CRUMLY, Isaac Hammer - 1890 Bio (1820-1896)

CRUMLY, MARSHALL, THOMPSON, JONES, MCNEICE HACKNEY, BURGESS, BEALS

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 8/2/2007 at 18:52:22

Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties, Iowa, Printed 1890 by Lake City Publishing Co., Chicago
Pages 188-190

Isaac H. CRUMLY, one of the most prominent citizens of Jefferson County, is engaged in farming on section 9, Penn Township. He was born in East Tennessee on December 24, 1820, and traces his ancestry back to early Colonial days when his great-grandfather, William CRUMLY, resided in Virginia. He was a large slaveholder of that State and served his country in the Revolutionary War. His son William was a farmer and removed to Tennessee when that country was first settled. His son Abraham was born in Greene County, Tenn., in 1787. His educational advantages were very limited, but by nature he was endowed with considerable oratorical power and was also a fluent writer. He was one of five sons. His eldest brother Isaac, now deceased, was a circuit rider in the Methodist Church and resided in Greene County, Iowa; Aaron died in Tennessee; William died in Missouri, and Samuel died in Arkansas.

Abraham CRUMLY, who was the father of our subject, remained at home assisting his father in farm labor until he had attained his majority. He married Miss Elizabeth MARSHALL, who was born on the 26th of June, 1796, and was a daughter of Abraham and Martha MARSHALL. Mrs. CRUMLY's death occurred on the 29th of March, 1827. By her marriage she became the mother of six children: Anna, wife of Phineas THOMPSON, died in Missouri; Mary, widow of Thomas JONES, is living in Pleasant Plain; Isaac H. whose name heads this sketch, is the third in order of birth; Samuel M. makes his home in Nebraska; Martha became the wife of Obadiah JONES, but is now deceased; Asa G. died in Missouri. After the death of his first wife, Mr. CRUMLY was again married, his second union being with Jane McNEICE. Six children were also born unto them -- Arita and Elizabeth who are living in Tennessee; William who died in Jefferson County, Iowa; James G., a resident of Missouri; Aaron who makes his home in Tennessee, and Rhoda who died in that State.

The father of this family was reared in the faith of the Methodist Church but ere his marriage he joined the Society of Friends to which his wife belonged. He became one of its most faithful members and active workers and went as a companion to Isaac Hammer on his preaching tours. He labored in the church in the line of the ministry, was overseer of the congregation and did all in his power for the advancement of the cause and the bettering of humanity. He entertained the strongest views in regard to the question of slavery, being an inflexible Abolitionist. He was an associate of Lundy, the original Abolitionist, and took a prominent part in agitating and discussing the question of slavery but never lived to see the curse banished from the land. He died in Tennessee in 1846.

Isaac H. CRUMLY, whose name heads this sketch, is inseparably connected with the history of Jefferson County. His life record is that of a self-made man and abounds in examples well worthy of imitation by the youth of the present day. His mother died when he was a lad of seven years and he then left home to make his own way in the world. He worked at farm labor during the summer months and when it was possible attending school during the winter season but his educational advantages were indeed very limited and at the age of twenty he had only reached the single rule of three in arithmetic. After attaining his majority, he attended school in Blount County, Tenn., and studied surveying, which branch of learning he completed by private study after coming to Iowa and it has proved a useful knowledge to him. In 1841, he came West and entered land in Missouri, where he developed a farm and remained four years. During that time, however, he returned to Tennessee and in 1844, was joined in wedlock with Miss Rebecca L. HACKNEY. Four years later, having sold his farm in Missouri, he came to Jefferson County, and made purchase of eighty acres of land upon which he still makes his home. A rude log cabin had been built thereon but other improvements there were none. He had to break the land, clear it of brush and perform the entire work of development and cultivation but the work of transformation is certainly complete; at least, we would never recognize in the fine farm of to-day the original eighty acres of unimproved land upon which not a furrow had been turned. Its boundaries have also been extended until he is now owner of three hundred acres of arable land together with a number of lots in Pleasant Plain and an interest in the Centennial Mill of that place. A commodious and pleasant residence is surrounded by good barns and outbuildings which in turn are enclosed by waving fields of grain. The latest improved machinery lessens the labor attendant upon the cultivation of a farm and good grades of stock are there found.

The sun of prosperity shone upon Mr. CRUMLY and everything passed along pleasantly until the month of May, 1854, when he was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife who died leaving four children, but only one of the number now survives, Alfred who is a miller of Pleasant Plain. Two died in childhood and Elizabeth T. who became the wife of Aaron BURGESS is also deceased. On the 20th of June, 1859, Mr. CRUMLY married Miss Rachel BEALS, daughter of Thomas and Margaret BEALS of Tennessee, who were also members of the Society of Friends. Her mother died in the State of her nativity but her father came to Iowa with his sons. Unto Mr. and Mrs. CRUMLY have been born seven children: William A., born March 14, 1860, is an engineer in the mill at Pleasant Plain; Wendell P., born February 18, 1862; Marian B. December 29, 1863; Emeline C., April 7, 1866; Harvey D., February 2, 1868; Flora A., February 6, 1870, and Isaac N., April 6, 1872. Greatly regretting the lack of educational advantages in his early youth, Mr. CRUMLY decided that his children should not have to contend with the same obstacle and provided them with liberal opportunities. All have been students and two have graduated from the academy of Pleasant Plain, and Marian is now in attendance at the college of Oskaloosa.

Probably no man in the county has done more for the interests of its citizens than Isaac H. CRUMLY and certainly he deserves great credit for the efforts he has put forth in its behalf. In an official capacity his services have been effective. As before mentioned, he learned surveying and on coming to the county surveyed his own land, after which he became assistant of the County Surveyor. In 1868, he was elected County Surveyor and held the office for ten consecutive years. A period of four years then elapsed after his retirement, when he was again elected and served two years. For one term he was a member of the Board of County Supervisors (the second term after the Board was organized) and has also filled all the minor offices. Mr. CRUMLY was one of the early Abolitionists, and while living in Missouri freely declared his sentiments unmindful of the threats which were made against him. He voted for the Freesoil candidate when only sixteen votes were cast in the township in support of that party. On the formation of the Republican party he joined its ranks and has since been a stanch supporter of its principles. He is also a radical Prohibitionist and was instrumental in no little degree in the successful passage of the prohibitory amendment. Mr. CRUMLY has also done much to favor the cause of education and has put more money into the academy of Pleasant Plain than any other one man. In 1870, he bought thirty acres of land adjoining the then village of Pleasant Plain. He took into partnership in this purchase Thomas JONES. They laid it out in park lots and deeded ten acres to the railroad company with the condition that said company should erect a depot thereon. Mr. CRUMLY subsequently bought out JONES' interest, and sub-divided it into town lots, and it is now known as CRUMLY's addition to Pleasant Plain. In 1876, with others, he formed a company which founded the Pleasant Plain Academy and since its organization he has been of its Directors and for several years was chairman of the board. Any public enterprise which has for its object the upbuilding and advancement of the community is sure of his support. He and his family are all members of the Friends' Church, of which he has served as overseer. He is also a member of the Peace Association and devotes some of his means to the spread of its doctrine and his wife is Superintendent of the peace work in Pleasant Plain. Years may come and go but Isaac H. CRUMLY will be remembered by the citizens of Jefferson County as one of her benefactors and founders.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.