Washington Crabb, b. 14 Feb 1832

JOHNS, HOPKINS, STOWERS, GURNEY, BOOTHE

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 2/21/2004 at 12:11:53

Washington Crabb, the Postmaster of Brandon, is also proprietor of Crabb's Mills located in the northeast part of Brandon Township, and in addition carries on general merchandising at this point. His residence in this county dates from the spring of 1868, at which time he purchased his present property, and here his interests have since centered. A man of energy and enterprise, he has borne no unimportant part in the development of this part of the county, and is numbered among its most valued citizens.

The native place of our subject, was Highland County, Ohio, and the date of his birth, Feb. 14, 1832. He is the son of Stephen and Ruth (Johns) Crabb, who were also born in the Buckeye State. His paternal grandfather, William Crabb, was a native of England, and emigrated to the United States in time to perform good service in the Revolutionary War. He married a German lady, and they reared a family of nine sons and three daughters, all of whom lived to attain a good old age. Nearly all the sons learned the trade of shoe-making, and also followed farming. Stephen, the father of our subject, also learned shoe-making, and served as a soldier in the War of 1812. In 1834, leaving his native State, he took up his residence in Clay County, Ind., where he followed agricultural pursuits for a period of eighteen years. In 1852 he came to Iowa, and settled in the vicinity of Charlotte, Clinton County, where he commenced the erection of a saw-mill, but before it was completed, death called him from his earthly labors, his decease occuring in the fall of 1854. While a resident of Indiana, he became connected with the ministry of the Christian Church, and during the last fifteen years of his life devoted nearly the whole of his time to the service of the Master. The wife and mother survived her husband five years, her death taking place at the same place as her husband's.

Eight of the children born to the parents of our subject, lived to mature years. Isaiah died in this county abt 1877; Nancy became the wife of James R. Hopkins, and died at Dayton, Ohio, September, 1870; Israel also died in the Buckeye State; Ezra is a resident of Brandon Township, this county; Mary Jane is the widow of William Stowers, and resides in Monmouth, this county; Ruth and Stephen died unmarried.

The subject of this notice spent his boyhood and youth after the manner of most farmers' sons, being trained to habits of industry and economy, and receiving such education as the schools of his native township afforded. He followed the family in their emigrations to Indiana and Iowa, and in 1864, during the progress of the Civil War, enlisted in Company C, 16th Iowa Infantry, and served until the close of the conflict. He was in the battle of Resaca, Rome, Kenesaw Mountain and Atlanta, and in all the skirmishes incident to Sherman's march to the sea. After the fall of Atlanta, still remaining under the command of Gen. Sherman, he went up through the Carolinas to Washington, and participated in the Grand Review. Not long afterward he was mustered out and received his honorable discharge.

Returning now to Iowa, our subject settled first in Clinton County, where he engaged in milling, and in 1867 was married to Miss Phila S. Gurney. This lady was born in Essex County, N.Y., June, 1832. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Crabb settled in Iowa, and the year following our subject purchased his present property. The mills at that time were not in operation, and it required a considerable outlay of time, labor and money to make them profitable. They now turn out annually a handsome quantity of lumber and flour. In 1880, Mr. Crabb sold out, and removing to Western Kansas, took up a homestead claim in Gove County. In 1883, however, he was obliged to take back his property in this county, and consequently returned. Besides his property here, he has eighty acres in Chase County, Kan.

To our subject and his estimable wife there were born four children, three of whom died in infancy. Their only son, Ezra, was born March 28, 1868, and is living with his parents. He was married Dec. 10, 1887, to Miss Nellie Boothe. Mrs. Crabb, in 1883, met with a grevious affliction in the loss of her eyesight, being now totally blind. Her eyes have the natural appearance, but are useless. Her son, Ezra, is a great comfort to her, being kind and attentive, and assisting by his filial affection in lightening her affliction. Mr. Crabb, politically, is an uncompromising Democrat, and in religious matters belongs to the Christian Church.

("Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa", originally published in 1889, by the Chapman Brothers, of Chicago, Illinois)