Pg 442

         G. H. CROW, a farmer residing on section 19, Port Louisa Township, Louisa Co., Iowa, was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, in 1815, and was the eldest in a family of eight children born to Joseph and Martha (Humphrey) Crow. The parents were natives of Pennsylvania, and emigrated to Ohio at an early day, being among the pioneer settlers of Jefferson County. The grandparents of our subject on both sides were of Irish origin. Joseph Crow was a farmer by occupation, and removed from Jefferson County, Ohio, to Illinois in 1834, settling in Warren County, where he remained for about three years. In 1836 he removed to Louisa County, Iowa, locating in Grand View Township, where he remained until his death, which occurred July 4, 1866, at the age of ninety years. His excellent wife, the mother of our subject, survived him many years, her death occurring in 1885, at the age of nearly ninety-three years.

Our subject was twenty-one years of age when, in 1836, he became a resident of Iowa. The following June after his arrival he returned to Warren County, Ill., and there was united in marriage with Miss Jane Williamson, a native of Ohio, and a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Harvey) Williamson, whose birthplace was also in the Buckeye State, though they were pioneer settlers in Warren County, Ill. After his marriage our subject returned to Louisa County, and in 1839 purchased forty acres of land on section 19, Port Louisa Township, the only improvements being a small cabin and ten acres of broken land. The work of improvement and cultivation was at once begun, and Mr. Crow has added to his possessions until he is now the owner of 330 acres of fine, arable land, in a fine state of cultivation, and which is stocked with a good grade of Durham cattle and Norman horses.

Politically, Mr. Crow affiliates with the Republican party. He assisted in the reorganization of the township, and has held the offices of Supervisor and Township Trustee. In 1866 he was elected to the State Legislature to fill a vacancy. Religiously, he is a member of the United Presbyterian Church.

In 1845 the death of Mrs. Crow occurred in Port Louisa Township, and Mr. Crow was again married in Louisa County, in July, 1846, to E. J. Ronalds, a native of Indiana, and a daughter of John and Martha (Killough) Ronalds. Her father was a native of Vermont, and her mother was born on the ocean while her parents were coming to this country. Mrs. Ronalds’ home was in South Carolina until she was eight years of age, when she went with her parents to Ohio, where they were among the early settlers. Her brother was a soldier in the War of 1812. Mr. Ronalds was born of Scotch parentage. He emigrated to Indiana in 1820, and served as a Colonel during the Black Hawk War. . . .

Pg 443

. . . Removing to Illinois in the spring of 1830, he settled near the site of the present city of Nauvoo, of Mormon notoriety, and then in 1836 became a resident of Louisa County, Iowa. He was one of the men who framed the Constitution of this State, and one of the committee that established Iowa City as the capital. Mr. Ronalds’ death occurred March 22, 1873, in the seventy-fourth year of his age, and his estimable wife was called to her final home in 1879, when nearly eighty years of age. Being early settlers of Louisa County, they were everywhere well known, and always received the highest respect of its citizens. Mr. Ronalds was appointed Colonel in the noted Missouri War.

To Mr. and Mrs. Crow have been born ten children, two of whom died in infancy. Those living are: John R., J. Harley, Martha E., William G., Anna, George R. and Belle. Mary, the youngest child, died Oct. 26, 1888, at the age of twenty-one years, one month and one day. J. Harley is married, and resides in Louisa County; Martha is now the wife of A. H. Latta, of Garden Grove, Decatur Co., Iowa; Belle is the wife of Mr. Herdman, who is the cashier of a bank in Nebraska; George is engaged in the hardware business at Beaver City, Neb.; the remainder of the children are still at home. Mr. Crow assisted in organizing the school district of his township under the Territorial Government, and has ever been a friend to education. He has witnessed almost the entire growth of Louisa County, and has added largely in its progress and development. At the time of his settlement the now pleasant city of Wapello contained a population of 500 Indians of the Sioux and Fox tribes. As a pioneer and prominent citizen, we are pleased to record the sketch of Mr. Crow among others of the foremost people of Louisa County.