Crow
Family History THE HISTORY of the JACOB CROW FAMILY In Greene County, Pa and Marshall County, W.Va.
Manuscript By JAMES HOMER CROW
Edited By REV FREDCOCHRAN t* - TH& HioTORY UF THK JACOB CHOW
In Greene County, Pa. And In Marshall County, W. Va.
A Social History of the First Four Generations of the Jacob Crow Fam- ily, a family that grew and changed with the history of the United St- ates.
Manuscript By Edited By JAMES HOMER CROW REV. FH2D COCHRAK
"Cf all the books which man can read, None tell a greater story, Than those which tell of kith and kin, And life and love and glory".
AUGUST 7, 1977 CREDIT ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The EDITOR wishes to extend credit to the follow- souroes sources for the material used in this history: 1. JAMES HOMER CROW for the manuscript entitled "The First Four Generations" of the Jacob Crow family. 2. MR. AND MRS. MYRON MURPHY for various manuscripts * and pictures. 3. L. K. EVANS' "Pioneer History of Greene County". 4. ANDREW J. WAYCHOFF'S "Local iiistory of Greene Cou- '#• nty and Southwestern Pa.". 5. BATES' "History of Greene County". 6. SCOTT POWELL'S "History of Marshall County, W.Va.". 7. "History Of The Upper Ohio Valley". 8. WATKINS' "History of Noble County, W. Va..". 9. NEWTON'S "History of The Panhandle". 10. THE CARNEGIE MUSEUM "Mound Report". 11. The FITTSBURGH PRESS SUNDAY EDITION, Sept. 3, 1961, containing the article "Saga Of The Crow Family" by William Faust and Picture of the Massacre by Nat Youngblood. 12. Various MANUSCRIPTS by members of the Crow Clan, including Rev. Frank Crow, Wylie and Martin Crow, Dow M. Hainea, Naomi Chambers, and the Genealogy Notebook of Mrs. Martha (Dinsmore) Powers. 13. Various NEWSPAPER accounts and MISCELLANEOUS sou- rces. A CLOSING WORD It has been an inspiration, pleasure, and privilege, to share in the preparation of this Crow history. There may be some unintentional mistakes, errors, omissions, and typographical errors. We worked under the pressure of time to get this history in your hands for the August 7, 1977 Crow Reunion. May the inspiration that comes from a knowledge of the past history of the Crow Clan inspire you to make a worthy contribution to the Clan history in the futufe. QUESTION: Are you interested in a genealogical out- •f line of the Crow family? There is some available data for such an outline. Let us know, if you are interested. 4 . MANUSCRIPT BY - EDITED BY - James Honer Crow, Rev. Fred Cochran R.D. 3, Box 65, 84 So. Hichhill St., Cameron, W. Va. Waynesburg, Pa. 26033 15370 PREFACE
CROW FARMS: Johnson, The purpose of the book, "The Four Generations of Wolf Run, and Elder the Jacob Crow I Clan" is as follows: Farms not shown First, to depict to the present and future generat- ions, the family, religious, social, and economic cond- itions of history that permeated this realm of the Crow family. Secondly, 1 wish to especially thank my noble, hon- est father for the countless hours of fellowship and companionship, when we as a dual team, husked corn, built a haystack, or did many of the other numerous farm tasks on the beautiful old homestead. For entertainment and conversation, he tol"i ne these many, many incidents of history, folklore, c- whatever category the reader may wish to classify this material. w. E. Thirdly, I wish to thank innumerable friends who hare helped me, such as Rev. Fred Cochran, Virginia mu- •fmae-rick rphy, «JTS. Hat tie Archer, and lira, kattie (Linanocv) Powers, who produced the genealogy section of the manus- cript. I, Jame3 Homer Crow, was about ten years compos- ing the large major portion of this said manuscript. l.y wife, Beth (StockdaleJ Crow, who has been deceased for almost seven years, encouraged and helped me to develop my slight authorship ability in finally completing this book with the aid of many friends and eoworkers.
Fourthly, I can see the end of the road of my life's journey. I hope and pray that this historical story will give many folks of the Crow clan a proud respect, a con- genial attitude, and at least, I hope, some gratitude for my hundreds of hours of work and a little kind int- erest and enjoyment. 1 remain always, with kind regards, JAMES fiOUKK CHO.i. LANDMARKS ON THE CROW HOMESTEAD: Small Mound On Hill DEDICATION
Ruins This volume is dedicated to the Greene County Hist- orical Society, which for many years has been gathering & LOG FIRST and recording the history of Greene County. SPRING CABIN BRICK LARGE MOUND The Jociety has not only gathered and recorded much a a history, but has reprinted L. K. Kvans' "Jloneer History Of Greene County", and Andrew J. '.aychoff's "Local Hist- Tl STABLE ory of Greene County and Jouthwestern Pennsylvania". i CEMETERY We are happy to adci this volune to the many books already in the historical library of the Historical Soc- SECOND BRICK iety. d 97 kettles on It for a time, pehhftpa a year. This was like a quit olaim, just literally taking possession of the said property. This tract lays back of what Is now the Sanders land along Sickles Run. Harold Chambers and the Ross Doman heirs now own the ridge portion of this tr- act. This farm contained some 170 aores.
4. Mlohael Crow also owned the Johnson farm, having inherited from his father-in-law. It was on Ackley Creek near Majorsville, West Virginia. Michael Crow I gave this farm to his son Jacitll.
5. A 20 acre tract was added to the farm received by Jaoob Crow II. This tract came from the northern part of the Crow homestead OTHER TRACTS: Michael Ctow II owned 200 acres on Ch- estnut Ridge in the Webster District of Marshall County, which he early willed to his sons John and George. He also owned 100 acres which is owned today by Ben Elder. This latter tract was later sold. Michael Crow II also had the opportunity to£wn the 200 acre farm now known as the Writter Scherioh farm, but did not obtain th« land because he was land poor as it was. A farmer who had too muoh land was oalled land poor in that day. DISPOSAL: Michael Crow II finally disposed of about all the land that he owned. He willed the saw mill farm, earlier owned by Martin Crow before he went to Ohio, to his son Michael Lazear Crow. The heirs of his sons-in- law now own it. This tract was looated just below where Wharton's Run enters into Dunkard Creek. Michael II also willed that the West Virginia land in the home farm be sold, and that 130 acres of the home farm in Pennsyl- vania be sold. He willed that his son Wylie Lee Crow receive 2$6 acres o£ the home farm in Pennsylvania and 29 acres In Vest Virginia.
OTHER DISPOSALS: Frederick Crow had the "Fish Dam" tract of 104 acres, now the Furman Hewitt farm. Martin Crow owned land now owned by Willis, Raymer, Atkinson, and Hewitt, in addition or as a part of the saw mill farm. Alison Campbell acquired 108 acres from the north end of the Crow homestead. THE REMAINING FARM: The land that is left is now owned by Martin Michael Crow of Texas, a son of Wylie Lee and Minnie (Scott) Crow. The above transactions practically end the real estate story of Jaoob Crow and his posterity. The government will probably use some of the land of the remaining farm in a proposed flood con- trol program. Only time will tell the future of this proposed project.
JilAP: The map on the next page (97) will help to locate some of these tracts, and help the reader to visualize some of the Crow land holdings. 96 nted. Quality was the major issue in construction. Many INTRODUCTION pieces or the old furniture have been given to various branches of the Crow family and have passed to many parts The Bicentennial of the history of the United States of the United States. was observed in 197c. Various observances were held thro- ughout the country: parades, floats, programs, publica- There was another cabinet maker named David tion of community histories, and the showing of old hist- Brewer who lived in Jacktown or Wind Ridge. He made very orical articles. The Editor was appointed on a Committee artistic SPOOL BEDS, some of which exist today, and are to help arrange the historical bus tours in Greene Coun- much prized by those who possess them. He was no blood ty as a part of the observance. On a trip to map out the relation to the Crow family. route of the western tour of the county, it was his priv- ilege to meet Ur. Homer Crow, and to learn that Mr. Crow OX YOKES: The ox yokes are noted for beauty today. had written a manuscript on the history of the first four They were placed on top of the necks of the oattle used generations of the Jacob Crow family. as oxen. Sleds were made to use with oxen or horses. During the days when the terrain was mostly forest, teams Being interested in family and community history in of oxen were btter beasts of burden than teams of horses. the Bicentennial observance, the Editor had further con- A team of horses was much more expensive that a team of versations with J"r. Crow, read and copied the manuscript oxen. for personal use, and encouraged the publication of the same. This history is the result of these negotiations. OTHER HEIR LOOMS: A home made split bottom chair was acquired from the home of Sara Jane (Lucas) Crow, The history is divided into FOUR PARTS, representing wife of Michael Crow II. The great-grandfather Berridge the first four generations of the Crow family. A FIFTH Lucas was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. He was a PART of miscellaneous items has been added to the other cook for General George Washington during the winter at four parts. Some additional material from histories and Valley Forge. He is buried in the West Finley Cemetery mnuscripts was added to the Crow manuscript in Part One. of the Windy Gap Church on the crest of the ridge and An attempt was made to gather all the early accounts into a national monument marks his grave. A famous old CONCH a connected whole. This was rather difficult as the early SHELL was left by Grandma Lucas Crow. It was used to accounts differed in details as to what took place in the blow at night to drive the wolves away from the cabin various events. when they came prowling around at night. The occupants of the old Lucas log oabin homestead could not sleep for In Parts TWO, THREE, FOUR, and FIVE, the Homer Crow the baying of the wolves. It seemed that the tone of the manuscript was followed rather closely, with slight edi- conch shell would drive the wolves away, until they dec- torial changes here and there, some omissions that were ided to return again to serenade the Luoases. This home thought proper to make, and some additions from other had an open fireplace, the cooking utensils hung on a sources. An attempt was made to get the various events crane, johnny cakes were baked on the hearth, and the and happenings into some sort of chronological order, family lived very well for those days, and were probably and to place related material together as much as poss- as happy as we are today in our affluence and plenty. ible. FARMLANDS OWNED BY THE CROWS DURING THE YEARS Mr. Crow should be given much credit for making the first attempt to put together the Crow story. Just as 1. The first land owned by the Jacob Crow family Jacob Crow was a pioneer, so Homer Crow has pioneered in was a farm located at the foot of & mountain at the Great giving the Crow Clan the result of a ten year study of Crossing on the Youghiogheny River on Route 40 in what the Crow history. was then Westmoreland County, but is now Fayette County, Pennsylvania. This 362 acre farm is now covered by water It has been a privilefie to work with Mr. Crow in