I can't help at present with your Cruse line but I wondered if your husband had ever considered taking a DNA test to help with the Cruse research. We now have a large number of Cruse lines represented in the Cruse DNA project, including one from Jasper County in Mississippi. If he had any matches it will tell you which line he came from even if there is no surviving paper trail. You can read more about the project here:
http://www.familytreedna.com/public/CruwysDNAThere is currently a sale on until 25th June.
Debbie Kennett
Cruse/Cruwys one-name study
http://www.one-name.org/profiles/cruwys.html