He also bought and sold a lot of real estate.
          Family lore says that there was some question about the deaths of Bessie and Cora. Bessie died from injuries she received when she fell down a flight of stairs. She was cared for by family members until she eventually died of her injuries.
          Bessie's obituary in the Daily Courier of July 28, 1953, says Mrs. Bessie H. Phalin, 67, of 506 Pittsburgh Street, South Connellsville, died suddenly at 2:45 o'clock this morning in Connellsville State General Hospital. She was admitted there at 9 o'clock Monday morning. She had been in failing health since April this year. Deceased was the wife of Thomas C.Phalin. The body was taken to the Brooks Funeral Home at 204 West Green Street. Arrangements are incomplete.

          The children of Bessie (?)Crouser and Thomas Phalin were:

          • 6. Thomas Allen Phalin, born March 30, 1904 in Connellsville, PA and died May 1968 in Muskogee, OK.
          • 6. Zlfandt C. Phalin was born in about 1906 and died in about 1920 in Connellsville, PA.

        • 5. CORA CROUSER was born in WV and died before 1910.

          Family tradition says that Cora may have been married to Thomas Phalin before her sister Bessie married him. Bessie was still single and living at home in 1910 so she wasn't the mother of Thomas Allen and Zlfandt Phalin.

          Harry Bhuel Crouser

        • 5. HARRY BHUEL CROUSER was born about 1891 in Davis, WV. He married ODDIE JANE WEBB who was born January 23, 1898, and died in April 1983 in WV.

          According to the 1910 census, Harry Crouser was a tooldresser for oilwells.

          Harry Bhuel CROUSER and Oddie Jane Webb were the parents of:

          • 6. FRANCIS MYRTLE CROUSER died about 1980 in WV.
          • 6. OVALINE CROUSER
          • 6. JUANITA CROUSER
          • 6. ALBERT CROUSER was born June 14, 1916 in WV and died there November 26, 1988.
          • 6. BHUEL ELMER CROUSER was born November 6, 1918 in Cabin Creek, WV, and died July 16, 2001, in Indio, CA. He married BEATRICE EATON who was born August 2, 1921 and died in August 1983 in California.

            Bhuel's obituary in the Indio Desert Sun of Wednesday, July 18, 2001, said: Bhuel Elmer Crouser, 83, a 23 year resident of Indio, died July 16, 2001, at home. He was born January 6, 1918 to Harry Bhuel and Oddie Jane Webb Crouser in West Virginia. He was a truck driver with the Carnation Company for 30 years and served in the US Marine Corps in the South Pacific from 1939 to 1946. He served in the Consevation Corps from 1935 to 1939. He is survived by a son and daughter and four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife in 1983. Services will be at 9 a.m. Friday at FitzHenry Funeral Home, Indio Chapel. Interment will be in Coachella Valley Cemetery with FitzHenry Funeral Homes in charge of the arrangements.

          • 6. BERNARD CROUSER was born September 9, 1919 and died May 1968. He married BETTY ________.
          • 6. DENZIL JAMES CROUSER was born 4 March 1921 in WV and died in August 1976 in Charleston, WV. He married Betty Louise _______ who was born in WV in 1924 and died on June 10, 2004 in California. They had three sons.

        • 5. MYRTLE S. CROUSER was born about 1893.
        • 5. WADE GILBERT CROUSER was born about 1900 and died after 1936. He is listed in the 1920 census as a glass worker.

          Curtis Crouser about 1968 - Curtis and Naoma Crouser

          Photos courtesy of Michael Petrone

        • 5. CURTIS ALBERT CROUSER was born July 15, 1903, in Cairo, WV, and died October 27, 1980, in Mt. Pleasant, PA. He was married on June 25, 1927, in New Kensington, PA to NAOMA MARY OGLE, the daughter of John Ogle and Albertine Stelter. Naoma and her twin, Leona Carrie Ogle, were born November 21, 1906, in New Kensington, PA. Naoma died January 21, 1989, in Connellsville, PA. Curtis and Naoma are both buried in Fairview Church of God Cemetery in Kecksburg, PA.

          After their marriage, Curtis's job as a lineman took them to Monongahela, PA and then to Detroit, Michigan, where he helped erect a lot of electric poles along Telegraph Road. They had a good life there living near lake St. Clair and even had a boat for a time. During the Depression they moved to near Washington, PA, and then the Monongahela area again. After nearly being electrocuted in an accident, Curtis transferred to West Penn's meter shops at Connellsville about 1952 and retired from there in 1968

        4. NANCY ELIZABETH CROUSER was born about 1856 and maried JOHN S. PERRIN on January 19, 1872, in Wirt County, WV. John was born about 1849 in Wirt County.