the from a goverment dam and reservoir. It was disposed of production of this history. The Editor is not an exper- when the family came to Greene County. ienced typist, and made several errors, which have been corrected as much as possible. There may be a few typing 2. The second tract of land owned by Jaoob Crow was errors which have been overlooked. There may be some unin- the old homestead tract of 386 acres in Richhill Township tentional errors in names, dates, identification, and the in Greene County, along the Crow or Dunkard Creek. One description of events. Atay you treat these with forbear- account say that it was acquired by trading a team of ox- ance and charity. en and a cart for it. We have tried to be as accurate as possible, select- 3. A third addition was secured in what is now Mars- ing from the various sources that which seemed to be the hall County, West Virginia, by placing some sugar boiling most reliable account. -Ve are happy to present this hist- 95 C ory to the Crow Jian. kay it give you understanding, pl- years but in time people quit making their wheat into fl- eaaure, and inspiration aa you review the past, and as . out to sell. The mill than passed into just a small phase you make your own contribution to the Clan history in the of local history, and finally even the building was torn coming years. down. Hev. Fred Cochran, Editor SAW MILL: There was also a sawmill attached to the water wheel. The saw ran up and down vertically. The bl- TABLE OF 'J'HK CONTENTS ade was similar to the old cross cut saw that was used to saw timber in the process of logging. Title Pages TITLE PAGE A CROW'S MILL: There was once a country store across the road from the mill. It was also the post offioe known PREFACE and DEDICATION B as Crow's Mill. The mail man walked from Wheeling, W. 7a. INTRODUCTION C-D to Ryerson's Station once a week to collect and deliver TiiBLE OF CONTENTS D-E mail at the several stops. The mail route was later ch- anged around 1912 and the Crow's post office was discon- PART ONE tinued. The RFD 1 route from Dallas, W. Va., took its place and thus another phase of local history was ended. CHART - Jacob and Susannah (Secrist) Crow and Family F DISTILLERY: The Crow farm at one time had a distill- JACOB CHOW COMES TO ^lamiCA „ 1-2 ery for local consumption. The farmers would take a Jug FIRST MOVES IK AMERICA 2-4 of home made whiskey to the fields along with Jugs cf LIFE IN GREENS COUNTY 4-23 water. It soon became a thing of the .past to have wtudkey Indian Encounters 4-15 in the hay field and the small still was discontinued. The Ohio Expedition 16 The Last Encounter 16-17 BLACKSMITH SHOP: The blacksmith shop was located The White Renegade 17-18 near the old mill. Its major funotion was to shoe the Animal and Rattlesnake Encounters 18-19 farm horses. There never was a carriage master working Children of Jacob and Susannah (Secrist) at this shop. Crow 19-23 The Ohio Settlement 23 CONCLUSION: This concludes the story of industry on DEATH OF JACOB CROW 23-24 the Crow farm during the first four generations. It seems SUMMARY 24 than even the Crow farm is to pass into a mere bit of TOMBSTONE PICTURES 25 history. The U. Si government is contemplating the build- PART WO ing of a flood control dam on the farm so that Wheeling and its environs will not be hampered by recurring floods. CHART - K'ichael I and Nancy (Johnson) Crow and There are usually about three floods in a score of years, Family 26 and they seem to come at any season except autumn. EARLY LIFE 27-29 AGRICULTURE 29-31 Today we are here, tomorrow we are gone, and then CRO'.V SCHOOL 31 almost or entirely forgotten. Time and time alone is the CHILDREN OF MICHAEL I and NANCY (JOHNSON) CROW 31-33 master of man's destiny. DEATH OF MICHAEL I and NANCY (JOHNSON) CROW .. 33 ANTIQUE HOME MADE FURNITURE PART THREE It was told how the Johnson furniture lined the par- CHART - Michael II and Sara Jane (Lucas) Crow lor walls like a store in the first brick home. People and Family 34 came and purchased the furniture. It was made of the very THE THHEK CHCW HOMES 35-36 best of cherry and * feck walnut. The beds were cord beds. MARKETING EXPERIENCES 37-38 It was somewhat plain in style but very sturdy and well RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCES 38-40 made. Pieces of this furniture still exist today and are THE LOG SCHOOL 40-41 as sturdy as the day when they were made. It was very ACTIVITIES ON THE FARK 41-46 heavy in weight and put together with wooden pegs. The Raising Corn 41-42 key holes were carved out of the wood. There was plenty Hay Harvesting 42-43 off'so there was no idea of veneer. Cabinet makers in the Oats and Wheat 43-45 early days were noted for their craftsman ship. It was Food Preservation 45 not how much was made but how well it was made that cou- 94 D INDUSTRY ON THE CrtO\, HOMESTEAD Home Made Clothing 45-46 CHILDREN of Michael Crow 11 and oura Jane '.'.'© Know nothing about how the Grow family had meal Lucas 46-50 or flour when they first settled on the farm in 1769. THE FARM HOLDINGS 50 V.'e know that they had maple sugar and molasses and that CIVIL WAR DAYS 50-51 they killed wild turkey and deer for meat. Nothing has SENSE OF HUMOR 51 ever been said about having meal from corn, which was the COMMUNITY FEUDING 51-52 staple grain crop in the beginning. Michael Crow II still FAMILY DISCIPLINE 52-53 wanted his Johnny cakes when he was an old man. We know FAMILY SUMMARY 53 that the Crows had a vegetable garden, when two of the DEATH OF MICHAEL CROW II AND SARA JANE LUCAS . 53-54 men who had murdered the Crow sisters came afterwards to ADDITIONAL NOTES 54-56 the farm to beg food. PART FOUR THE GRIST MIL.L: The fist mill to produce corn meal or flour was located in the bottom north of the old home. FAMILY CHART: Wylie Lee and Minnie (ScottJ It was a mill to which a team was hitched to the sweep Crow 57 which went round and round in a circle to grind the meal. PHASES OF AGRICULTURE 57-63 The grinding burrs were in the middle of the machine. It TYPES OF FARMING 63-4 could have been the same old mill that my father had ab- THREE MAJOR INCOME CATEGORIES 64-66 ove the grain house near the old brick homestead. When OTHER FARM PRODUCTS 66-7 I was a small boy, my father Wylie Lee Crow, used to THE COUNTRY SCHOOLS 67-74 Hitch a team to the mill and grind feed for tft« hogs, CHURCH ACTIVITIES 74-77 cattle, and especially the cows, from the corn, oats, COMMUNITY RECREATION 77-78 and wheat raised on the farm. I recall that when he got RAISING SHEEP 79 through grinding feed for the livestock, that he would DOG STORIES 79-82 make corn meal on the same machine. It was told that one SNAKE ENCOUNTERS 82-83 time, my aunt tried to have a birthday party for my gran- DESCRIPTIONS OF THE CROW BUILDINGS 83-85 dfather, who was noted for getting things in a mess if COMMUNITIES AND HOMES SELF SUFFICIENT 85 someone tried to be especially nice to him. He got the IMPORTANT INFLUENCES 85-86 team hitched to this old mill and then they ran off, no SOCIAL CHANGES WITH EACH GENERATION 86-87 one having control over them. It was quite a job to stop PHILOSOPHICAL VIEWPOINTS OF THE CROW FAMILY .. 87-88 the team, as they ran round and round in a circle. The CHILDREN OF WYLIE LEE AND MINNIE (SCOTTJ CROW. 88 faster the team ran, the louder the old mill ground and DEATH OF WYLIE LEE and MINNIE (SCOTT) CROW ... 88 grumbled, and may even have howled. The team was event- THE CROWS THAT ARE LEFT 89 ually stopped by some of the other men at the birthday GOVERNMENT DAM 89 party. When anyone tried to give Grandpa Michael Crow II CROW CEMETERY EPITATHS 90 a present, he always got out his pocketbook and tried MULTIPLE GENERATION ADDITIONS 90 to pay the givar in cash for the gift. He was surely different fiom many people in this respect. PART FIVE iVATER KILL: The Crows finally built a water mill MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS 91-98 down by the creek. I have no way of knowing what year it Indian Background of the Crow Homestead . 91-92 was built. It was a large three story structure built of Industry on the Crow Farm 93-94 wood. A land dam was built to keep the creek from flood- Antique Home Made Furniture 94-95 ing the mill property, A large dam of stone was built ac- Farmlands Owned by the Crows during the ross the cresk and a water wheel constructed. The water Years 95-97 flowed under the wheel and when it hit the fins on the Credits 98 ejreat wheel, it turned the large flintlike burrs and gr- A Closing Word 9« ound the grain. It was the custom in that day to take the wheat that the farmers had raised to the mill, get it gr- ound into flour and then take it by team and wagon, or 3led if there was snow on the ground, to Cameron. There -.he sacks of flour would be shipped on the new B. and 0. railroad to other cities and sold.
STEAM MILL: In later years, the water mill was rep- laced with a steam mill. The machinery was purchased and hauled by wagon and teams from Wheeling. It was used many 93 1,500-YEAR-OLD VILLAGE A ncient B urial Mound Found at Crow Creek Four people displaced this tion, to keep from damaging any' summer by the Wheeling Creek items which might be found. Watershed project didn't mind In addition to the four skele- at all lons>the diggers discovered sev- They had been dead for about eral heart)ls (apparently used 1,500 years. for ceremonial purposes) and Their skeletons were removed stone drills, knives and arrow- from an ancient burial mound heads, on Crow Creek where one of the Most of the tools came from* seven flood control dams is to be culture earlier than that of the built. Adenas, Tanner said, indicating The mound is a remnant of that they had been brought to the Adena culture which flou- the site accidentally with the rished in this area from €00 B.C. dirt the Adenas used to build the to 600 A.D. It is located on the mound, historic Crow farm just east of The mound site originally was the West Virginia - Pennsylva- an Adena house, with a cone - nia state line. Not far away is shaped roof supported by wood- the site of the famous Crow sis- en poles, ters Indian massacre of the late Tanner explained the building 1700's. of the mound this way: . The hiound, one of two on the When a "fairly influential Crow farm, was excavated by member of the group (tribe) Pittsburgh's Carnegie Museum died, the Adenas dug a hole, under a contract from the Na- buried the body and built a tional Park Service. small mound, perhaps three feet Don Tanner of Bethel Park, high, over the tomB. Pa., a Carnegie Museum field Later the house was "deliber- associate, and three students did ately destroyed" and the large the excavating, which was com- mound built. The Crow mound is pleted a few days ago. about four feet high and 38 feet "This is what we call archae- in diameter. After the primary logical salvage work," Tanner burial, others were sometimes explained. "We save what we added. ,can before it is destroyed.""The The Crow mound had been mound's location will be the site partially excavated in the 1930's of the flood control dam's spill- by the Works Progress Adminis- way in a year or two. tration. A skull and some spear The other mound is on a hill- points were recovered at that top and not in danger. There is a time. third mound on an adjoining Tanner said the Adena culture farm in West Virginia. consisted of small, scattered, Excavation was a tedious pro- homesteads and represented cess. It had to be done slowly "the very beginnig of agricul- and carefully, section by sec- ture in this area."
