Crew, A. J.
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Crew, A. J.
| Celia Luce Davis (View posts) | Posted: 6 Jan 2001 12:00PM GMT |
Classification: Biography
Surnames: Crew, Vinton, Burris, Smith
from reprint of “Clarke County Historical and Biographical Record” by Lewis Publishing, 1886. p.27
A. J. CREW, an old and honored pioneer of Knox Township, was born in Northampton County, North Carolina, December 16, 1819, a son of Benjamin and Martha (Vinton) Crew. His parents were born, reared and married in Northampton County, and to them were born twelve children-- Henry B., Abner J., Sarah, Rebecca, Andrew, William, Thomas J., John W. and Mary E., and three who died unnamed, and of the above-named children seven lived to maturity. Our subject lived in North Carolina till twenty-two years of age, his early life being spent in assisting on the home farm, and his education being obtained by study at home.
In 1842, in company with his parents, he went to Belmont County, Ohio, where he was married, August 15, 1844, to Elizabeth Burris, a daughter of William Burris. Mrs. Crew died January 25, 1850, leaving three children-- Mary C., John Henry and Martha Ann. August 21, 1851, Mr. Crew married for his second wife Elizabeth Smith, of Belmont County, Ohio, a daughter of Spencer and Catharine Smith. To this union were born nine children, eight still living-- Rachel J., Sarah Sabina, George W., Abner L., Amanda E., Spencer Lincoln, Ida Levisa and Isalena. One son, William T., is deceased.
Mr. Crew came to Iowa in 1854, and after looking over a large portion of this State decided to locate in Clarke County. He made the journey down the Ohio River by boat to St. Louis, thence by boat to Keokuk, Iowa, and to Clarke County from Keokuk by team. He located in Knox Township where he entered 240 acres of land from the Government, on which he has since resided. He first built a story and a half log house, in which his family found a comfortable home till his present commodious and substantial residence was erected in 1862. He devotes considerable attention to the raising and feeding of stock, his farm, which now contains 274 acres, being well adapted for stock-raising. He has a fine orchard on his farm, and good barn and other farm buildings.
He started in life without means, but being industrious and economical he has by his own efforts become the owner of his present fine property, and is now numbered among the prosperous citizens of Knox Township. He has served his township as trustee, being chairman of the board, and has been a delegate to the State Convention at Des Moines. Mr. Crew is one of the most active members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and has assisted in building three or four churches in this county. In politics he was formerly a Republican, but at present affiliates with the Greenback party, he being one of the first men in Clarke County to espouse the Greenback cause.
A. J. CREW, an old and honored pioneer of Knox Township, was born in Northampton County, North Carolina, December 16, 1819, a son of Benjamin and Martha (Vinton) Crew. His parents were born, reared and married in Northampton County, and to them were born twelve children-- Henry B., Abner J., Sarah, Rebecca, Andrew, William, Thomas J., John W. and Mary E., and three who died unnamed, and of the above-named children seven lived to maturity. Our subject lived in North Carolina till twenty-two years of age, his early life being spent in assisting on the home farm, and his education being obtained by study at home.
In 1842, in company with his parents, he went to Belmont County, Ohio, where he was married, August 15, 1844, to Elizabeth Burris, a daughter of William Burris. Mrs. Crew died January 25, 1850, leaving three children-- Mary C., John Henry and Martha Ann. August 21, 1851, Mr. Crew married for his second wife Elizabeth Smith, of Belmont County, Ohio, a daughter of Spencer and Catharine Smith. To this union were born nine children, eight still living-- Rachel J., Sarah Sabina, George W., Abner L., Amanda E., Spencer Lincoln, Ida Levisa and Isalena. One son, William T., is deceased.
Mr. Crew came to Iowa in 1854, and after looking over a large portion of this State decided to locate in Clarke County. He made the journey down the Ohio River by boat to St. Louis, thence by boat to Keokuk, Iowa, and to Clarke County from Keokuk by team. He located in Knox Township where he entered 240 acres of land from the Government, on which he has since resided. He first built a story and a half log house, in which his family found a comfortable home till his present commodious and substantial residence was erected in 1862. He devotes considerable attention to the raising and feeding of stock, his farm, which now contains 274 acres, being well adapted for stock-raising. He has a fine orchard on his farm, and good barn and other farm buildings.
He started in life without means, but being industrious and economical he has by his own efforts become the owner of his present fine property, and is now numbered among the prosperous citizens of Knox Township. He has served his township as trustee, being chairman of the board, and has been a delegate to the State Convention at Des Moines. Mr. Crew is one of the most active members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and has assisted in building three or four churches in this county. In politics he was formerly a Republican, but at present affiliates with the Greenback party, he being one of the first men in Clarke County to espouse the Greenback cause.