      • 4. EMMA E. CROUSER was born bout 1857 and died June 8, 1908. She married a Mr. LUCAS.
      • 4. HARRIET A. CROUSER was born about 1859. She married SAMUEL H. PERRIN on 11 November 1883 in Wirt County, WV. He was born about 1848 in Wirt County.
      • 4. JACKSON CROUSER was born after 1860.

    • 3. NICHOLAS CROUSER was born about 1832 in what was then Virginia. He was married to ELIZA ANN NEWMAN (born about 1829 in VA) on May 18, 1852, in Wood County, WV. She was the mother of the children listed below. His second wife was JANE ANDERSON who he married on May 9, 1879, also in Wood County. The children of Nicholas and Eliza were:

      • 4. RICHARD HOWARD CROUSER was born in February 1856. He married MARY. They were the parents of:

        • 5. HENRY CROUSER was born in August 1881.
        • 5. CHARLES CROUSER was born 20 September 1886 in Slate, Wood, WV, and died 9 Apr 1943 in Summit, WV. He married MARGARET _____. They were the parents of:
          1. 6. MADELYN CROUSER born in Parkersburg, WV
        • 5. ELLA CROUSER was born in July 1896.
        • 5. ALBERT CROUSER was born in January 1900.

      • 4. BENJAMIN JACKSON CROUSER was born on March 18, 1860 in Wood County, WV. He married FRANCES A. WILKINSON on 8 Jan 1882. She was the daughter of Hiram Wilkinson and Sallie Corbin. Frances died of consumption in Carnegie, Pennsylvania.

        Benjamin is listed in the 1900 census of Ritchie County, 89th District (Grant)(near Cairo) as head of household with just his son Luther and father Nicholas listed as members of household. Benjamin's occupation is listed as farmer.

        Benjamin and Frances had the following children:

        • 5. GRANVILLE LUTHER (aka LUTHER GRANVILLE) CROUSER was June 16, 1887 and died in January 1963. He married NORA ________ . He worked for the railroad.

          Luther and Nora's children were:

          • 6. HAROLD LEROY "BUCK" CROUSER
          • 6. CALVIN CROUSER (pictured at right with wife Nora,and parents, Luther and Nora - Pittsburgh, 1944)
          • 6. HILDA CROUSER
          • 6. ANN CROUSER

          Burl and Susie Crouser

        • 5. BURL CROUSER of Haywood, WV was born b 30 May 1888, and died 21 June 1963.He married SUSSIE MILLER in 1909 in WV. Their children were:

          • 6. MARGARET ELIZABETH CROUSER
          • 6. DELLA EDITH MAY CROUSER
          • 6. LUTHER FRANKLIN CROUSER
          • LAURA BELL CROUSER
          • 6. RAY MANUAL CROUSER was born 21 Oct 1914 WV and died in Oct 1986 in Mannington, WV
          • 6. MARY VIRGINIA CROUSER
          • 6. MINNIE MAY CROUSER
          • 6. HELLEN LOUISE CROUSER
          • 6. HAZEL NORA CROUSER
          • 6. JACK RICHARD CROUSER
          • 6. William Robert CROUSER
          • 6. JOHN DAVID CROUSER
          • 6. daughter (still living)
          • 6. daughter (still living)

        • 5. PIERCE J. CROUSER

          Pierce moved to Missouri where he raised a large family. See the Crousers in Missouri page for more information, a picture, and an interesting newspaper article.

        • 5. DELLA CROUSER (twin to Delbert) married Oakley Shaffer.

          Delbert E. Crouser
        • 5.DELBERT EDGAR CROUSER was born in March 1882 in West Virginia and died in 1968 in Fort Worth, Texas. His children were:

          • 6. DELBERT EDGAR CROUSER Jr.
          • 6. FRANCES CROUSER

          We have some great pictures of Delbert, his son Delbert Jr. and his grandson, Delbert III. Delbert, Sr., moved to Texas where he raised his family.

        • 5. BENJAMIN CROUSER died young when crushed between two barges on the river.

      • 4. MARY E. CROUSER was born about 1863.
      • 4. LUCY A. CROUSER was born March 11, 1867. She was married on November 6, 1887 in Wirt County, WV to JOHN NICHOLSON (born to Liza ____in April 1854). Lucy died March 31, 1900 in WV and was buried at the Bethesda Baptist Church Cemetery in Palestine, WV. Lucy and John had the following children:

        • 5. Leona J. NICHOLSON was born March 1889
        • 5. Laura E. NICHOLSON was born September 1891.
        • 5. Minnie D. NICHOLSON was born May 1894.
        • 5. Fanny F. NICHOLSON was born October 1896.