92 PART FIVE - MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS PAST ONE - THE FIRST GENERATION SOME ADDITIONAL CROW INFORMATION FAMILY CHART OF JACOB AND SUSANNAH SECRIS(T) CROW
Indian Background Of The Crow Homestead FREDERICK CROW b. before 1769 In a sense, the beginning of the Crow story takes Settled Monroe Co., Ohio place several centuries before the coming of Jacob Crow and family to the western part of Greene County in 1769. PETER CROW A review of the available information concerning the pre- b. 17ty - d. 1826 historic Indian occupation of the Crow homestead will be m. Suzanna Earlewine informative abd helpful in understanding the encounters b. 1773 - d. 1854 of the first Crow family with the Indians of a later day. Resided Marshall Co., W. Va. This information comes mostly from the report of the Car- negie Museum excavation of the large mound on the Crow MARTI1ABTIN CROCR W homestead. This report was written by Don W. Dragoo and J. 1765 - d. 1837 Donald F. Tanner in December of I969. Most of the follow- 1800, Elizabeth Cockier ing material is taken from the Dragoo-Tanner report. b. 1782 - d. 1822 Resided Noble Co., Ohio The excavation of t he large mound on the Crow home- stead by the Carnegie Museum in 1968 and 1969 reveals JOHN CROW that its construction goes back to the Early Woodland b. before 1769 Culture, 1000 to 100 B.C. At a much later date during Killed 1789 by Indians, Wetzel Co., W. Va. the Late Prehistoric Period, 900 to 1600 A.D., people of Bur. Fish Creek, Wetzel County the Monongahela Culture intruded six burials into the JACOB CHOW Q upper portion of the mound. The mound was thus built dur- b. ar. 1732 MICHABT. CROW ing the closing phase of the Adena Culture in the Upper d. 1623 b. 1769 - d. 1852 m. 1799, Nancy Johnson Ohio Valley, and at a time when the Hopewell influence m. ar. 1755 was spreading throughout the Ohio Valley. There were two b. 1781 - d. 1853 Susannah Bur. Crow Cemetery burials, one a possible cremation, during the Early Wood- SECRIS(T) land period. b. 1735 CROW d.-1820(?) The Crow mound was one of many small mounds constru- Lest of 4 girls Both bur. attacked by Indians cted about this time over a wide area of southwestern Crow Cem. Pennsylvania, northern West Virginia, and southeastern Killed by Ohio. The major center of the Adena culture at that time SUSAN CROW Indians, 1791 in the Upper Ohio Valley was located along the Ohio River at Moundsvilie, 7/est Virginia, only a few miles west of CATHERINE CROW the Crow mound. CHRISTINA CROW The Crow mound was located upon a large village site Youngest of four girls on the present Crow homestead. This six acre site was attacked by Indians, escaped located on what is called a bench, some fifty feet above m. John McBride the Dunkard Creek level. The entire area of the bench Settled Noble Co., Ohio appears to have been occupied by prehistoric man at var- ious times over a long period of time. The mound was 44 ESTHER CROW feet in diameter and 5 1/2 feet in height at the time of m. Jacob Sailor excavation. It has been reported that there was also a Noble Co., Ohio, then to Indiana ciroular earth enbankment on the site at one time. Var- ious artifacts, including flint chips and flakes, a sh- LYDIA CROW ell tempered pottery vessel, cannel coal beads, tubular m. William(?J McBride bone beads, projectile points, and scrapers, were found on the site. A smaller, second mound was located on a MARY CROW second bench or plateau, behind and above the first bench. b. bef. 1791, ar. 1787 - d. 1806 (The above material used by permission of Dr. James L. Youngest daughter Owauger of the Carnegie Museum of Pittsburgh). m. Hiram Gray PART ONE - THE F1KST GENERATION ars to come. One man is only one rung in the vast unend- ing ladder of time, composed of all the lives who have JACOB AND SUSANNAH (5ECRIST) (JROW helped to build the race of mankind on this old earth. All life, both material and spiritual, must ultimately end on this earth and become infinite. The pattern of EDITOR'S NOTE: The material for Part One of the birth, life, death, and eternity, has been followed sin- Jacob Crow family history comes, first of all, from the ce the beginning of time, and will be followed in the Manuscript of J. Homer Crow. His material has been supp- future until the end of time, AS one of the tombstone lemented by material from other Crow manuscripts (Frank epitaths in the old Crow cemetery states: Crow, Wylie and Martin Crow, Dow M. Haines, Naomi Chamb- ers, and the genealogy notebook of Mrs. Martha (Dins- "Remember man, as you are now, so once was I, more ) Powers; Evan's "Pioneer History of Greene County", As I am now, so you must be, 1941; Wayehoff's "Looal History of Greene County and Prepare to meet thy God, and follow me". Southwestern Pennsylvania", 1975; Bate's "History of Gr- The above inscription is on the marker for Margaret L. eene County, Pennsylvania, 1888; newspaper accounts; and various miscellaneous sources. The many episodes in the Crow, daughter of Michael I and Nancy (Johnson) Crow. experiences of this family are now family traditions, and The following inscription is on the marker for Susannah consequently their order and date of occurrence can only Crow, Daughter of Michael I and Nancy (Johnson) Crow, be approximated. The various accounts often differ in and wife of David G. Braddock: detail as to dates, the names and number of the individ- uals taking part, and the action that took plaoe. Part "Reader, prepare to meet thy God, One is, therefore, a synthesis of what took place, taken For there is no repentance, from various sources, and woven into a single account. In the grave whether thou hasteth". JACOB CHOW COMES TO AMERICA This concludes the generation of Wylie Lee and Minnie V. (Scott) Crow, thus ending the Fourth Generation of this THE ANCESTOR: The pioneer history of western Pennsy- history known as the "First Four Generations" of the lvania would not be complete without an account of the Crow family. Crow family. The first American ancestor of the Crow fam- ily of Greene County, Pennsylvania, Jacob Crow, or Jacob FINIS Gro as he spelled his name in German in his last will and testament, came to America around 1750 at the age of 18 years, being born around 1732. The name was later changed to Crow, from what part of Germany he came, we have no MULTIPLE GENERATION ADDITIONS record, but as he was said to be short in stature and dark of complexion, he probably came from one of the sou- Descendants Carrying the Name of Crow thern provinces. He left Germany without money, as well as leaving his mother and two sisters behind who were all It was mentioned on p. 89 that Robert Crow (7) was the family. Family tradition states that he left Germany the only male descendant of Jacob Crow (1) through Mich- to get away from forced military duty and the-resultant ael Crow II (3). Mr. Homer Crow also lists the follow- wars. This military emphasis which prevailed in Germany ing generations as still carrying on the Crow name: in early times was probably the developing nucleus which finally exploded in the events of World Wars I and II. Jacob Crow (1), Peter Crow (2), Peter Crow II (3), One branch of the family claims that Jacob was a Hessian H
THE NE'.vr DGCJ: Once a Crow farmer had a real nice, newly purchased bald-faced German shepherd dog. Soon aft- er he got him, the farmer was getting his horses ready for work. The farmer was in the barn, harnessing the hor- ses, braiding and tieing their tails, so they would not The tombstone for Li3beth (Elizabeth) Crow (LC). be in the mud while traveling along the muddy road. All The initials LC are close to the ground and do at once, he heard a commotion amongst the sheep. ".Vhen not show in the picture. scared, sheep flock together and run in a group. The farmer ran to the field and caught the new dog chasing 12 The teacher and pupils diligently prepared a slecial lesson to be given in front of the parents and the visi- tors. The great interest was how the pupils worked arith- metic. In rural life, arithmetic is still considered a very valuable, if not the most valuable, of all subjects in the rural school curriculum. The Hays' books, the Men- v \ tal Hook, and the Hamiltons, all had sone very hard prob- lems. The long questions in mensuration, square and cube root, really tested a person good in figures to get them exactly right. The long compound interest problems were very tedious to get them to the exact cent or fraction of a cent in value. THE AFTERNOON: After one o'clock, the children gen- erally presented a very nice program. All such efforts, though, have their head and heart aches, especially for the teacher. Once the teacher whipped a great big husky boy the day before school was out. Every one presumed that this stalwart, head strong pupil, would not come the last day and so ruin the entire program. It was nice in the fellow, however, for he came the next day and did his part well, every thing going smoothly, and the boy was looked upon with respect by the entire community. The teacher usually treated the pupils, and the prizes for the most h*ead marks in spelling were distributed. This event always caused both happiness and disappoint- ment aij«ng all the pupils that really tried. The climax of the events of the day was whether the teacher was given a present by the community and whether the various parents made a speech and invited the teacher to come and render his or her educational services for another term. This event depicted who were noble faced and who were two faced. They always say that "tmtrder will out". One parent made a flattery speech, stating how much he and his neighbors wanted the school marm to return. Aft- er the group was dismissed and the parents were going home, this flattery speech maker went to one of the town- ship school board members and said, "1 did not mean any of the assertions I said about her in the school room, and we do net Want her ba,ck at all". How often the teach- er, especially if they were -ady going and kind hearted, were made the laughing stock of the community by such asinine rogues. Such- deceitful persons were not trusted, for they were not true to their word and convictions. The teacher was generally warned by previous actions of the culprit, or by being told by- friends and acquaint- ances, of the true situation.
THE CCUNTHY STORE: The country store was the 3ource of nost rural purchases in the fourth generation. Hot too much was purchased as most of the farmers' living was obt- ained fron his land by his own toil and sweat, .-:one times the folks drove a road wagon or some vehicle to town. That was a rare and wonderful occasion. It was such a tr- eat to the farm house wife to be in town a few hours and see the many lovely .new styles of dress and household goods. er was surely an odd man. Since it was her brother-in- THE INDIAN ROCK: Many people come yet to this day law that was nentioned, she was both curious and inquis- to look at the 20 ton rock, twelve feet by eight feet itive, so she asked why? The boy replied, "He always by three feet, behind which the Indians and the renegade talks to his plate before he eats". This was a mild kind Spicer hid themselves. An inscription was chiseled in of a family joke for some time. Adults often are in for the rock in 1931 as follows: some queer surprises as they listen to the remarks of their children. MAT 1, 1791 SUS. AND CATH. COMMUNITY RECREATION ELIZ - TINA CROW RECREATION CONFINED: Later, as life developed in the area, box socials, church festivals, and the picnic, The inscription was the result of action taken at the became forms of community recreation. Baseball games 1931 Crow reunion. In the spring of 1968, the rock after developed to some degree. The serenade became popular. standing upright along the road for as long as anyone There was not too much traveling to the distant cities oould remember, toppled over during a rain storm. A high for recreation or even the necessities, for a three hour litf was brought in to move it, since it was partially drive with a team of horses was no fun. In the summer, blocking the road, but the rock was so heavy that the it was a hot dreary dusty trip; in the spring, muddy equipment could only manage to sit it up on its side at roads made traveling miserable; and in the winter, the the edge of the road, leaving the inscription on the cold rains, sleet, snow, snow drifts, and ice, made tra- stone in a sideways position. Some of the county hist- vel not much pleasure. orians are trying to think up a way to preserve this old landmark. The site will be covered by many feet of water DANCES: The old fashioned square dance was a rural with the creation of a lake as part of the Wheeling Cr- attraction among a portion of rural folk, but they were eek Watershed flood control project. Does anyone have a frowned upon and rejected by the more religious families. practical idea? The idea was always the manner of the square dance. Such stomping, prancing, and dancing, as some couples would carry out! When the caller shouted "snoss (swingJ your partner", the fellow really snossed. It was good clean fun when the participants were clean and decent. Many poor country folk, though, stayed at home and grew old and died, with nary a date for either fellow or girl. It just seemed that some were never successful in the soc- ial world and often may have wondered why. THE COUNTY PAIR: The local or county fair was held once a year, usually in August or September. There was more interest in visiting and seeing old friends than in seeing the sewing, cooking, canning, and live stock. The exhibits were only the excuse, so it was considered acceptable to go and just plain loaf and visit for a day. The horse races and horse pulling oontests inter- ested many of the men. Many a farm woman thought sadly of the disappointment of having to stay at home while the super industrious husband kept on at the farm work. So many poor families had to miss all social events in the locality because work was foremost in the mind of father, the head of the house. The work day on the farm was from before daylight until after dark. There was no end to perseverance when it came to working, for work was the great motive.
CLOSING DAY AT SCHOOL: The country folk, though, did have a few good times. One great event was the last day THE INDIAN - CHOW HOCK ON ITS SIDE of school. The closing day has already been described in the school section, but these are some additional details. 77 Some members were eiddy, talked our. loud, and disturbed the entire Sunday School. Jocie t.eachers were net popular because they were too sincere and toe thorough, as they perturbed the section of the class that did not care much. A few groups looked to the lesson with interest, satisfaction, and gratitude. They looked forward to each Sabbath and loved to cone for a keen spiritual interest in the Bible study. It was always a Joy to teach a group who loved to study the Bible. Church usually followed Sunday School. These institutions had an indescribable influence on the community, and often one saw influences where they would almost have deemed the change on the manner of living one's life as impossible. Someone has said that the Sunday School is the most importent school in the world.
PRAYERS Sentences from these old extemp- oraneous prayers were often remebered for years after the prayer reading soul had departed from this earthly life. One such prayer recalled was, "7/hen our days are number- ed on this earth, may we be worthy to meet Thee in heav- en, this we humbly ask". Another one remembered was, "Eventually accept our souls we pray, these things we ask in Jesus' name". In those days, families who were attempting to live Christian lives and raise their child- ren in the way that they deemed proper in their inter- pretation of the Christian life, had the blessing "Thank you for food" before the family partook of each meal. This was a very worthwhile gesture and a fine attitude with which to begin each meal. These short, before meal prayers, were rendered similar to this, "Lord, we thank Thee for this food and your many tender mercies. Guide • and protect us through this day (or night) and eventually receive us for the fiedeemer'ssake" . Many of these pray- ers would go over and over in the minds of those who lis- tened with bowed heads, open minds, and a humble God fear- ing attitude. There were those who listened for manner's sake, those who listened because they thought they had to do so, and children who listened for fear that they would be switched for inattention. Some of these little fellows, especially when no blessings or prayers of any type were offered in the homes, developed some astute ideas about what was really going on, or what the mean- ing of the blessing was meant to be.
