Pg 423

         ELIZABETH CROSSMAN, who is living on section 15, Grand View Township, was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, in 1821. Her parents, Joseph and Martha (Humphrey) Crow, had a family of eight children, of whom she is the fourth. Her father was a native of Pennsylvania, her mother of Ohio, and in 1834, with their family, they removed to Warren County, Ill., residing there until the spring of 1836, when they emigrated to Louisa County, Iowa, which at that time was a vast wilderness, and Indians, roaming over the country, were everyday visitors at their home. There were no railroads, but few settlements, and wild game of all kinds abounded. The trials and privations of pioneer life were endured by the family, but soon they had a nice home in the then Far west. The father died many years ago, probably in 1868, and the mother departed this life in April, 1885, at the advanced age of ninety-two.

Mrs. Crossman was educated in the district schools of Ohio and Illinois, and in 1842 became the wife of Samuel H. Rockafellar, who was a native of Indiana, and a son of Henry and Ellen (Hurst) Rockafellar, also born in the Hoosier State. In the early days of the county his parents came to Louisa county, where the death of both occurred, the mother dying of cholera in 1851.

After his marriage Mr. Rockafellar bought a farm in Port Louisa Township, where he resided until his death, which occurred in 1852. His disease was lung fever and Bright’s disease of the kidneys, with which he had suffered for some time. Two children were born of their union: Peter Rifner, who died in 1876, leaving a wife and two children, and who during the entire war fought in defense of his country, enlisting in 1861 in Company F, 8th Iowa Infantry, receiving his discharge in 1865; and Martha E., the second child, who is now Mrs. Curtis, a resident of Grand View Township.

After the death of Mr. Rockafellar his widow purchased sixty acres of partly improved land on section 15, Grand View Township, to which she removed in the autumn of 1852, and has made it her home continuously since. In 1856 she was united in marriage with J. A. Crossman, who was a harness and saddle maker by trade. He took great interest in political affairs, and voted with the Republican party. He was one of the respected citizens of Louisa County, and his death occurred in May, 1885. Mrs. Crossman is a member of the United Presbyterian Church, and a most estimable lady, held in high esteem by many friends. She has witnessed the entire growth of the county of her adoption, has seen the wilderness transformed into highly cultivated farms, and the timber made into beautiful homes.