Edward Ray Crouch was born on September 14, 1903, in Hickory, North Carolina. Suffering from epilepsy, Crouch spent several weeks at the state insane asylum in Raleigh for care before being taken back home by his father in October 1919. Subsequent letters from Hickory citizens to Governor Thomas W. Bickett complained about improper treatment of Crouch and demanded an investigation. Blame for the poor conditions at the asylum was placed squarely on a lack of appropriate funding. Crouch died from his condition on January 19, 1920. He was just sixteen.