A STORY: This story has often been told. A kind mot- her from a drunken non-praying home, did the weekly wash- ing for a farm family where prayer and the blessing were given before each meal. She always brought her five year old son with her, as she was usually washing all day from seven in the morning until evening. The little boy always played about the wash house door and ate at the large dinner table that was set for the entire household. Drawn by Nat Youngblood The farmer sat at the head of the table and dutifully of the Pittsburgh Press, and sincerely gave the blessing. This child saw and heard September 3,1961. this rendition for several months. Finally, as he was talking to a neighbor lady, he said to her that the farm- /b week of sweaty farm work. Most folks went to church every The OHIO Expedition Sunday morning. The afternoon was spent quietly, sitting at home reading the Bible. TO C0SH0CTON: The Crows took revenge on the Indians by paying back in kind in the following story. Two of the OTHER CHURCH ACTIVITIES: There were a few special boys, again Martin and Frederick, decided that they would activities of the church durins the year. The Christmas take a scout out into Ohio and play Indian. After going program was much enjoyed, especially by the children. It out about Coshocton, they came upon an Indian campsite was so wonderful when Santa came in! The tree, with its and at once concealed themselves nearby to await darkness. decorations and tinsels, wars really very pretty. In mid Their procedure roughly paralleled that of the Indians winter, a protracted meeting was held to get new members when they attacked the boys in Wetzel County. After awh- into the church. They usually lasted from two weeks to a ile, two Indian braves came in. They built a fire, cook- month. They would draw large crowds for it was some place ed their supper, danced and rattled the musical bones, for the' people to go. They were a wery excellent influ- and finally one of them went into the tent and laid down ence on the community. In the early part of June, the to sleep. When the other Indian had gone away, the Crow Children's Day exercises, drew a large crowd. The Summer boys stole up to the tent, pulled up a peg, and lifted Festival provided home, made ice cream, which was all the up the edge right by the Indian's head. One of the boys ice cream that most foiks ever saw during the summer sea- held up the flap, and the other shot the Indian in the son. The festival was a popular place for the beaus and head. Then they jerked his blanket off him, took his gun belles of the community. and belt, and fled through the woods toward home. Still hurrying along the next day, they stopped at a pool for FUNERALS: The church was a sad place when a funeral a drink. Looking at their fine Indian Blanket, they fou- was held. There was a sad face for all, especially if it nd it bespattered with blood and stains from the Indian's was a life long friend, neighbor, or relative, who had brains as a result of the crushing of the skull by the passed "Beyond The Sunset". There was a great reverence gun shot at such close range. They tossed it over in the for the deceased and all were deeply touched as they weeds., but kept the belt and the gun, which was a very thought of the relative shortness of life, and how little beautiful weapon. Despite its beauty, the gun proved to life really means so far as the span of time, the univer- be useless, as it would not shoot well, and so was never se, and eternity, are concerned. The folk had their comm- of any practical value. As a result of the trip, the boys unity difficulties, but due to the influence of the ch- must have felt that they had done something to square th- urch, were at heart a group who were to some extent in eir account with the red man. As far as can be determined every case, and more or less in many instances, as close this episode was the last violent blood letting by the together as kin, neighbors, and friends. members of the Crow family. SUNDAY SCHOOL: Nearly every community had a church. The Last Encounter If there was no building, the local one room school was used for the Sunday School room and for the church serv- SURPRISE VISITORS: One summer day, while the Crow ices. Every one in the community, as a rule, came to the men were out working on the farm in an old time log-roll- Sunday School and church service. It was the only social ing, the mother and the one daughter, Christina, who was gathering in most communities at that time, and was the left from the massacre, were in the garden, located near only regular gathering. Normally Sunday School was held the log cabin, gathering vegetables for the dinner at the during each Sabbath forenoon. The major feature of the noon hour. Suddenly an Indian and the white man Spicer Sunday School was of course the Sunday School Class. The had the boldness to ride up to the Crow home and ask for person who taught it was always open for complaints or food and a drink of buttermilk. The a«n were on large, harassing statements concerning himself and his hard fine, heavy horses, considering the distance that they working efforts. There were, in some instances, prayer traveled soon after the confrontation. Christina Immed- donors and instructors who deserved such adverse criti- iately recognized the men and said to her mother, "Those cism. The best man is alway3 the man who can see the are the men who killed my sisters". She was positive of faults in his own daily living;. her identification, because she oould never forget the appearance of the savages, red and white, who murdered Tlu-: oUl-JD^Y 3CH0vJi- ULASS: Sunday School teachers were her sisters. The intruders heard her remark and fled at generally characters of muny types. Some were excellent, once up over the hill and out of sight. but so far as quailfications, ability, and quality, there were many categories into which they fell. The poorest THK PURSUIT: The horn had been sounded for dinner, were the ones who had the Golden Text read and each mem- but Christina ran and urgently called the men. Michael ber of the CIHSR read a versp turn about and that wan jt. and a comrade by the name of Dickerson did not even wait Jome cle.3ses spent almost nil t.jieir tine gossiping about to eat, but took out after the Indian and Spicer, follow- t.he entire conrmnity, which was extremely poor r 16 75 ing them until dark. Michael was to kill the Indian and destroyed by noth, rust, or corruption, H kind deed ex- his comrade was to kill Spicer. The men camped for the ists for ever and is never lost. night and at daybreak continued the pursuit. They found where Spicer and the Indian had camped near the Mononga- CHURCH ACTIVITIES hela River in Greene County. 3ome people clalned that they caught the two and massacred them, others claim th- CHURCHES ATTENDED: The early church was an immense at they were close enough to count the buttons on their factor in the community life of the Crows. I have ment- coats, but the family folklore always told that the Crow ioned how the family first rode horses to church in v/est men really never saw the murderers of the sisters and Alexander, Pennsylvania. The second generation rode hor- that they were never heanlof again. Evans, pp. 85-6, ses to Number Two Hidge to camp meetings. Then a church reports that the Crow men kept closed mouths and never was built at what was then called Haneytown, but is now breathed to any mortal either the object, the intent, or Dallas. Later, the family went to the Wolf Run Presby- the result, of their adventure. A treaty of peaoe had terian church. Finally, during the third generation the been negotiated and it was unlawful to kill an Indian community became more densely populated, so Methodist then. Due to the widespread report that Michael had av- churches were built at Salem and Seatonsville, now Cal- enged the slaying of his three sisters by killing the ls, in Marshall County. two suspicious men that passed through the settlement, the civil magistrates had Michael Crow arrested and held PRESBYTERIAN: The Crows stuck with the Presbyterian to answer the charge of dealing foully with the men. The faith so intensely that they rode horses eight miles to charge could not be proven, due to lack of evidence and a Presbyterian Church, instead of two miles to the Meth- a report by a hunter that the two men had been seen lat- odist churches. The Crows would attend the Methodist Ch- er near the Ohio River. Waychoff, p. 92, states th*/Mich- urches during protracted meetings. They would come home ael Crow was not convicted. and tell how the Heartleys and the Gettings would shout. These meetings usually had scary evangelists who would The.White Renegade some how try to cause the congregation to fear God, rath- er than to love God and come to Jesus' feet by being IDENTITY: There has been some difference of opinion touched by the Holy Spirit. The Presbyterians were accus- in regard to the identity of the white renegade. Nearly tomed to long pious sermons and long serious faces and all of the historians who have recorded the event state actions in life. The result being that the other side that the name of the white man was Spicer and that he was said that if you wanted to get cheated, just deal with a a member of the Spicer family of Greene County. On June long faced Presbyterian. Then the other side, when they 6, 1774-, the William Spicer family of near Bobtown In talked, said a short measured bushel of grain was Metho- Dunkard Township in Greene County, were massacred by the dist measure. No doubt both sides used all degrees possi- raiding Indians under Chief Logan. The father and moth- ble of right and wrong as man measures such in the path er, and five of the seven children, were killed by the of life on this old earth. Indians. Elizabeth (Betsy) and her brother William, in their early teens were taken captive into Ohio, but ado- ITS PURPOSE: The church played an important part in pted by different tribes. Betsy was released later in a high per cent of rural homes. Every church stood by the year, but William became a great favorite with the the road and its teachings were a beckfining hand of fr- Indians, married a squaw, became a chief and warrior, iendship to all mankind, rich and poor alike. The purp- and remained with the Indians until his death. See Evans, oses of the church were to help people to live better pp. 29-31. He led raids and massacres in Greene County, lives, to teach that.real greatness in life was to serve and was not only at the Crow massacre, but was also at mankind, and to prepare people for eternity. The church the Davis massacre in May, 1791. Being raised by the helped and influenced many aspects of rural life. Indians, he knew nothing else than Indian customs, ways, and life. He was even more cruel than the Indians them- THE" WORSHIP oiUt/iOi,: The church was foremost the selves. Waychoff states that he reared a family, became place for worship each Sabbath. On a warm Sabbath during wealthy, and it is said that two of his sons were educ- the summer season, bugeies, spring wagons, and surries, ated at Washington and Jefferson College in Washington. were lined up with the horses tied to a fence or hitch- EDITOR'S NOTE: The W. and J. Alumni Directory was check- ing rail, switching and fighting flies as they waited in ed but no Spicer names were found. If they attended W. the hot sun for preaching to be over. The sermon was very and J., they may not have graduated, or may have grad- long to the children, and probably to the older folks uated under Indian names. Waychoff also states that there too. Not many people centl#,when the sermon is over, make was a tradition that Spicer was killed later on the east- a two minute summary of the contents of the delivered shore of the Ohio River, that he was skinned and leather sermon. ;'Vhen church was out, the folks always visited for made of his skin. See Waychoff, pp. 90-2. It would seem, a time and discussed weather, crops, and community aff- in conclusion, that the earlier historians who were much airs. Then the folks went home to toil through another 17 piece of "their culinary efforts, making the poor and re- closer in time to the recorded events than we are today, jected feel hurt to the very core of their being, so far were correct in their recorded statements in regard to as their feelings were concerned. the identity of William Spicer. THE CLK,Ji \JP: After every one hud eaten until they PEACE AT LAST: Despite death and violence, and the were suffering from over eating, the dinner remains were death of John and the three sisters, the Crow family per- rid up. The crunbs, bones from fried chicken, and sand- sisted in living in and protecting the home on the west- wiches partly eaten by the snail fry, were thrown out ern frontier from savage attacks that took four of the and all the dogs ate ravenously until all the food scraps twelve children of Jacob Crow and his wife Susannah. The were gone. The big dogs ate too much, the middle sized family had cleared much land and were too well establish- dogs did not get
HOME SINGING: It was not unusual for a group of neighbors to congregate in a home and have a sing. There usually was no instrument, so a leader pitched the sel- ection and it was sung a cappello. Often there were good voices and many knew how to carry the four parts, so the ssr.'-W^U Ufis--/* melody was excellent even to the ear3 of a trained mus- ician. Sometimes, though, there were squeaky high pitched sopranas and off toned basses, which would cause a lack of harmony. This brought forth much criticism and smiles DEATH OF JACOB CROW from all who were more trained in music than others. The group, as a rule, had a good time and not too many went Jacob Crow I lived the latter part of his life on home with snubbed feelings, AS a rule, those who were' the Greene County homestead, and lived to a ripe old age, pricked with the tongue of a critical viper, or egotist- being over 90 years of age at the time of his death. He ical know it all, went home and said nothing. The culprit probably died in the summer of 1823, as his WILL was pro- in question usually never returned to the group again. lated in Greene County, Aug. 18, of that year. His will Often many became snubbed until the group fell apart and mentions his 30ns Frederick and Mchael, and his wife Sus- the minds of the group turned to some other interest. annah. One Crow manuscript states that she was born 1735 and died 1820. This date of death is questionable. Jacob 68 Grow, her husband, wrote his will Nov. k, 1821, with the 23 reshing apples that were used to make arrle sauce and ap- following provision: "first, I will and positively order, ple plea for the thresher's meals. Another c;reat apple that my wife Susannah Crow have thirty dollars per year was one without a name, but which was remembered as the out of the estate during her life time". She was there- dumpling apple. These baked apple dumplings were too del- fore living in late 1821. Jacob bequeathed to posterity, icious to talk about or remember without longing. A man besides an extensive landed estate, an unsullied char- or boy who had one of these great apple dumplings for acter and an honest name. dessert had better pitch or shock hay all afternoon if he wanted to eat any supper. In late June, the Sarly Har- Jacob and his wife Susannah were buried adjacent to vest apple was a great treat, as in that season there the graves of their three daughters who were killed by were no fresh fruits or vegetables to be purchased from the Indians, this being the beginning of the little fam- the stores. The first fresh apple sauce was a delight, ily cemetery on the Crow homestead. Many farms in this like the first saucers of garden grown lettuce, or the area have these small family grave yards, many of which first rhubarb pie in April. Currant jelly was another are now overgrown and the markers lost or in ruins. old fashioned fruit that is gone. The graves of the girls are marked only by two rude- The farmer used to make his own year's supply of ly hewn field sandstones. Jacob and Susannah Crow have VINEGAR each autumn. They usually made two or three sixty the regular sandstone monuments of that age of American gallon barrels, as much of it was used when the wife made history. These stones were manufactured and have the nam- pickles, green tomato ketchup, and pickled beets, pears, es, Jacob and Susannah, cut in print on the back of the and other fruits and vegetables. It was wonderful in the stones. The graves all face the east, as was the early fall to gather apples, make cider that was so good to dr- burial custom. ink, and make such good flavored tangy vinegar. Another drink of the old days was SASSAFEAS TEA which was made in This concludes the generation of Jacob and Susannah the early spring'by boiling some succulent roots from (SECRISTJ Crow, thus ending the First Generation of this the sassafras tree. HOREKOUND TEA was another drink wh- history known as the "First Four Generations'1 of the ich was used as a medicine for coughs and colds. Mustard Crow family. plasters and onion poultices were old but also good cold SUMMARY cures. As one walks from one point of interest to anoth- THE COUNTRY SCHOOLS er on the old Crow homestead, one is walking on historic ground indeed. Before the coming of the white man, the EARLY SCHOOLS: With the development of the commun- Indians used the land for a rendezvous where they doubt- ity and the coming of more settlers, the old fashioned less engaged in their war dances, ceremonies, rituals, one room schools, churches, stores, mills, and black and other seasons of festivity. smith shops developed. First, I shall tell about the early schools. The very first were subscription schools. Here in the trackless forest, a clearing was made, a Usually some young lady would gather together a group log house erected, and the foundation of the historic of neighborhood pupils, receiving about two dollars per Crow family was laid. From the very beginning, the hist- pupil to teach reading, writing, and arithmetic. Often, ory of this family has not only been interesting, but it from about November until March, five months of school is seen that they lived in exciting and hazardous times would be held for the older young folks. People in that in the primeval forests. day went to one room schools from the age of seven to twenty, ilathematica was the major interest in early edu- May 1, 1791, will long be remembered. "On that beau- cation. The KENTAL ARITHMETIC and RAY'S HIGHER ARITH- tiful May morning with the virgin forest clothed in the METIC were real difficult. ilany, training themselves in spring garb of foliage of living green, the beautiful Hay the math of today, would find them extremely difficult flowers, the dainty violets, the rich velvety buttercups to master. The old fish and time questions in the old and Indian pinks", an event took place that will not be mental books really gave one the ability to think throu- soon forgotten. "The scene at the creek ford is a most rh a most strenuous problem. Heading was taught by the romantic spot and place of beauty, as one looks down or old ABC method. The school term was so short that child- up the stream with its silver sheen, the lofty hills on were not as far advanced as they are today in the art of either side, the ponderous rocks, and the waving ever- reading at L ^iven age. These young people were the great green". These quotations are from a news article written ".nd worthwhile men and women of the past. by Rev. Frank R. Getty of the Dallas Presbyterian Church, and give a graphic picture of the location where the Jj.JOJ.?*.jJiii: These one room schools massacre took place. continued as the center of social and educational life of thousands of connunitles. A new teacher was selected help. A horse could always out run most any steer or heifer. SHEEP: Sheep were the third source of income for the general farmer. Some sheep were sold for mutton, but most were kept for the fine wool that they produced. Each farmer usually kept about fifty ewes, or else about fifty wethers, which were kept solely for the seven to twelve pounds of wool that they normally produced each sp- ring. Wool often sold for as low as six to ten cents a pound, so that the farmer would not get more than one hundred dollar*, for his year's work with his sheep. Cattle would bring $25 per head, or three to five cents per pound. Hogs brought two to five cents per pound, and eggs two cents per dozen. THE HUCKSTER: A man known as the huckster came ar- ound to each farm house to purchase the butter and eggs. He usually took his produce to the Wheeling Market House, where he had a rented stall and sold his produce directly to customers who lived in the city. Then the huckster THE TOMBSTONE OF JACOB CBOW I would return to his home community and get ready to take his team and wagon to go on another route. Other Farm Products
FRUITS, NUTS, AND GRAPES: It was once thought that tomatoes were poison, so they were only grown for decor- ative purposes. The sarvis, haw, paw paw, mulberry, and wild grape, were early fruits that are seldom found grow- ing or used any more. The cherry, peach, and plum, soon took their place as fruit. Elderberry jelly is becoming a thing of the past, and crab apple jelly is seldom pre- pared any more. In olden days, jelly was made only for decorating the table. A ball of jelly was made and placed in a glass dish, as a center piece attraction and was never thought of as an edible dish. Nut were seldom tho- ught of as a food like they are today. At one time on the Crow farm, hickory nuts, butter nuts, walnuts, and chestnuts were plentiful almost every autumn after the frosts. Hazel nuts were gathered from bushes. The wild grapes and sarvices could be eaten after frosts. The wild grape was once gathered by the pioneer, and put in the storage loft or cellar, or in a barrel buried in forest leaves. They were a tiny grape but good in taste.