    • 3. LEMUEL(ELEMUEL?)CROUSER was born about 1837.
    • 3. ELIZABETH I. CROUSER was born about 1841 in Harrison County, WV. She married JAMES DUNBAR Jr., a farmer, on May 26, 1857 in Wirt County, WV. They were married by Morton Baker, Commissioner. James was born about 1835 in Allegheny County, PA.
    • 3. GEORGE CROUSER was born about 1842.
    • 3. ADAM CROUSER was born about 1845.

  • 2. ? CROUSER abt 1804
  • 2. GEORGE CROUSER was born about 1806 and died in 1868. He married MARY SIMON. Their children were:
    • 3. SQUIRE CROUSER married REBECCA WARD. Their son was:

      • 4. ZACHARIA TAYLOR CROUSER was born 1867 and died 1937.

    • 3. ANTHONY CROUSER

  • 2. JOHN WESLEY CROUSER was born in 1808. He married MARY S.

    The 1860 census of Barbour County, VA, lists John Wesley Crouser and his wife Mary S. with son Lafayette, Rebecca A. Moore age 12 and Isaac Crislip (Christlieb), a 65 year old blacksmith.

    The children of John Wesley Crouser and his wife Mary were:

    • 3. LAFAYETTE Crouser was born about 1846 in Marion Co, WV and died 7 June 1919 Mannington, Marion Co., WV. He was married 8 Sep 1870 to MARIAH JANE MacDOUGAL who was born 9 Feb 1849, in Marion Co, WV and died 31 Oct 1910, in Mannington, Marion Co. (Herman Crouser says they moved from Big Run to Stringtown in Feb 1907.) Their children were as follows:

      • 4. VIOLA ELLEN CROUSER was born 2 Jul 1871 in Mannington, and died 6 Mar 1942. She married HOWARD ______ on 10 Feb 1901.
      • 4. SOLOMON CURTIS CROUSER was born 15 Jul 1872 in Mannington, Marion, WV, and died 9 Sep 1921. He married MARTHA DALTON, his cousin. After Solomon's death, Martha married a Mr. Whistler.
      • 4. NANCY FIDELIA CROUSER was born 23 Oct 1876, in Mannington, Marion, WV. She married SCOTT ______ on 24 Dec 1897.
      • 4. JAMES EMERY CROUSER was born 22 May 1880 in Mannington, Marion WV, and died 16 Dec 1946. He married MARY LENORA "Nora" _____ 5 May 1907.
      • 4. JOHN WILSON CROUSER was born 7 June 1887 in Mannington, Marion, WV. He married HAZEL ____ on 11 Apr 1912.

      Lafayette Crouser served in Company A of the 7th West Virginia Infantry (Union) during the Civil War.

    • SARAH ELIZABETH CROUSER was born in 1849 and died in 1907. We have a PICTURE of her!). She married JOHN DALTON in Ravenswood, West Virginia. They moved to the area of Coal Run, Ohio, in 1899. Their children were:

      • 4. Ida E. Dalton was born in October 1870. She married Richard Dyke.
      • 4. Jacob Dalton was born 14 January 1874. He married Monzelma Armstrong.
      • 4. Otto Dalton was born 12 April 1881. He married Cora Martin.
      • 4. Eva Dalton was born in 1883. She married Rome Metz.
      • 4. Martha Dalton was born in 1884 and married (1st) Solomon Curtis Crouser and (2nd) a Mr. Whistler.

        Martha and Solomon were first cousins. He was the son of Sarah Elizabeth's brother Lafayette.

      • 4. Mary Dalton (twin to Martha) was born in 1884 and married Carl Williams.
      • 4. Elwood Dalton was born in 1886. He married a Metz(?).
      • 4. John Dalton Junior was born in 1885 and never married.
      • 4. James Dalton was born in 1888 and married Grace Metz.
      • 4. Georgianna Dalton was born 10 May 1889 and married Vernie Richard Armstrong.
      • 4. Richard R. Dalton was born in 1893 and married Eva Arabella Chandler.

    • 3.Ellen CROUSER married a Mr. Kirby.

  • 2. CHARLES CROUSER
  • 2. JOSEPH CROUSER
  • 2. CATHERINE CROUSER was born in 1817 and married George Thompson.
  • 2. WILLIAM CROUSER was born 15 October 1821 in Barbour Co, WV, and died 19 October 1893 in Dents Run, Marion Co., WV. He married AMELIA METZ who was born 5 July 1829 in Mannington, Marion Co., WV. She died 19 September 1922. All their children were born in Dents Run, Marion Co., WV.

