Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-22
PROF. CROUCH DYING.
I" Kathleen NaYourneen'S" Author In a
Very Critical Condition.
MAY NOT SURVIVE TODAY
Brief sketch of n Most Remarkable
Career-Hc Was the Father OF ~
(hiIdren-Compo-ed About Two
thousand Songs.
thousand Songs.

A special telegram received by the Dis
patch late last night states that Pro-
lessor William Nicholas Crouch. the
author OF the song Kathleen Mavour-
neen." who is seriously Ill at his home
in Baltimore, was not expected to live
through to-day.
Professor Crouch is well known In this
city. where he lived for number OF
years and was, prior to the war, men,
Der Of st. Paurs church choir.
The war broke out when he was in the
height of his prosperity. Giving UP
all this he shoulderei a musket and
marched to the front in the service Of
the Confederacy with the Richmond
Hcwitzers.
He was the life OF his company. Long,
wearisome marches had no effect on his
blithe heart. He was always in for a
fiolic. Notwithstanding his advancing
years. which then bore lightly upon him.
and at night. around the camp-hres, he
would time and again sing TO his weary,
fCctsore comrades the sweet ballads he
had written in former days.
Professor Crouch could fight as well
as sing, and he was one OF the men who
caused the destruction Of the Portsmouth
navy-yard and the naval vessels there
He was in almost every struggle of the
Army Of Northern Virginia until the CUR
render at Appomattox.
REVERSES AFTER THE WAR.
After the war he returned TO Rich
mond TO find his home broken up, his
books, manuscripts, and almost every
thing else he possessed destroyed. While
passing along the road TO Buckingham
Courthouse he stopped at the home Of
Mr.. Thomas Perkins. and there he found
employment as gardener. After serving
in that capacity for some time he was
recognized by several Federal army
officers as the distinguished musician OF
ante-bellum days. Professor Crouch then
became teacher Of music to the Misses
Perkins and also obtained other pupils
In the neighborhood. Subsequently he re-
turned to Richmond and taught music.
Professor Crouch has composed about
two thousand songs, but has lacked the
business ability to make them pay, and
the best-known Of them all, Kathleen
MaVourneen." he gave away.
AN ADOPTED SON.
The only benefit he reaped from the
famous song was an indirect one. An
Irish lad, impressed by its sweet strains
remembered them long after he had
reached middle life. and, abandoning his
own name, took that OF the old must.
clan, becoming his adopted son, in order
that he might care for him This is
James Marion Roche, a paymaster In
the United States navy. who became
James Marion Roche Crouch. Within the
last few years Professor Crouch's
adopted son was retired, and Is now In
the Naval Home, at Philadelphia.
The Professors daughter. Rosa, aged
about % years, Is playing soubrette
parts with the Nelly McHenry Company
through California, and is known as
Ia Petite Rosa"
A LARGE FAMILY.
Professor Crouch was married foul
times. His last wife, who was Mis-:
Martha Vaughn, Of Virginia, survive.
him.
He has been the father OF twenty
seven children. His family now consist.
of Mrs. Crouch and five children-Junlus
Rosa, Blanche, Anna, and Frederick
Mr.. Walter Crouch. son OF Mr.. Crouch'l
third wife, lives in Washington. Mrs
c. Mawdsley Is Mr.. Crouch's eldes
daughter.
Cora Pearl. the famous character o.
Paris, who died some years ago, was 6
daughter Of Professor Crouch. who wa,
born in his early life. When IL years ole
she left her home. anc was nevel
seen by her father aftervard. He search
ed for her many years without result
but finally found that she had an as
| sumed name. she having been recog
nized by some of his friends as Kathleen
| Crouch.