APPLES, VINEGAR, *HV SA^SAFRAS TEA: AS a rule, the THE TOMBSTONE OF SUSANNAH CSOW olden apples were a much more flavorable fruit than our WIFE Or JACOB CBOW I modern apples. They were so good that it seems odd that the present horticulturists^ld not preserve these wond- erful old apples. Some of the great ones were the rambo, northern Spy, pumpkin apple, the waldorf, pippin, and the russet, an apple with a yellow meat and a brown rou- gh like skin. There was a large yellow apple that always came in the month of August and was considered the th- 25 66 were often named after the women from whom the baby cal- PAKT TWO - THE SECOND GENERATION ves were purchased. These cows were large, lank, long, FAMILY CHART OF MICHAEL AND NANCY (JOHNSONj CHOW animals as a rule. The poorer folks who lived in log cab- in huts on three acre tracts also had cows. They did not MICHAEL CROW (1) have fields in which to pasture the cows, so b. 1800 - d. innfancf y old "Bossie" ran on the commons, which were the creek banks and fence rows along the road where MARTIN CROW bits of pasture went to waste except for these roaming b. 1802 cattle. They always had a bell fastened under their necks. Each bell seemed to have a distinctive tone. The children MARY CROW of the various families knew the tone of their family b. 1802 - d. 1809 cow's bell, so they knew by ear how to locate her and m. 1824, Francis Lazear bring her home in the evening, so ma or some of the old- b. 1808 - d. 1872 er girls could pail the cow and put the milk away in a cave or spring house. These poor families often never ELIZABETH CROW made over twenty-five dollars during an entire year, but b. I8O4 - d. they were happy and often lived worthwhile lives even m. James Spillman though they had a very meager living, so far as luxuries were concerned in this post Victorian age in the history SARA CROW of America. b. 1805 - d. m. Jamea Patterson MILKING TIME: The farmer of fifty to five hundred acres of land usually kept some cows and milked them. The SUSANNAH CROW wife and the younger children usually did this portion of b. 1807 - d. I846 the farm choes. These cows, usually three to a half doz- m. David Braddock en, were kept in a field in the summer and were driven MICHAEL CROW I 0 into a lot at night to be milked. They were usually very b. 1769 WILLIAM CROW quiet cows. The one who milked them would go to "Old Red" d. 1852 b. 1809 - d. or maybe "Old Pied" and say "So-o-o, Heist", put her milk m. 1799 m. Jane Johnson pail down, pull up the milking stool, and go about the Settled near New Concord, Ohio milking process, so that the cow was freed of her sack- of Nancy Johnson b. 1781 milk until the next morning. This milking process was not TWIN GIRLS always so quietly done. Flies were a pest and would often d. 1853 Both bur. b. 1810 - d. infancy so annoy "Old Boasie" that she would give up in despair Crow Cem. and take off, upsetting the milk pail, switching her AGNES NANCY CROW tail, and running through a clump of bushed to get rid lb children of the pesky flies. They were most bothersome just before b. 1612 - d. a rain storm. Sometimes "Old Bossie" would have a briar m. William Joab, lived Terra Haute, Ind. sticking in the flesh of a teat or have a scratch, the milk maid would not notice these and would unknowingly JOHN CROW press on the sore spot. The result usually was that the b. 1813 - d. milk maid got a quick kick, the milk was spilled, and the m. Nancy Johnson cow raced away. The milking chore was usually done in a peaceful setting. The cows would chew their cud and stand MICHAEL CROW (2) (b. 1814 - d. infancy) quietly until the nilking operation was completed. JACOB CROW (b. 1815 - d. 1901; m. Susan Lazear CALVES RAISED: On many of the larger farms, the cal- b. 1824 - d. 1883 ves were allowed to run on the cows for the first six months of their lives. These calves often made better T CHOW (b. 1817 - d. 1844, unm. cattle to sell, than the calves that were raised on the bucket by the farm family. The steers and heifers were klCHAKL CHOW (b. 1818 - d. 1908) usually sold for beef when they were about two years old. m. 1842, Sara Jane Lucas (1825 - 18.79) Some farmers kept them until they were three years old, but this was an uncommon practice. Often these cattle UHAKLOTTK *NM CRO'-V were somewhat wild and were collected and sold with much b. 1821 - d. difficulty. They were usually sold to a local dealer. m. Joseph Carroll The use of horses in driving these cattle was a great \ PArtT T'.'C - THE SECOND UKNKRATION summer and the molasses were 30 strong that they were notfit to eat. For molasses to be strong was a condition similar to a soured or fermented food. MICHAEL I AND AGNES NANCY (JOHNSON CROW Three Major Income Categories As is still often customary, some member of the fam- ily of the former generation, continued the farm, busi- HOGS: There were three major income categories for ness, or profession. This was the case of llichael Crow I, the general farmer. In the valleys where large creek val- who became the father of the third generation of Crows leys were often found, hogs were the leading source of who inhabited the old homestead of Jacob Crow who was th« pecuniary income for the farmer. Some farmers would mar- pioneer head of the family. ket as many as fifty hogs at one time, teost small farmers never had over a dozen to market at one time. It was a Michael Crow I was a typical frontiersman. From earl- tedious and tiring task to drive a drove of hogs to the iest childhood, he was schooled in the hardships, dangers, Wheeling market. The farmer and probably two hired hands and privations of border life, and trained in the school drove the hogs to market. The drove was hard to start as of adventure. His costume was that of a soout, and his the hogs wanted to return home for the first few miles. manner and equipage conformed thereto. When a young man, They followed the creek road and it was about twenty mi- Michael loved to hunt. Deer was his favorite game. For les to .Wheeling. '.Vhen they were on a strange road and saw hunting, he had his wife make him a tan wool hunting sh- no familiar terrain, they became somewhat tired, and set- irt of home-spun, which is still in possession of the fam- tled down and poked along at a very slow pace. This was ily. a good thing for if the weather was very warm, the large fat hogs would get too hot and die from the heat. They usually weighed from 250 to 300 pounds. They were used KARRIAGE: Michael Crow I married Nov. 26, 1799, Nan- to laying in water or hog wallows, in the shade in a cl- cy Johnson, daughter of William and Mary (Sample) Johnson, a neighbor girl who was raised in Washington County, Penn- ean grassy orchard. The long hot du3ty road was an extr- sylvania, on a branch of Ackley Creek near what is now eme change of habitat for the poor pigs. The farmer, the Kajorsville, on a farm later known as the Charles Spil- crew, and the hogs, started the walk to Wheeling early man farm. The Johnsons left this farm to the Crows and in the morning, probably Just after dawn. By evening, when Michael Crow died, he willed the farm to his son, they would be-poking along into Elm Grove. The rich lad- Jacob Crow. The Johnson burial ground is located on this ies would be sitting on their spacious and well shaded farm and Nancy (Johnson) Crow's parents are buried in verandas. They no doubt held their noses with their lady this cemetery. like, well manicured fingers, and watched with disdaln- ment those smelly farmers and those filthy hogs. In case CABINET MAKER: William Johnson, Nancy's father, was a hog started to meander up a front walk or on a lovely a cabinet maker. The Crows once had many pieces of his kept lawn, the lady would soon send a servant to demand sturdy furniture for storage purposes, but sold them when with alacrity that the farmer get himself and his hogs the opportunity prevailed. The Crow heirs still have sev- off the property more rapidly than immediately can be eral of the old hand made pieces of furniture. This furn- valued in seconds. Finally, about dusk, the drove of hogs iture was made of solid wood, no veneer as we see today. would arrive at the stock yard known as Sax Brothers. The Black walnut and cherry wood were mostly used, with solid hogs would be penned, watered, and fed. The next morning, pieces being used for the bottoms. Seemingly oak was not the hogs would be auctioned off to some slaughtering com- used, as all the antiques that are left, were made of bl- pany . The farmer and his hired hands would probably lay ack walnut and cherry. The furniture was very sturdy, over in some hotel. Then in the following morning they handsomely made, and very heavy, due to the solid wood would walk the twenty miles back home, or if they had bottoms. It was massively built, and was not expected to horses with them they would ride home. This process was be moved each time that the floor was slept. There were usually carried out in the fall. Sometimes hogs would be no metal nails or screws at that time, so all the furn- wintered on corn and sold in the spring. iture was put together with wooden pegs. CATTLE: Cattle were the next best means of making MICHAEL'S STRENGTH: When in his prime, Lachael was money for the general farmer. The first breeds were the known for his feats of strength. '.Then the men of the Fish Creek breed. It was a type like a mixed or mongrel neighborhood gathered at a muster, he could outdo nost dog, it just came about according to the type that was of his opponents in heaving the "shoulder stone", or in in the locality. The first cattle were mostly brindled tossing a rail. A fellow by the name of Barger, having motley colored animals. One might get such color today neard that I'.iohael was a "g,e©d man", came one day in corn- by breeding Brow Swiss or Jerseys with the milking Red hoeing time to challenge him to a fight. "',7hy, Barger, Short Horns. These fine old cows were wonderful milkers. what's the matter with you? I don't want to fight you", &£any a baby has been raised on "Old Jemima's" milk. Cows 27 and husking the corn, have been largely eliminated by said Kichael leaning on his hoe, but Barger was not to the corn husker and the use of weed sprays. be put off. Sidling up to Michael, he landed a good blow on the latter's cheek, and the fight was on. Types of Farming The dust of the corn field flew as they struck and GENERAL: The idea of general farming was the busi- dodged. Presently they went down in a clinch with Barger ness ideal of this day and age. It was thought that by on top. It looked bad for llichael, bufhe somehow got his doing a little of every type of farming that one could arm around Barger's neck and held him so close that he make a little on each project. It was unusual that every couldn't strike. They scrambled around in the dirt, and crop would fail or every type of livestock would not dev- all at once Michael was on top. Then what a beating he elop well. This economic idea, though, did not agree in gave Barger. The latter would not yell quits until his any manner with the present age idea of mass production eye was swelled shut and bis face so pummuled that it of a commodity to save labor and machinery manipulation looked like raw meat. Michael's oldest son, William, in developing the finished product so as to make more who was hoeing corn with his father and witnessed the profit for the corporation. A general farm caused the fight, said he never saw a man get such a thrashing as farmer to have so many pieces of machinery that were did Barger. When it was all over, Barger slunk out of often used only once a year. It caused so many extra lab- the field without saying a word. He never took on Wich- or efforts. The farmer was always rushed, one must hurry ael for any more fights. to work the corn, hurry to cut the wheat and oats at the right time, hurry to cut the corn before frost so that PUHCHASES FARM: Before his father's death in 1823, the fodder"could be saved for food, hurry to husk the Michael moved to the home place, having contracted with corn before the winter snows, and hurry to move the fodd- his father as early as 1803 to purchase the plantation er so it could be fed after the snow fell without having for the sum of {2,000, to be paid in trade in annual All- to haul it. otments of corn, wheat, oats, rye, salt and pork. Michael remained at the homestead to help his father In a variety SEASONAL JOBS: In the spring, the plowing and plant- of enterprises. He built the district's first brick hou- ing the crops followed the same rush, maneuvering betw- se, installed a tread mill to cord wood by day and grind een weather conditiona and the proper season for plant- corn at night. Michael depended on farming and hunting ing, like planting corn when the oak leaves were as large for his livlihood. He no doubt may be credited with hav- as squirrel's ears. In early days, the making of maple ing most of the land of his farms cleared. The large syrup was one of the very early spring chores. This work logs were burned and the land prepared so it could be had to be done as spring came and the ground began to cropped or made into pasture fields. thaw from the winter's freezes. ESTATE ENLARGED: The Crow estate was enlarged exten- A FALL JOB: In the fall, cane molasses was made just sively during this period of the Crow history. The State before the first frosts. They did not dare let the cane line between Virginia and Pennsylvania was run about this be frosted, or the sorghum molasses would be bitter. The time. For a while, the Crows paid a small property tax in stocks of cane were fed into a cane mill, and then the Wheeling as the family thought that they lived in the St- extracted juice was boiled and skimmed for days. Finally ate of Virginia. The Crows acquired 170 acres of land in the molasses were drawn from the vat, strained through what is now Marshall County, West Virginia, taking claic cheese-cloth, and stored in jar containers. It was used by placing the sugar making kettles on the land for a for sweetening on the kitchen table, being very good in certain length of time. The final tract seemed to contain ginger bread and ginger cookies. Some people liked to eat 576 aores, but there were other parts to the estate, as them on bread, mix them in smear case or cottage cheese, Martin Crow once held a neighboring farm before selling they could also be made into fair taffy. They would not it and moving west. There was also another farm in Penn- turn into sugar like brown or white sugar taffy. They sylvania owned by the Crows, and another one in West Vir- were very sweet and were very good when made correctly. ginia on Wolf Run. They once owned 100 acres on Dry Ridge, too, but sold it. MOILING IMPOK'i'AN'i': An expert, to use the word loose- ly, had to boil the cane molasses. It it was not boiled RODE TO CHUHCH: The Crow family early rode horses to the proper thickness in texture, the molasses would to the West Alexander Presbyterian Church, but later a not keep but would sour in a few days. The molasses were Presbyterian Church was built at Haneytown, now Dallas, usually kept in large twenty gallon jars in the cellar West Virginia. The family went regularly to church th- or H shed. One time the lid p,ot off the sorghum barrel ere for years. This church was organized Sept. 23, 1831. and the pcor black mother cut drowned in the molasses. Miohael donated money to the building fund and was one They were not being used fit the time, as it was late of the organizers of the church. Michael and his wife Nancy were both very rigid in their relieious observances. 