John Crim

CRIM

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 3/10/2009 at 12:03:05

John Crim, living on Sec 8, Dodge township, is practically living retired upon the old home farm which has been the scene of his active labor for many years. Hew was born in Loudoun county, Virginia, October2, 1825. The same year his parents removed westward, settling in Carroll county, Ohio, among the frontier people there living. The father chopped down the great forest trees, grubbed up the stumps, cleared away the brush and eventually was enabled to carry on the work of plowing and planting upon his farm of 160 acres. In course of time the tract of land became rich and arable. He spent his last years upon that place and was the leading agriculturist of his community.
Upon the home farm John Crim was reared and in early youth he took his place behind the plow and continued to assist in the work of the farm through a long period. About 1848 he married Salina Kail and then to provide a home for his bride he rented a tract of land, continuing its cultivation until 1854, when he came to Iowa. The first season after his arrival was spent near Madrid and in the spring of 1855 he came to dodge township, entering from the government land which he now owns and occupies. It was a tract of raw prairie, covering 80 acres and also an 80 acres tract of timer land. Preparing it for cultivation, he continued the work of a progressive and practical agriculturist for many years. He also bought 80 acres adjoining his first purchase, erected a good residence and put up all the other buildings which constitute the necessary and desirable improvements upon a farm. He has an excellent orchard, good forest trees and splendid equipments, and all these stand as monuments to his enterprise and thrift.
Mr Crim for many years enjoyed the companionship and aid of his estimable wife, but on December 12, 1893, was called upon to mourn her loss, for she died on that date and was laid to rest in the Ridgeport cemetery. They became the parents of nine children: C W, a lawyer, now enjoying a large clientage in Estherville, Iowa is married and has two children. Albert, a resident farmer of Emmet county, Iowa is married and has four children, one of his daughters being engaged in teaching. John B, who is occupying the home place, is married and has three children, Floyd, Ruby, and Edgar. Maggie is the wife of Columbus Richardson, by whom she has five children, four of whom have reached years of maturity. Virginia is the wife of David Richardson, of Hancock county, Iowa and has four living children. Mrs Ettie Hanson is a widow of Webster City, Iowa and has five children. Carrie is the wife of Mort Condon, of North Dakota, and has five children. Dora is the wife of Peter Mather, of Stanhope, Iowa and has two children.
In his political views Mr Crim is a Jefferson Democrat and never failed to vote each presidential election since casting his first vote for Franklin Pierce, in 1852, with the exception of the last tow times when he was not able to go tot eh pools. For a few terms he served as township trustee and has also been school director, but has never been a politician in the commonly accepted sense of office seeking. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church of Ridgeport and is a valued man whose advancement in life has come as a direct result of his own efforts. He had no friends to aid him and no inheritance came to him, but with strong purpose he resolved to work his way upward, and as the years have passed his labors have borne excellent fruit. He now has a valuable farm upon which he is living a retirement, for his former toil has brought him a comfortable competence that now supplies him with all of the necessities and comforts and may of the luxuries of life.

1902 Boone County History Book