William G Crowe

CROWE

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 5/20/2010 at 14:12:05

William G Crowe is one of Boone’s successful business men, being connected with a profitable and growing enterprise of this city, a well appointed garage, in the conduct of which he is proving that success if the result of close application, sound judgment an unfaltering enterprise. He is a son of William Crowe, who for a considerable period has been closely connected with the development of the coal fields of this part of the state. The son has found an excellent example in the father’s business career, for William Crowe, Sr. is a self made man, whose industry and determination have constituted the foundation upon which he has built his prosperity. A native of Scotland, he was born on February 17, 1847, of the marriage of Garvin and Margaret (Bullock) Crowe. His paternal grandfather, William Crowe, lived to be more than ninety years of age, Garvin Crowe was always a resident of Scotland and after a connection with a bleaching factory n his early manhood turned his attention to farming. His death occurred I 1898, at the age of seventy-three years. Both were Presbyterians in religious faith and exemplified in their lives the Christian teachings of the church. Garvin Crowe also enjoyed a most creditable reputation for activity and reliability in business and for fidelity in friendship. His wife was a daughter of William Bullock, a weaver by trade, who followed that pursuit for a number of years and afterward conducted a coal year. He married Elizabeth Davidson, who passed away at the age of sixty-five years, while his death occurred at the age of seventy.
William Crowe, father of William C Crowe, was one of a family of three sons and three daughters. He remained a resident of the land of hills and heather until he reached the age of nineteen years, when in 1866, he left the village of Larkhall and sailed for the United States. After a residence of three years in Pennsylvania he went to Illinois, but three years later retuned to the former state. After a short time, however he went to Ohio and in 1871 he was there weeded to Miss Elizabeth Marshall of Hubbard, Trumbull county. The year 1876 witnessed their arrival in Boone and from that time to the present Mr Crowe has been prominently associated with its business interests, especially in the development of the coal fields of this portion of the state. For a time he engaged in coal mining at Ames and later became a factor n the development of the coal trade of Boone. After a partnership of eighteen years George Rogers sold his interests in the business to John Marshall, who was a partner of Mr Crowe until his death in November 1899. Mr Crowe then settled the business and on March 6, 1900, he organized the Crowe Coal Mining Company, of which he became president and general manager, with James Crowe as vice president and secretary and Garvin Crowe as treasurer. The company developed the mines in Des Moines township, and the business has grown to large and profitable proportions. In fact, Mr Crowe has employed more men than any other person interested coal mining in his time in Boone. His keen discernment has enabled him to readily discriminate between the essential and the non-essential in carrying on his business and, utilizing the former, he was won a very gratifying measure of success. He ahs kept in touch with modern improvements in the methods of taking the coal from the mines and also in its distribution, and whatever he ahs attempted he has accomplished by reason of his firm purpose and unfaltering energy.
The cause of education has ever found in William Crowe Sr a stalwart champion and for many years he has served on the school board. He has likewise been a member of the city council, exercising his official prerogatives n support of various measures for the general good. He is an exemplary representative of the Masonic fraternity and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Both he and his wife are devoted members of the Baptist church. In 1888 he returned for a visit to his native land, which he had not seen in more then twenty-two years. Writing of William crow a contemporary biographer said”
“few men are more prominent or more widely known in the enterprising city of Boone than Mr Crowe. In business affairs Mr Crowe is energetic, prompt and notably reliable. Tireless energy keen perception, honesty of purpose, a genius for devising and executing the right thing at the right time, joined to every day common sense, guided by resistless will power, are the chief characteristics of the man. Justice has ever been maintained n his relations to patrons an d employees, and many of those who began with him at the commencement of his career are still in his service. He has not been slow to assist and encourage others who have left his employ to enter business for themselves and in return he naturally has the loyal support of all the employees of the house. He has been watchful of all the details of his business and of all indications pointing toward prosperity, and from the beginning had an abiding faith in the ultimate success of his enterprise. He has gained wealth, yet it was not alone the goal for which he was striving and he belongs to that class of representative American citizens who promote the general prosperity while advancing individual interests.”
Unto Mr and Mrs Crowe were born twelve children: Agnes who became the wife of Leslie M Strong, Margaret, the wife of George Johnson, Mary the wife of Oscar E Anderson, Christine, Anna E who on June 18, 1902 became the wife of J B Bergstrom of Fargo, North Dakota, May, William G, George Roger, Robert E, Harry James, Lester Verne, and Glenn who died in infancy.
William G Crowe whose name introduces this review, was born January 3, 1884, upon the old homestead, which is situated in the west end of the city, in which he still resides. He attended the public schools of his native town, completing his education with two years of high school at the age of sixteen. He then entered upon his active career, becoming an employee in the clothing store of Mr McNeil. There he remained two years and tat the end of that time attended for one year the Capital City Commercial College in Des Moines. Upon his return he entered the offices of the Crowe Coal Mining Company, working for his father for three years, at the end of which time he became bookkeeper for Fenton & Company, a well known grocer firm of Boone. His activities with this firm were terminated after two years, on the expiration of which period he established himself in business independently, buying the garage of William & Stockslager. Mr Crowe has since been in charge of this business and enjoys a most profitable trade. He has won many new customers by carefully attending to their wants, is punctual and obliging and has shown himself I many ways an excellent business man. He has one of the best establishments of its kind in this part of the state, and its success is largely due to the up to date methods and the honest policy which are prevailing in the business.
On July 26, 1907, William G Crowe married Miss Lora Jenkins, a daughter of Lee and Adelaide (Saunders) Jenkins. Mr Crowe is one of the popular young men of Boone, respected and esteemed by all who know him. He is connected with a number of fraternal organization, practically the Masons, in which he holds high rank. In that order he is a Shriner and also belongs to the Eastern Star. Moreover, Mr Crowe is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America. Success has come to him in response to an ambition which could not be deterred by any obstacles or hindrances, and his career is again proof of the fact hat industry, determination, honesty, and thrift will win the way to prosperity.

1914 Boone County History Book