28 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: The locality was now becom- '7e of today must remember that grain ing somewhat settled. Wild animals were receding into was produced by first plowing with a team or teams, harr- the more unsettled and more virgin forested areas near owing the ground, broadcasting the seed by hand, one man the mountains. Farming became a more developed industry sowing the erain with a sack hung on his shoulder con- and was now being done on a large scale for several hun- taining the aeed, and scattering it by handfuls on the dred acres, hired help being plentiful and very cheap. ground. The sower was guided by sticks about three feet There was no relief or government aid at that time. Sm- high with little strips of white cloth tied at the top all log cabins appeared on the less worth while land for of each one, placed at each end of the field. After each farming, resulting in many three acre farmers with fam- round, the flag sticks were moved over about five steps, ilies of ten or more children. These people depended on so that no ground would be missed. One wanted a still working for the large land owners. There was no industry day, with no breeze or wind, when broadcasting grain. of any type, so the land fed the populace of all classes In this area, winter wheat was always sown in the fall. no matter what their economic or social status. There The grain had to be run through a sieve in the grain was no machinery for farming even of the very primitive house before it was sown, in order to get the cockle out type, so the many hands made light labor of logging, of it. This was a noxious weed which could nearly ruin house raising, or just simple farming. one's wheat crop if present in large quantities. The sieve was about 15 feet long, covered with wire netting, Agriculture graduated in different sizes so that the cockle and oth- er weed seeds would fall through the mesh which was too CORN: When a farmer cleared a field for corn, he small for the wheat grains to pass through. plowed it with a slow yoke of oxen, worked the growing corn with a single shovel plow, hoed it carefully by When the wheat was ripe in July, the farmers used hand, and cut and husked the corn in the fall. It was an implement called a cradle to cut the grain. There was then hauled into a crib or barn for drying and storage, quite a slight of hand in the ability to handle a cradle and then fed to the livestock. properly. The cradle was similar to a mowing scythe used in cutting hay or weeds, with the exception that it had HAY HARVESTING: The^harvestlng of hay was once a some fire fingers located above the somewhat curved bl- very slow process. When* mowed an entire hay field with ade that cut the grain. These fingers cradled or caught a scythe, it was a very laborious job. Then to rake the the grain before it was deposited on the ground. A good hay with a hand rake, make it into shocks, haul the sh- hand with ability to swing a cradle could lay an almost ocks to the stack with a grape vine tied around them, or perfect swath. A man followed the cradler with a wooden haul the hay to the barn with a cart or sled moved slow- rake, similar but a little larger than our garden rakes ly with a yoke of oxen, was really a lot of work. The of today. He would rake the swath into bundles about workers had to watch for copperhead and rattlesnakes sheaf size. The raker was followed by a tier, who would while working in the hay. A hornet or yellow jacket nest join two wisps of straw, to tie the sheaves into bundles. or bumble bees inflicted painful stings when disturbed, The grain was then shocked, and allowed to go through a and caused serious trouble especially if they got around sweat or curing process. When the grain was dry, it was a team of horses. hauled by sled to the ricks or stacks. A botton was made from old fashioned split rails to keep the grain off the •.YHEAT AM) UATO: wheat and cats were also grown. '.Vhen ground. The ricks were some 35 feet long and 25 feet wi- men cut the grain by cradle and raked it by hand into de. The building of the rick required great care and sk- bundles, bound each sheaf with bands from the straw of ill, to keep if from getting lopsided and slipping, esp- the grain, then stood the sheaves in shocks with hudders ecially with oats. The scene has already been described over them, and when dry placed the grain bundles into where a rick slipped, smashed the wagon rack, and nearly large stack3 or ricks, it seemed an endless task. Later covered Kit and Beaver, the Belgian team hitched to the they flailed or beat the grain out, or tramped horses wagon. over it on the barn floor, then winnowed it by throwing it up in the air, and letting the wind blow the chaff HARVEST ChANGES: In making hay, we find a bett- away. er but still slow method of putting up hay. The horse drawn Mowing machine, rake, and tedder, made hay making FRUITS AND VEGETaBiJ&S: Fruits and vegetables were a much easier and faster task that that found in early gathered and dried over a fire or in the hot sun. Beans generations of the Crow family. Several men were still particularly were raised in great quantities and let dry used in the field to build shocks to be hauled to the in the pod. These were brought out in the long winter location of the stack. The cradle was replaced by the evenings and the family hulled them. For years there was reaper and then by the horse drawn binder. Today, the no store nearer than Wheeling, so there was very little slow process of planting, hoeing, cultivating, cutting, such large quantities in the west that small grain chance to get much from the stores. became a story in the history of the hill country and no more a reality. Thus ends the resume of the Crow thresh- HONEY AND MAPLE SUGAR: Bee trees were found in the ing season, and the farm settled down to a more peaceful woods and wild honey was a delightful food. Bears loved quietness until threshing time rolled around again the to find it too, even though they often got stung on the next year. nose. Kaple syrup and sugar were obtained by tapping the maple trees in the spring and boiling down the sap. WILD MEAT AND SALT: The wild meats of the bear, tur- key, rabbit, squirrel, pheasant, partridge and other wild life, added much to the colonial menu of the early days. Salt was really the only commodity that needed to be pur- chased to any extent. There were places where the deer depended on salt licks to get their needed supply. In time, animals were domesticated, and then hogs were gr- own, butchered, and hams and side meat were cured and smoked with hickory wood with usually a little sassafras added. The pieces of meat were treated with salt and oth- er substances, so they would not spoil during the summer season.
MACHINERY APPEARS: In later years, the horse drawn threshing machine made its appearance. This was a mach- ine, that by driving the horses round and round, thresh- ed the grain. Then the water powered saw mill and grist mill to make flour were established. Corn meal and flour from wheat were then ground on the Crow farm. The flour was coarse and more like graham flour, but it was more healthy to eat than the refined flour of today. At one time, Crows Mill was a small but prosperous business. OLD HAND FEEDER: L. to R., LAY UP MAN, BAND CUTTEH, AND HAND FEEDER. LIVESTOCK AND SELLING: Oxen were used to work in the woods and to plow with at first. Horses were used later. Cattle were also raised. The story is told how Michael Crow I, who never learned to read and write, would sell his cattle, usually getting from four to six dollars per head. He could only count forward, so he could keep track of how many cattle he sold and the pr- ice paid for each one and for the group. He would pile as many piles of creek stones as cattle he sold. In each pile would be as many stones as he received in dollars for each head of cattle sold. By this ancient and crude method of counting, he could tell if the cattle buyer paid him the correct amount of money for his sale. In the latter portion of the reign of his son Michael II on the Crow homestead, a scale house was built and the cattle sold by the pound, as is done today. HOME ACTIVITIES: Money was extremely scarce, so nearly all the commodities in the way of clothing and food were prepared in the home. The women prepared the wool and flax, so that homemade clothing could be pro- vide! for the entire family. The living expenses were small, since the entire task of working and producing the needed commodities from the beginning to the end, MAN USING THE MEASURING BOX, A BACK-BREAKING JOB. took place in the home or on the farm. The homes were DRAG STACKER AT END OF THE MACHINE. usually built near a spring for the water supply. Such 6/ 30 ideas as indoor plumbing were in the extreme remote fut- ure for the early settlers. CROW SCHOOL: There is little mention of school in this period of early settlement. Folk lore tells of a log school house one mile down the creek on the lower end of the Crow farm near the West Virginia line. It is said that one teacher could stand and pronounce the ent- ire spelling book through from memory. It is said that Michael Crow I never heard any language but German until he was almost a man. The children of Michael and Nancy (Johnson) Crow BIBLE RECORD: According to" a crudely hand written account in the family Bible of Michael Crow I, which was published in 1808 in Philadelphia by Mathew Carey, 122 Market Street, the following family record is listed: Michael Crow I and Agnes Nancy Johnson were married Nov. 26, 1799. Nancy Johnson was born in the year of our Lord, May 19, 1782. There is no listing of Michael's birth, but if he was a six week old baby when the Crows came to Crow Creek in 1769, he must have been around thirty years old when he was married. The sixteen children consisted of seven boys and nine girls. Eleven of the children reach- ed maturity, four sons and seven daughters. There were A STEAM TRACTOR USED IN THRESHING GRAIN three Michaels, the first two having died in infancy. The four boys settled in four different States: William in Ohio, John in Indiana, Jacob in West Virginia, and Michael in Pennsylvania. The list of children is as foll- ows: 1. MICHAEL CROW (1): b. July 2, 1800 - d. infancy. 2. MARTIN CROW: b. Jan. 5, 1802 - d. 3. MARY CROW: b. Dec. 27, 1802 - d. April 22, 1869 - m. Sept. 23, 1824, Francis Lazear. He was born Dec. 27, 1808, and died April 29, 1872. Both are buried in the Lazear Cemetery, near Ryerson Sta- tion in Greene County, Pennsylvania. Six child- ren: JESSE LAZEAR (m. Alice Throckmorton), WILL- IAM LAZEAR (m. Jacobs), NANCY ELIZABETH LAZEAR (m. John Throckmorton), MICHAEL CROW LAZ- EAR (m. Mary Watson), JOHN McCLUSKEY LAZEAR (d. of typhoid'at 21), and MARY FRANCES LAZEAR (m. Porter McNay). 4. ELIZABETH CROW: b. Aug. 31, 1804 - m. James Sp- ilman - lived and died near Cumberland, Guernsey County, Ohio. 5. SARA CROW: b. March 10, 1805 - m. James Patter- son. Lived near Rock Lick, West Virginia. Seven children: NANCY PATTERSON, ELIZABETH PATTERSON, MICHAEL PATTERSON, BELLE PATTERSON (m. DAVIDSON), GEORGE PATTERSON, and JAMES PATTERSON. 6. SUSANNAH CROW: b. Oct. 22, 1807 - d. Oct. 14, A HORSE SWEEP USED AS POWER TO BiiLE HAY OR STRAW I846 - m. David Braddock. Eight children: JACOB BRADDOCK (m. Margaret Cook), DAVID BRADDOCK (m. Lou Henderson), FRANK BRADDOCK (m. Maria Porter), 31 or lazy, or one having an inability to work with the sp- NEWTON HHADDOCK (m. Jane Burns), MCKALL CROW BftADDOCK irit of doine his very best so as not to impose on his (m. Mary Crow), NANCY BKADDOCK (never married), MARGAR- fellow workers. Everyone had to do his job to the best ET 3RADD0CK (never married), and ANN DHADDOCK (m. Will- of his ability.
