Crumpacker, Joel R.

CRUMPACKER, STONER, BOSTONBENNETT

Posted By: mjv (email)
Date: 9/29/2020 at 13:12:00

Joel R. Crumpacker, farmer on section 30, Jackson Township, was born in Botetourt County, Va., July 6, 1825. He is a son of Benjamin and Mary (Stoner) Crumpacker. Benjamin Crumpacker was born in Maryland, and his father Joel Crumpacker, was for more than a half century an acceptable minister of the Dunkard faith. The eldest brother of our subject, John, was a successful physician during his lifetime, and his youngest, Daniel, was for many years a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was a highly educated gentleman, and served as Auditor of Lake County, Ind., for a number of years. He died while a resident of Washington, D.C., being at that time a Government clerk in one of the departments. The father of Mary Stoner, and his sons, were merchants; several son-in-laws were also engaged in the same business. She was born in Baltimore, Md., where for many years the Stoner family resided.

After their marriage, Benjamin Crumpacker and his wife settled Botetourt County, Va., and for many years he engaged in farming and mill-wrighting. The latter was his trade, and for a long while he operated a grist and saw mill on Glade Creek, known as the “Stoner Mills,” owned by his wife’s father. In 1835, they moved to La Porte County, Ind., locating on the Plymouth road, four and one half miles southeast of La Porte, where he remained during his lifetime. He died in 1856, his wife survived him; both reached the age of about sixty-five. They reared a family of three daughters and four sons, and two daughters, Emma and Mary died in infancy; Elizabeth wedded Alfred Wing, both of whom died without issue in La Porte County, Ind.; Nancy became the wife of Adam Shoemaker, and bore a son, John, and a daughter, Lizzie; the latter is the wife of William Hayes, of Chicago, Ill. Martha died unmarried. The sons were Daniel, Joel, Benjamin, and Joshua, all living but the last who died June 22, 1886. Daniel received the degree of M. D. before the war began; he was one of the first to enlist, and was elected Captain of Co. C, 19th Indiana Volunteers, and was discharged later, on account of ill-health. He again enlisted, as a private of the 48th Indiana Regiment, and was discharged before the war closed for disability. He was married after his return, to Miss Louisa Wells, and the Doctor now lives a retired life at Welisboro, La Porte County, Ind.; Benjamin was also a soldier, belonging to a Missouri regiment. He was at that time of resident of Lewis County, Mo., was wedded to Martha Anthony, and is the father of several children. The parents are now residents of Ewing, Holt Co., Neb., where he is operating a mill.

Our subject left the paternal homestead in 1848, and journeyed to Dallas County, Tex., remaining there some time. Later, he returned to his boyhood home, and his next location we need mention was Eldora, Hardin Co., Iowa, where he engaged for two years in real-estate business, and was elected County Surveyor by a large majority. While a resident of that county, his marriage was celebrated, Mrs. Catherine (Boston) Bennett becoming his wife. In 1856, they became residents of Mendota, La Salle Co., Ill., Mr. Crumpacker purchasing a farm near the town, and assisting as Deputy Surveyor while a resident of that county. Both their children were born at Mendota, Charles B. and Mary F. The daughter is the wife of Newton Eyestone, of Cedar Township, this county; she is the mother of two sons, Will Wilbur and Charles Leslie.

In the autumn of 1863, M. Crumpacker came to Washington County, Iowa, purchasing a quarter section of land upon which he has made every improvement. Not one of the grand old trees now standing, not a foot of the virgin soil, had been disturbed when he made the purchase. In a small frame building which forms a part of the present mansion their domestic life was begun, and as days went by, the lands were covered with heavy crops, which formerly were grazed upon by deer and other wild animals, with which the new country abounded at an early day. Prosperity came with advancing years, and other additions have been made to his first purchase. Large barns and a commodious farm house betoken the wealth of their owner, and the trees which furnish such a grateful shade serve as monuments to his enterprise.

In the autumn of 1885, Mr. Crumpacker was elected one of the Trustees of Jackson Township, and is the present incumbent. He has never sought for, neither does he care for such honors. He is religiously, a Methodist, politically, a Republican, and no man nor family can be spoken of with greater favor than the one mentioned, who for almost a quarter of a century has been a citizen of this county. The death of Mrs. Crumpacker occurred Oct. 2, 1883, and her remains were interred in the Gibson Cemetery. September 12 of that year, as well remembered by hundreds of people in this county, the team her husband was driving ran away from the fair grounds, and the injury occasioned by the overturning of the carriage caused the death of Mrs. Crumpacker twenty days later, although everything which medical skill and loving hands could do, was brought to aid. She died as she had lived, surrounded by her husband and children, and loving friends.

Among the enterprises of this county may be mentioned the Farmers’ Mutual Insurance Company, which was organized mainly through the influence of Mr. Crumpacker, and for twelve years he was President of the company.

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington County, Iowa (1887). Excerpt from Biographical Sketch of Joel R. Crumpacker, pages 510-512.