Crary, Oliver W. 1819 - 1903

CRARY, AVERY, BURROWS, THORSON

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 11/7/2019 at 17:14:40

Source: Decorah Republican Aug. 27, 1903 Page 1 Col 7

A Clayton County Pioneer Gone.
The Monona Leader reports the death of Judge Oliver W. Crary, on the l9th inst. Mr. C. came to Iowa in 1848, and has ever since been an active, influential citizen. He helped organize his school district, and all his life, save one year, been absent, he was district secretary. In 1857, when the county judge was "it” in county affairs, he was elected to that office, and was three times afterward elected as supervisor. From l871 to 1874, he was state senator from Clayton.

Transcriber’s Note: Find a Grave shows he is buried the National Cemetery and was born December 21, 1819.

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Added by S. Ferrall 11/7/2019:

Oliver W. Crary was born in Preston, Conn., December 21, 1819. He came of a family that for generations had been distinguished for illustrious services rendered to the state and county. He was the son of Elisha and Abigail Crary, (nee Avery), natives of New London County, Conn. They had eight children: John Brewster; Elisha A.; Hon. Isaac E., of Michigan who represented that state in Congress in 1836, and one of Michigan's ablest lawyers; William G.; Abigail; Susy and Oliver W. and one daughter who died in infancy.

The family can be traced back to the reign of Charles (either II, 11 or 14), their home being in Northumberland. The family left England in 1660 coming to America. In 1680 Peter Crary, great grandfather of O.W., patented a large tract of land in Groton, Conn., on the banks of the Mystic river, near Porter's Rock, where Captain Mason spent the night before surprising the Pequod Indians. This patent remained in the possession of the family until a few years since, being the home of generations of the Crary family.

Born of such an ancestry, bearing upon less youthful shoulders the responsibility inseparable from such an illustrious lineage much was required of him to prove his title to the name he bore, around which clustered so much of his hereditary prestige. But high as was this standard of expectation he met its severest demands.

In youth he had the privilege of attending the district school during the winter months only, but by diligent personal application to study he became one of the best informed men of his day. He began teaching school when sixteen years old and continued in that occupation some twelve years.

In April 1848, accompanied by a friend, he started for the far and unexplored west in search of a new home, making the journey in a buggy. When they reached Cleveland, Ohio, his friend's courage failed him and he returned to the east, leaving Mr. Crary, who continued his journey alone. He reached Clayton County soon after and settled on section 34 of Farmersburg township, which has been his home since. He became one of the largest land owners of the county, his possessions numbering 750 acres of the finest prairie land in Iowa and 750 acres of timber land.

In 1849 he married Charlotte Burrows, who died on March 26th, 1854, one child, now deceased, being born to them.

On April 19th, 1864 he married Agnethe, daughter of Halvor and Eilen Thorson. To them were born ten children, Oliver W., Jr., deceased; Lucy E.; William H.; Frederick; George H.; Amy S.; Alice M.; John Elisha; Isaac and Arthur R.

It is not to be wondered that one endowed by nature with more than a liberal share of intellectual power, energy and courage should immediately begin to play a conspicuous part in the developement of the country. He was ever on the alert to induce good settlers to come to the county and gave much time and financial aid to those struggling for a new home on the unbroken prairie. He furnished them food and shelter, assisted them financially and in selecting land and making their claims and to-day dozens of those most prosperous on Clayton County farms can look back to the time when O.W. Crary lent a helping hand to give them a start in the new west.

And all along since 1848 his has been the guiding hand in the affairs of his community, a veritable patriarch of the prairie. On February 25th, 1850, he helped organize the public school in district no. 4, of what was then Boardman township, on authority granted by Judge Eliphalet Price and on March 12th of the same year was [?elected] Secretary of the Board of Education, a position he has held continuously till the time of his death, with the exception of one [cut off] when his official duties required [his] presence elsewhere.

In 1857 he was elected County [cut off]. Following his term as Judge [cut off] elected three terms as County [cut off] and served one term. He showed himself a most able and efficient officer whenever called to sere and filled every position with honor and credit.

Clayton County never gave sepulcher to a grander man. Nature lavishly endowed time with rare gifts of intellect, the power to us which were enhanced by a superior education. His store of historical knowledge was vast and varied; his reading in the elegant literature of ancient and modern times were extensive and his power of retaining that he had read and his readiness in drawing upon these fertile resources were remarkable. And with all these glorious gifts not one was ever bent in willing service in an unworthy cause. He lived to make the world about him better. With his splendid might he helped to build a country which will cherish his memory and teach its sons to hold it in precious remembrance.

A great historian told us centuries ago "that bodies of men are perishing and mortal, so likewise are their statues; but the form of mind is eternal and can never be preserved by any foreign material or art but only by the real character and behavior of the persons who imitate it."

The last illness of the Judge began last January due to valvular disease of the heart, and during the long months since he bore his confinement and suffering with fortitude and unusual patience. Death occurred peacefully Wednesday, August 19th at 11:30 a.m.

The funeral will be at the home Saturday, Aug. 22nd, at 1 p.m. conducted by the Masonic Fraternity, he being one of the oldest members of National Lodge No. 172 A.F. & A.M.

Rev. Baxter, of Elkader will deliver the funeral sermon. Burial in the cemetery at National.

~Monona Leader, August 13, 1903