CROUCH, E. L., M.D., Assistant Physician and Surgeon, Illinois Central Hospital for the Insane, Jacksonville, Ill., was born in Jefferson County, Ill., July 22, 1869, the son of W. L. and Rebecca (Harris) Crouch, the former a native of Jefferson County, Ill., and the latter of Posey County, Ind. The mother came to Illinois with her parents in childhood. Dr. Crouch's paternal grandfather, Jesse L. Crouch, moved to Jefferson County, Ill., when a young man, and later married Ruth Ward, whose father was one of the earliest settlers of that part of the State. W. L. Crouch, father of E. L., now lives retired from active farming labors. In 1862 he enlisted in Company K, Thirteenth Illinois Volunteer Cavalry, was mustered into service at Camp Butler, near Springfield, and in 1865 was mustered out at Quincy, Ill. To him and his wife were born four children, all excepting Dr. Crouch, who is the oldest son, residing in Mt. Vernon, Ill.

Dr. E. L. Crouch, as a boy, was reared on his father's farm, and, after attending the district school, began the study of medicine in the Missouri Medical College (now Washington University), St. Louis, and graduated therefrom in 1891. During the same year he engaged in general practice in Mt. Vernon, Ill., continuing therein until 1897. In May of the latter year he was appointed to the position of Second Assistant Physician on the East Side at the Jacksonville Hospital for the Insane, later (1901) became Physician for the State Penitentiary at Chester, Ill., and in June, 1902, returned to Jacksonville and assumed his present position.

Dr. Crouch was married June 23, 1893, to Mary Hawkins, daughter of Joel Hawkins, of Jefferson County, Ill., who was one of the early settlers of that part of the State. He and his wife have one son, Joel Elmer, born December 3, 1899. In 1895 and 1896 Dr. Crouch pursued special post-graduate courses, and is a member of several medical societies, such as the State Medical Association, Morgan County Medical Society, Southern Illinois Association and the Western District Medical Association of Jacksonville. He is a member of the Baptist Church and fraternally, a Mason.