ELI M. CROSSWAIT
Eli M. Crosswait, son of James P. and Mary R. (Mack) Crosswait, was born in Fulton county, Illinois, January 9, 1838, and lived there until eighteen years of age. He received a liberal education, attending school in Illinois and the graded school at Lewis, after coming to this county, after which he returned to Illinois and attended a private seminary at Indianola, Warren county. He then engaged in teaching in that county, which he continued eight years; then engaged in book-keeping and clerking, five years. He was married April 4, 1862, to Mary Shawver. After marriage he taught school two years, then he engaged in farming in Warren county, Illinois, till 1870. In that year he moved to Mills county, Iowa, where he owned a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, and lived eleven years. He then removed to Marne, Cass county, and remained two years, then bought his present farm in section 6, Brighton township. It includes the northwest quarter and the west half of the northeast quarter of that section, and at the time of his purchase, was slightly improved. The farm is watered by a creek, and a fine spring situated near the barn. A grove and orchard surround his dwelling which is pleasantly located. Mr. and Mrs. Crosswait have eight children...Oscar P., Frank E., William H., Ernest B., Eugene M., James S., Robert L. and Alma G. They are members of the M.E. church..
Transcribed by Gloria Goltiani from "History of Cass County, Iowa. Together With Sketches of its Towns, Villages and Townships, Educational, Civil, Military and Political History: Portraits of Prominent Persons, and Biographies of Old Settlers and Representative Citizens." Springfield, Ill.: Continental Historical Company, 1884, pp. 605-606.
