Alfred L. Crumly

CRUMLY, HULL, MAYER, HULL

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 10/30/2002 at 14:52:52

Alfred L. Crumly, a member of the firm of Crumly Bros. & Co. millers of Pleasant Plain, is a native of Johnson County Missouri, and a son of Isaac H. and Rebecca Crumly. He was born September 21, 1846, and was brought by his parents to Iowa when a babe of two years. He received a good English education in the district and subscriptions schools, and in his youth was inured to the hard labor of the farm, but thereby developed a self-reliance and spirit of determination which have been important factors in his success in life. At the age of twenty-two, he bought a farm of fifty acres, which he operated for ten years, adding many valuable improvements, but in 1879, he sold out, removing to the village of Pleasant Plain. He then formed a partnership with his father, as a member of the firm of I.H. Crumly & Son, lumber and grain dealers. The connection continued about two years, when he bought out his father’s interest in the business, which he has since controlled. A liberal patronage has rewarded his efforts, and he now has a large trade, selling from twelve to fifteen carloads of lumber per year. On April 5, 1887, he became a member of the firm of Crumly Bros. & Co., which was composed of the following named gentlemen: A.L. Crumly, C.J. Mayer, and W.A. Crumly. Later Isaac Crumly purchased the interest of Mr. Mayer, and the firm is now composed of the three Crumly gentlemen. They are the owners of the fine Centennial Mill with a complete medium roller process, the capacity of which is sixty-five barrels of flour per day. Mr. Crumly gives his personal supervision to the mill, while his son superintends the lumber business.
On February 14, 1870, in Pleasant Plain, Mr. Crumly was united in marriage with Mrs. Mary J. Hull, widow of Samuel Hull, by whom she had one child, a daughter, Lottie M., who is now the wife of A.C. Crumly. By the union of our subject and his worthy wife, there was born a son, Edward N., whose birth occurred November 24, 1870. He has received liberal educational advantages, was a student in the Pleasant Plain Academy, and is a young man of much promise. He has already displayed business ability of a superior order, and will doubtless in time become one of the leading citizens of the county.
Mr. Crumly and his family are members of the Society of Friends, and are liberal supporters of the cause, and give freely toward the advancement of the work. In political sentiment, he is a stalwart Republican, inflexible in his adherence to the party principles. Since casting his first vote for President Grant, he has never failed to deposit a ballot for the Republican candidate. He has often represented his township in the county conventions, and is an influential member of those assemblies, yet is not a politician in the sense of office seeking, caring nothing for the honors or emolument of public office. On the solicitation of friends, however, he accepted the position of Township Clerk, which he filled acceptable for four years. Mr. Crumly is a man well informed on all questions of general interest, whether political or otherwise, and is accounted one of the worthy and valued citizens of the community in which he makes his home. As a businessman, he is far-sighted and sagacious, considers well before taking a step in any direction and is the soul of honor in all his dealings. The greatest confidence is manifested by his patrons, who know him to be a man of sterling worth incapable of low or little action. His family occupies a high position in the social world, and their home is always open for the reception of their many friends who are numbered among the best citizens of Pleasant Plain and vicinity.