Criswell, William H.

CRISWELL, ROSS, BROMLEY

Posted By: Gary Norris (email)
Date: 1/4/2013 at 09:50:09

The History of Poweshiek County, Iowa
Des Moines: Union Hist. Co., 1880.

CRISWELL, WILLIAM H. - Deep River Twp - pg 724-25. Section 1, P.O. Deep River. His great-grandfather Criswell came from Ireland, and his mother - s ancestors were from Scotland. Both his grandfathers fought under General Washington. During the latter part of the War of 1812, his grandfather, with a party of sixteen others, attempted to emigrate to Ohio, making their way down the Ohio River on a keel-boat. On the way, they were surprised and captured by the Indians; not, however, without a brave struggle, during which Mr. Criswell shot four Indians and wounded the chief. Having observed this, after the capture had been accomplished, the chief walked up to him with upraised tomahawk, with the intention of dashing out his brains. Without a quiver, Mr. Criswell gazed coolly and steadfastly into the warrior - s murderous eye. The chief was conquered, and instead of driving the weapon through his skull, patted him on the head with it, and complimented him with this remark: "Brave white man." The entire party, including Mr. Criswell, his wife and four children, were then marched on foot through the wilderness of Indiana, cruelly treated and almost starved on the way, to where Detroit, Michigan, now stands, when they were sold to the British for three dollars per head. During the skirmish the party threw overboard all their kitchen utensils, and two years later, thirteen of their number, Mr. Criswell among them, passing the same point, recovered many of the articles from the bottom of the river, the place having been marked by a range of trees. One of the recovered pieces, an iron kettle, is a family heirloom now in possession of the subject of this sketch. This kettle also enjoys the distinction of having been cast in the first iron works (the Junietta) ever projected in the United States. Mr. Criswell's father (James) was born in Brown county, Ohio, in 1799, farmed all his life, and died March 31, 1869. His mother, whose maided name was Lucretia Ross, was born in Durbin county, Indiana, May 11, 1806, and died in Rock Island, Illinois, September 10, 1880. William was born in Ripley county, Indiana, September 2, 1836. When six years old, his father moved to Rock Island county, Illinois, where he was raised on a farm, and educated. He emigrated to his present place March 11, 1880. He married, in Rock Island county, Illinois, May 21, 1865, Miss Mary L. Bromley of New York, who was born in Otsego county, New York, February 17, 1843. They have had eight children; six of whom are living: Cora P. (born March 6, 1867), Anna J. (born March 22, 1869), Clara B. (born January 13, 1871), Lillie May (born December 11, 1872) and James G. (born February 22, 1878). Lost two: William E. (born December 12, 1874, died April 18, 1880) and an infant. Mr. Criswell owns 115 acres of excellent land, 100 acres of which are under good cultivation and well stocked; the other fifteen acres being in timber.