CROWELL, SPENCER W.

CROWELL, SCOTT, GABRIEL, PETERSON, YOUNG

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 5/14/2004 at 15:48:40

Biography reproduced from page 205 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

Spencer W. Crowell, who since 1900 has been connected with the Algona bar and is now serving as city clerk, was born in Green county, Wisconsin, September 14, 1863, a son of Roswell and Janet (Scott) Crowell. The Crowell family is of English extraction. The father’s birth occurred in New York state, where he was reared until seventeen years of age. At that time he removed to Green county, Wisconsin, and resided there until his death, which occurred on the 9th of April, 1894, as he was about to leave for Kossuth county, Iowa. He engaged in agricultural pursuits throughout his entire career except during his service in the Civil war, when he enlisted as a member of Company I, Forty-sixth Wisconsin Volunteers, in 1865. Mrs. Crowell was born in Kilmarnock, Scotland, and was brought to the United States by her parents when she was about seven years of age. Her marriage occurred in Argyle, Wisconsin, and she passed away on the 11th of April, 1911. She is buried in the Algona cemetery and the father is buried in Wisconsin. By their union six children were born: Dan C., who is living retired in Algona; Flora E., the wife of Arthur Gabriel, of Richland county, North Dakota; Lottie E., who married Andrew Peterson, of Algona; Lillie, who became the wife of Martin J. Young, also of Richland county, North Dakota; Spencer W., the subject of this review; and John Scott, who makes his home in Algona.

Spencer W. Crowell pursued his education in the common schools of Wisconsin until after his graduation from the high school at Monroe. Subsequently he took up the study of law and was graduated from the law school at Valparaiso, Indiana, in 1897. He was admitted to the bar immediately upon graduation and started to practice at Bancroft, Iowa, where he remained for three years before coming to Algona in 1900. As soon as he arrived in this city he began practicing and he has served as referee in bankruptcy for eight years and on the 1st of August, 1907, was elected city clerk. During his residence in Wisconsin he was township clerk for six consecutive years.

In his political views Mr. Crowell has always been a republican and, although he is not personally interested in office holding, he is not remiss in the duties of citizenship. He holds membership in the Masonic fraternity and the Order of the Eastern Star of Algona. He has never sought to figure prominently in public life but has concentrated his energies upon his professional interests with the result that he has made continuous progress and has attained a prominent position among the lawyers of Algona.