    • 3. MARTHA JANE CROUSER was born 24 March 1854 and died 7 January 1901. She married Wesley Shackelford. Their child was:
      • MONA LEA CROUSER was born September 25, 1876 and died July 13, 1945.
    • 3. JOHN WESLEY CROUSER was born 13 July 1856 and died 30 January 1929. He married MARY ELIZABETH HIGINBOTHAM who was born about 1855.

      • 4. WILBERT EDGAR CROUSER was born 10 January 1882 in WV and died in May 1976 in Rutland, Meigs County, Ohio. With his first wife, BLANCHE _______ , he had the following children:

        • 5. REX EDWARD CROUSER was born 20 September 1905 in Mannington, Marion County, WV and died 18 December 1993 in Charleston, Kanawha County, WV.
        • 5. HELEN CROUSER was born in about 1909 in WV.
        • 5. MERL CROUSER was born in about 1912 in WV.
        • 5. BEULAH CROUSER was born in about 1916 in WV.
        • 5. EVERLY GALEN CROUSER was born in about 1918 in WV.
        • 5. RAYMOND D. CROUSER was born 9 May 1921 in WV and died 5 November 1993. He lived in Ravenswood, Jackson County, WV.
        • 5. MABEL CROUSER was born in about 1925 in WV.

        After Blanche's death, he moved to Rutland, Ohio, and married MARY _________, a younger woman and they had four children as follows:

        • 5. PATTY CROUSER was born in Ohio.
        • 5. ROY EDGAR CROUSER was born in Ohio.
        • 5. ALICE CROUSER was born in Ohio.
        • 5. MARY CROUSER was born in Ohio.

      • 4. CHARLEY Crouser was born in 1879 in Marion Co, WV.
      • 4. JESSE CROUSER was born in 1880.

    • 3. WILLIAM CROUSER was born 8 Aug 1858 and died 12 Nov 1862.
    • 3. GEORGE WASHINGTON CROUSER was born 3 Dec 1860 in WV and died 29 Jul 1914 in Hanford, Kings, County, CA. He married MARY CAMPBELL who was born 16 January 1865 in Marion, WV and died in Martinez, Solano County, CA, 23 October 1952. They were both buried in Kingsburg, CA.

        • 4. Frank Lester Crouser was born 26 Feb 1890 in Marion County, WV, and died 15 April 1966 in Fresno, California.
        • 4. Dennis Frailey Crouser was born 5 Jan 1892 in West Virginia and died 3 August 1958 in Madera, Madera County, CA. He married Ivy ______ on 25 May 1915 in Fresno County, CA.
        • 4. Harry Chester Crouser was born 28 Mar 1894 in West Virginia and died 28 Sep 1961 in Colusa County, CA. He married Iris _____, the sister of Ivy, Dennis's wife, on 1 Nov 1915.
        • 4. Maggie May Crouser was born 23 December 1897 in West Virginia and died there 3 December 1918.
        • 4. Clarence Crouser was born 7 December 1899 in West Virginia and died there on 16 May 1901.
        • 4. Carney Wayne Crouser was born 9 July 1902 in West Virginia and died in Kings County, California on 23 January 1942.
        • 4. Nellie Gertrude Crouser was born 11 May 1905 and died in Madera County, California on 3 April 1991. She married a Mr. Williams.
        • 4. Augusta (Opal)Crouser was born 12 June 1908 in Riverbend, Kings County, California and died 18 September 1993 in Madera County, California. She married a Mr. Williams.

      • 3. SIMON JASPAR CROUSER was born 8 Jul 1862 and died 12 Nov 1862.
      • 3. JULIUS FERNANDO CROUSER was born 30 Apr 1863 and died 26 Apr 1924. He married CORA SATTERFIELD. Their child was:
        • William Earl CROUSER
      • 3. JASPAR ALLEN CROUSER was born 28 Jul 1865. He married FLORENCE SHUMAN who was born 20 Jun 1870 in Ministers Run, Marion, WV and died 13 Oct 1938.
        • 4. ORA G. CROUSER was born Jul 1899 in Marion, Vv, and died 7 Jun 1900.
      • 3. LORANA VIRGINIA CROUSER was born 4 Mar 1869.
      • 3. FRANCES M. CROUSER was born 20 Jan (or Jul) 1871.
      • 3. MARY ANN CROUSER was born 17 August 1852.

The Crousers in Barbour County

JOHN CROUSER is listed in the 1860 census Philippi, Barbour Co., WV.

LEVI CROUSERis listed in the 1860 census of Philippi, Barbour Co., WV.

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