THE PITCHERS: Piching sheaves from the stack of gr- ain was also an easy job as long as one pitched the shea- ves down to the machine, but when the stack level was be- low the machine level it was an uphill job andn7«/« diff- icult. One had to pitch the sheaves with care, heading them in the right direction, so that the man who cut the bands and the one who fed the thresher, could do their jobs efficiently and quickly. Once a man by the name of Ackley was caught and dragged into the machine. He lived a few hours with the lower half of his body ground into the cylinder of the machine. He talked with his fellow workers for a while, but died before the machine could be taken apart enough to free him. No matter what task a man undertakes, be it great or small, there is a right way and a wrong to do the task. Trying to do the task right is what makes so many of us stumle, stagger, and THIS YELLOW BHICt often fall, not to rise again, but to fail in the effort to perform a task well and to earn a humble and honest living in this cold, harsh old world. There was a knack, Built in the period I836-I84O. Still standing in good or one might almost call it a slight of hand ability, in repair near Carlisle in Noble County, Ohio. ShPiottena- most all farm tasks indoors or outdoors, which one did Orew MaUfiAo (w. of John; livod in thlo\honM well to learn. eua was a daughter of Jacob Qgew'i THRESHING BEGINS: Finally the threshers were ready. There was no place for a worker who was slow of action U " 33 PART FOUR - THE FOURTH GENERATION PART THREE - THE THIRD UICHAKL II AND iURA JANE (LUCASJ CHUW CHART WYL1E LEE AND kINNIE (SCOTT) CROW BERRIDtiE LUCAS CkuW (Farmer 1 Family Chart b. 1843 - d. m. 1877, Wary Standiford (1842-1912) WYL1E LEE CROW o| g CBOir 3 daughters b. Sept. 1 U* Juaci: ;J.l the hands talked and selected their jobs, while the threshing crew was getting ready to start the work. There were four men on the crew. One man 57 34 PART THREE - THE THIRD GENERATION also that an event occurred which marked the end of deer hunting In this part of the country, a diversion so often MICHAEL II AND SAKA JANE (LUCAS) CROW indulged in by the Crows. The last deer ever to be seen around here was chased to the mill by the dogs and worr- ied so much that it ran into the mill pond, to get away The yougest son of the 16 children of Kichael I and from them. Jacob Crow, a brother of Michael, ran into the Agnes NancyA(JohnsonJ Crow, Michael Crow II, became the pond and held the deer's head under water until it drown- patriarch and founder of the third generation of the Jac- ed. Its antlers were removed from its head and kept as a ob Crow family. His childhood was spent in stirring tim- souvenir. Thus ignominiously came to its end in this es. Ke was given the original Crow homestead which was country the last of the deer, an animal that had roamed located on Crow or Dunkard Creek, a branch of Wheeling the wilds in frontier days and furnished thrills to many Creek, three miles from liajorsville, West Virginia. It a hunter in the chase. At the present time, the deer have was located in Greene County, Pennsylvania, and in the made a comeback, and once more are roaming the hills and Webster District of Marshall County, "test Virginia. The valleys as of yore. original plot contained 57b acres. Kichael was a miller and a business man, handling about 800 acres of land, in DAT AND NIGHT: Kichael Crow II was a man of wonder-< addition to operating the flour and lumber mills. He marr- ful vitality, working on the farm during the day, and in ied Sara Jane Lucas of near Burnsville, and they were the the old grist mill at night. He would fill the grain bin parents of 12 children, nine of whom reached maturity. with wheat and then turn on the water power. As he would sit down on his miller's chair to rest, he would fall The Three Crow Homes asleep with weariness until the bin emptied and the cl- anging of the empty machinery's rumbling would arouse (1) The original home was a log cabin, the foundat- him, when a new supply of grain would be put in the bin ion stones being still visible. and the grinding process continued through the night. (2) Michael Crow 1 built about 1825, a three story THE MILL SITE: There are no existing pictures of the brick house near the log cabin site which was the Crow old mill. There are some foundation stones in the narrow home for many years. It was the first brick structure field between the Crow tenant house and the Creek. In the built in this section ef the country. It was made of hand- picture below, Mrs. Cochran is standing on the approxi- molded brick burnt in a kiln on the farm. Three stories mate site of the old mill. High, it h»d lower and upper porches, halls, and six rooms. Finally the foundation of this second home gave way, and it became necessary to build a third home. (3) In 1871, the second home was thought to be lean- ing, and Michael Crow II, using the same brick and doors, rebuilt it a short distance below the first two homes. The third home was L-shaped with six rooms, three on the first floor and three en the second floor. The bricks in this house were the ones used in the second house, having been made and burned on the farm. This house was to have had fine wood work, but as the wood was being dried in a kiln on the farm, it was tended by a careless hand who let the kiln get too hot and the wood was burned up. This house stood intil 1956, when lightning struck a pine tree near the house on the evening of July 1-2. A large limb of the pine tree protruded on to the tin roof and the house caught fire. As no neighbor lived in sight of the old home, it was midnight before a distant neighbor, Gross Dinsmore, living two miles away, saw the haze and went to the home just as the roof was falling in. This was the day before Mrs. Kinnie Scott Crow's fun- eral. She was the wife of the fourth generation owner, vVylie Lee Crow, youngest son of Kichael Crow 11. THE OLD MILL SITE See NEXT page for a picture of the third Crow home. Some of the end walls are still standing. 35 I S 1 1 I Ul o THE VAULT IN THE CHOW CEMETERY o ua. UJ I I- 55 jaarketinR Experiences which had been purchased for $200 by the son Martin bef- ore his death in South Dakota in 1883. its tone alone MARIST TRIFS: The Grows going to town to market was was melancholy enough without the emotion strained voi- a long and tedious journey for the most cf the first four ces of the children of the deceased. Then a very extreme- generations, Wheeling, (Vest Virginia, was the only size- ly reverent God fearing preacher spoke of the great dan- able town in existence for several years. The Journey th- ger of a lost soul over and over, a sermon for the living ere was made on foot, by horseback, or in a spring wagon rather than the dead. Then the family carried the aged as the market wagon was called. Butter and other market- father about 100 feet from the house and he was placed able products were sold at the old Wheeling Market House. in the cemetery vault after the last rites were said. It is said that the wife of Michael Crow I put a fifty Then the neighbors left and by evening every one had cent piece on the scales when she made her pound prints left and the home was closed. The dead was in its coffin of butter, so that each pound would weigh a little heavy. in the vault and dead silence reigned in the peace of the The weigh master at the Market House would check the wei- old brick house. Before the service, it was told that old ghts of the commodities, and if they were under weight a Jack, the family dog, was found fraction of a pound, they were sold by him for any price laying in the parlor under his and the money probably kept for the public funds. The go- master's coffin. Old Jack was go- ing to the market was a weekly event the year round acc- to stay by his master as long as ording to family tradition. Michael II told of how the he could. A dog is a man's best entire Wheeling Island would be in corn during the sum- friend. SARA JANE LUCAS, wife mer. There would probably be as many as one hundred sl- of Kichael II, and daughter of aves plowing and hoeing the corn. It looked like they Berridge and Jane (Lee) Lucas, were having a merry good time as they worked. In that had died many years before, Feb. 20, 1879« day, labor with a hoe took the place of the modern weed i chemical spray. THE WILL: After the funeral is over, sometimes in an hour but often not for weeks or months, the will of A HANGING IN WHEELING: Once when Michael II was in the deceased is read. Then often quarrels and all kinds Wheeing at the market place, there was to be the hanging of hate emerge even from the most pious of hearts at the of a criminal. Every one was excited and anxious to see time of the funeral of the deceased. Not many wills were him die. When it came time to drop the trap door, Michael ever written that did not propagate disappointment and II turned away and stood with his back to the scene. He dissatisfaction in the mind of someone. Wills so often could not bear to watch the peering crowd, or the strang- incur dreadful burdens on the lives of the survivors. ling dying criminal. The Crow will incurred a debt that caused one of the sons to spend his entire life trying to pay the debt. The dead HOGS DRIVEN TO MARKET: After the spring wagon days, past is the dead past, so the best plan of life is to try there came another phase of the Wheeling business trips. with God'3 power directing us, to live the present and The creek bottoms on the Crow farm that were once covered the future with the best ideals and honor that we can man- with sugar maples were cleared by large log ifest in our lives. It is often so very hard to keep on £ £_ rolling days and the timber burned. The keeping on, when it seems that everything is against us, entire bottoms were then planted in corn and we seem to be faltering with the way that we are liv- and the virgin soil bore in abundance. ing our lives. "Judge not lest ye be judged", but who is Domestic hogs had been developed which not judged? The cynic is always ready to gnash and tear, took the place of the wild hogs that but never sees any fault in himself. Michael Crow II was once fattened on acorns and ran from one who was remembered as a stern impressionist of what hill to hill in the vast forests. The Crows would fatten he thought was right according to his rigid interpretat- from 20 to 50 porkers, and drive them the 20 miles to ion of the Bible. Probably few families ever lived who .'/heeling to market thea at a three cent per pound value. were more perfect in the Puritanical ideals of living Even in this day, there were rich homes stretching from than this family. Elm Grove into Wheeling. The servants of the rich mist- resses watched closely that no hogs walked on the front Additional Notes lawns. FRKCGCKS: During the time of kichael Crow 11, the HAULED IN WAGONS: A later phase came in the Wheel- Crow farm was noted as the hone of a flock of beautiful ing Market development. A road wagon with a rack was peacocks, the first pair of which was given by Berridge developed, ao that the farmer could haul eight or ten Lucas to his daughter, 3ara Jane (Lucas) Crow, when she hogs to Wheeling to market at a time. The number of hogs named her first son Berridge Lucas Crow. on the load depended on the size of the hogs. A team of horses could take the wagon all the way, but usually THE LASST DEER: It was during i:ichael Crow II' s time 37 5k were whipped for having not learned the previous week's another team and a hired hand assisted in hauling the lesson in the eatechisn book. According to modern educ- load over Hanlin Hill. This hill was«place where V/heel- ational psychology, this learning situation would be con- ing Creek made a great bend and the road went over the sidered extremely poor in every aspect. The children hea- hill to save time and distance. A mile with a team and rd family worship twice a day and went to church every a loaded wagon then, meant much more than a mile on a Sunday. They had extremely stern discipline and were put loaded truck on an improved highway today. The farmer in the fields to work as soon as they could be a particle started with these hogs at three a.m. in the morning of value in labor return for the master father. When the and it took until late in the afternoon to complete the young people grew up, they were not allowed to go to see trip. The destination was the stockyard in Elm Grove op- their girl, or the girl "f° have a beau, except on Friday erated by the Sax Brothers. This was a very large stock- evening. It would be considered a sin if the horse back yard which ceased operations several years ago. ride home went even a few minutes past midnight, Saturday night. On Sunday, every one had to be very still if at THE OVERNIGHT STAY: The farmer usually stayed at home. The father read the Bible nearly all afternoon. the Haydorn Hotel over night, in order to rest the team Mr. Crow was like one of those old-fashioned fathers in for the return trip. The hotel was far from being modern. Israel, in that his Christian life was one of that sim- For example, one cloth face towel hung in the wash room ple, trusting faith, like Abraham's, and his concern for and everyone used it. Such unsanitary conditions could the unsaved was the dominant thought of his mind. not be endured in the hot summer time today. The bed and the room were .generally infested with bed bugs. They ran Family Summary in a procession over the so called sleeper's body. When crushed by the occupant of the bed, a very pungent odor Like Abraham, Liichael Crow II was a man who command- exuded all over the room. To rest and sleep in such a ed his children and his household after him. Of his sev- situation was out of the question. There was no TV, but en sons and two daughters who grew to maturity, four of across from the Haydorn bed room window, there was a the sons were Ruling Elders of the Presbyterian Church: cheap dance hall. There they danced and,made merry - the Berridge at wolf Hun and Cameron (also Sunday School orchestra was loud and shrill - but it did not make one Superintendent and Teacher), William Milton (Unity - forget the bed bugs. The farmer, who was not in Wheel- Graysville), Wylie Lee (Unity - Graysville}, and ing more than half