CRISWELL, O. M.

CRISWELL, EDELBLATE, HART, MCGUIRE

Posted By: Nettie Mae
Date: 1/18/2003 at 15:21:28

SOURCE: "Biographical history of Crawford, Ida and Sac Counties, Iowa" Lewis Pub. Co., Chicago, 1893

O. M. CRISWELL has been identified with the interests of Crawford county, Iowa, since
1873, when he settled on a farm of 280 aces in section 28 Charter Oak township. This
property he has developed into one of the finest farms in this part of the county, operating
it chiefly as a stock farm. He keeps full-blooded Durham cattle and Poland-China hogs,
and annually handles large numbers of stock cattle, buying and selling and furnishing the
supply to feeders in this part of the county. In 1887 Mr. Criswell erected a two-story
frame residence, one of the nicest homes in the western part of the county, it being located
just outside the corporation limits of Charter Oak, while a portion of his farm is within the
corporation. He has a good barn for stock and grain purposes, and his premises are
supplied with water-works. He has bought and sold several other farms, and now owns a
number of town properties in Charter Oak, which he rents. While living his chief
attention to his farming and stock operations, Mr. Criswell is also engaged in the real-
estate, loan and insurance business, having his office in his brother's clothing
establishment.

Mr. Criswell was born in Blair county, Pennsylvania, February 2, 1851, son of
Benjamin and Catharine (Edelblate) Criswell, natives of Pennsylvania and descendants of
early settlers of the Eastern States. When he was a year old his parents moved to Iowa
and settled in Scott county, where his father still lives. His mother is deceased. The
subject of our sketch was reared on a farm in Scott county, and completed his education
with a two years' course at Cornell College, Iowa. He taught school three years prior to
leaving home in 1873, and one year after his marriage cultivated the home farm.

Mr. Criswell was married March 19, 1872, to Miss Flora B. Hart, daughter of
Hiram A. and Mary J. (McGuire) Hart, of Clinton, Iowa. The Hart family came from
Indiana to Clinton county, Iowa. The mother is now living in Crawford county and the
father is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Criswell are popular in the social circles of their town,
and are worthy and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, he being
secretary of the Board of Trustees of the church.

Mr. Criswell affiliates with the Democratic party; has officiated in the capacity of Supervisor of the county three years and Chairman of the Board two years; is at present a
Justice of the Peace and Chairman of the Board of Education. Fraternally he is associated
with the following orders: A. F. & A. M., Sylvian Lodge, No. 507; K. of P., No, 221, of
which he is Past Chancellor: and I. O. O. F., No. 105.