a dozen times a year, always spent the evening at vaudeville in a nickelodeum, where there ware old fashioned movies and piano music. Some of the Another son John McCluskey, was a college professor, songs were cute and catchy and much better than most of a Greek scholar, a philologist, archeologist, and travel- the TV programs today. ed extensively, investigating by special permission the ancient ruins of Greece,-Asia Minor, and the Holy Land. Religious Experiences Another son, George W., was a lawyer. These poor, humble, God fearing country folk were Death of Michael Crow n and Sara Jane Lucas the nuoleus of Christianity in the United States of that day. In the history otfthe first four generations of the Finally the old man became weak and ill, and passed Crow family, God was always a prevalent factor in the away. His death took place in 1908. The departure of this way of life of this farm family. The first reoord of ch- aged father was like that of Abraham, who "died in a good urch loyalty was depicted when Jacob Crow I and hia wife old age, and full of years, and was gathered to his peo- went horseback to West Alexander to attend church, a ple", and his sons buried him in the family vault which round trip of thirty miles. he had built several years before, in the field of his fathers. COUPLE WOHKiMG ON THE SABBATH: On one of the church trips, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Crow found an early settler and The FUNERAL was an event that affected the many his spouse busily clearing their land by bush whacking. descendants as well as the neighbors. The funeral took The couple were very much alarmed, regretful, ana chag- place on a beautiful June day. All the kin of every type rined, when the Crows informed them that they were disob- came. A bountiful dinner was served. The children acted eying the Fourth Commandment and working on the Sabbath more like it was a picnic, the relatives like it was a day. This attitude was far different from that of today, family reunion. Those of the immediate family were very when business, entertainment, and many sectarian meetings sad for they were all well past middle age, so the real- are held on the Sabbath day. ity of life and death was foremost in their minds. The daughter Harriet had the family sing the very old and OTKEK CHURCHES: We next hear of church meetings wh- solemn hymns for the service, which were just too trying ich were held in the open woods on what is now Number for words. A neighbor woman played the old parlor organ, Two Sidge in the Sandhill District of karshall County, 53 38 West Virginia. Circuit riders held these of distress and anxiety for several years. early revivals, at which, strange to say, many fiat fights were common. In time finally a large log barn on the Crow homestead bur- the Dallas (1831) and Wolf Run (1829) ned to the ground, rjson was suspected, but if true, only Presbyterian Churches were developed. the arsonist and God knows who set the fire. Later a num- The Crows rode horses to both of these ber of cattle were stolen from the Crow homestead, '..'hen churches and attended very long and pro- death cane to many of the participants in the feuding, fusely Puritanical religious services the community trouble ended. t;r. Crow, during all this each Sunday. It was about seven miles to time of trouble and ill feeling, never even locked the either church from the Crow farm. Church door of his home, trusting whole heartedly in the guid- services on Sunday in early settlement ance and protection of God his. Laker, Director, and Div- days were attended by nearly everyone. ine Guide through out his life. Every Christian has his troubles, enemies, and life trials, AS an old hymn states, CHURCH DISCIPLINE: Elders of the churches were very "Lord I ask not that life may be a pleasant road, that pious and determined in the early days. At Dallas, a Thou would not take from me aught of its heavy load". group of elders decided that an ex-minister's wife was not morally clean enough to go to the Communion Table. FORGIVING: Jeaus taught, "Love thy neighbor a3 thy- They requested the lady, who was advanced in years, not self. This commandment is sometimes very difficult to to partake at the communion table. She never missed ch- live up to indeed. It is great to have a forgiving heart. urch, and when communion was to be served, she quietly All things on this earth must end, material, mental, and got up and left the church. Finally, later elders told even life must go as it says, "Dust to dust, ashes to ash- her to discontinue this practice and she was admitted to es". Only acts of goodnesa and sin endure forever. They the communion service. We need to remember the admoni- can be forgiven or corrected, but the original act no tion, "Judge not lest ye b« judged". matter what quality or quantity it is, must endure for- ever. Life and its realities or properties are like a AN ELDER: Mr. and Mr3. Michael Crow II, were from saying used as one of fair. Crow's prayer statements, "We early life, members of the West Union (Dallas) Presby- can bring nothing into this world and we can take nothing terian Church. Mr. Crow was an Elder in the Churoh for out of this world". We must prepare the soul for life much of his life.He was well known for his deep faith in eternal, not just for life on this earth. The span of a God and the teachings of Jesus Christ. He had all his man's life, so far as length is concerned, is comparable sons ride horses and go to churoh with him ever; Sunday. to a grain of sand compared to the number of grains of Once he was ridiculed by a minister at the 'Wolf Run Pres- sand found in the world wide oceans. In all his troubles, byterian Church for going to sleep while the minister Michael Crow II could be heard singing "Rock Of Ages" in was giving a lengthy discourse on the wrath of God and a very heart felt manner as he went about his daily tasks the dangers of hell. Some families felt sorry for iir. on the farm. Crow, as he had worked in the fields all week and had ridden a work horse seven miles, to be at the services Family Discipline which usually began at ten a.m. on the Sabbath day. STRICTNESS: In that Day and particularly with fath- THE SERMONS: The sermons were very serious in text- er Michael Crow II, the father was head of the house, as ure and content materials, the elocution was dramatic, in early Biblical times. He was also the law maker, the touching and sincere. The Presbyterian sermons were soul director of every line of thinking in the family, and the touching, rather then dramatic, as they touched the inner ruler of the desires of the child even unto and into ad- soul, not the outer form. The latter were touched by ser- ulthood, and often until the father's death, as was shown mons that imparted the fear of God, rather than the ten- in the story of Jacob and Esau, lie must have been a good der heart felt love that Christ depicted in all his tea- father when one studies the lives of his offspring. One ching. As the sermons were long, a lunch was often carr- today would term his ideals of raising children, cruel, ied and the families as individual groups had lunch tog- dull, and even abusive. It was very much like the stern ether at noon, and then another long sermon followed in German way of life. His children all learned the catech- the afternoon. ism, but were worked so hard at manual' labor during the week and given such a large lesson, that it was imposs- T1Z1: TK1LL1T3 nuY3:lt is told that when Michael Crow ible for the children to get the assignments finished, and his boys were on the way to church, that the Phillips for there were so many words that they did not underst- noys would be seen hunting ground hogs on the Sabbath, and and there was no way of obtaining help to get their but when they saw Michael Crow and his sons coming along meaning. on their black work horses and dressed in their black suits, the boys wculd flee and hide until the Crows were The result was that early every Monday morning they 39 52 AS has already been stated, 1'ichael Crow II was a out of sight. They did not anticipate a scolding but had vivid example of a person who tried in very exact precise respect and felt ashamed of themselves, for they felt in manner to be honest, true, and faithful, to the teachings their hearts that they should also be going to church. of God's n'ord. We must all remember that no matter how hard one tries to be Christian and follow God's commands, THE CUHSING BLACKSKITK: Another story is told that he is going to be criticized and abused by the tongues a man named San Hayner had a black smith shop along the and even the fists in extreme bursts of anger of those road of the Crow farm. He was an uncouth user of profan- who differ with him, when he is trying to do the right ity and neighbors claimed that thing. The stoning of Stephen was a good example of be- before he cursed a very luscious ing a true martyr to the right. Right is right, but there string of heinous profanity, he are hundreds of degrees of what is right and wrong in the would go out, look around the eyes of hundreds of fellow men, where one abides, lives, shop and up and down the road, to and writes, in indelible words y»-hat one believes. see if he saw Michael Crow. He sh- ould have remembered that God was Sense of Humor right there, heard every curse word, and knew what was in his Michael Crow II had a sense of humor, but in one in- heart. That was whom he should stance it might have been classed as a mean trick, but it have feared. The wrath of God aft- was only meant as«.fellowship joke. This rural community, er death, or even in life on this during the time of the third generation, had one negro earth, is incomparable to a scold- family living within ten miles of the Crow homestead. The ing that old Michael Crow might prevalent idea of segregation at that time was color for have given him. So many of us th- color. This negro family was a good, farm, Christian fam- ink of earthly correction or chastisement given by earth- ily. Cne time, the head of the family, Mike Hockas, was ly man, rather than fearing the wrath of God on our liv- at the Crew flour mill in late October when sorghum mol- es on tnis earth, and on our souls in eternity. asses was being made. After the cane was ground in the mill and the juice extracted from the cane stalks, it was FAMILY WORSHIP: The story is told that when Michael drained into a large vat over the fire and boiled down II was twelve years old, he went out one Sunday evening until it became a thich Syrup. After the syrup was poured and did some chores. When he came in at late twilight in into containers, the skimings were poured into another the evening, his mother had a candle lighted and the open vat and the contents poured into a three foot deep hole Bible laid by it on the table in the large kitchen, which dug to receive the waste products. After Michael had cov- also served as the family dining room. She asked the boy ered the waste hole with cane stalks, he as-ked Mr. Hockas Michael to hold worship, as he was the only one in the to help him empty the pan of waste. He so steered Mr. Hoo- kas that the latter stepped into the hidden hole filled family who could read. He surely made a great record in with the skimmimgs. The poor negron was in quite a mess, holding worship. Ever after the night that he held wor- up to his knees at least in soured sweetness. This was ship at the age of twelve years, he had worship night and maybe a sweet trick, a mean trick, or a thoughtless tr- morning, until God called him home at the age of nearly ick, according to the mental state or the Jovial atti- ninety years. He confessed that in all the years of his tude of the reader. Maybe many people think that every life in the church, he never took sides aginst any minist- man has a streak of orneryness in him which must surface er in the many disputes between the ministers and the at some time. congregations. The Log School Community yeuding Michael Crow II was the only one of the family of There was one awful state of feuding tendencies in nine sisters and seven brothers who oould read. There the people of this locality, like in most rural coxnmuni- was at one time a log school house on the northern end tiea. Americans do not have to go to Kentucky to find of the Crow plantation, where school was held during the family or neighborhood feuds poing on in various degrees most inclement winter months, for usually a term of twel- of quality and quanity. Fortunately, most feuds are usua- ve weeks. The Crows spoke nothing but German during the lly just verbal, and never go beyond the quarreling stage. first generation, but later began to get away from Ger- 'Vhen the land WRS divided into farm holdings in the ear- man as the family dialect, and began to use English for ly division of the frontier territory, one such division every day use by the time that Lichael II was mostly resulted in a feud between the Crows and a neighboring grown to manhood. He no doubt had gone to the one room faraily. The difference arose over a fifty ecre tract of log school house located on the farm. The school reader steep hillside land which was considered valueless. Vhe that the family has, shows that most of the material in lingering, smoldering feud caused the Crews a great deal this old reader was from the Bible, docks of fiotion 40 were unheard of in this rural locality at this time. an English teacher in the University of Texas, ut ^ustin, and present owner of the Crow home- ACTIVITIES ON '1105 FARK. stead, and James Homer Crow (b. April 1, 1908), u retired public school teacher, and writer of Raising Corn the Crow manuscript, upon which much of the present history is bused. CORK PLANTING: On Monday morning, until late at night, Saturday evening, every man, woman, and child, The Farm Holdings had to work vigorously on the farm from far before day- light until far after daric. Approximately 50 acres would rfhen Michael Crow I died in 1852, he left 53o acres be put to corn each spring. This was an awesome task when to his son Michael Crow II, a flour mill, a farm a mile one plowed the land with teams, planted the corn by drop- and a half up Wheeling Creek, and a far*, of 200 acres or ing the kernels by hand, covering each hill of corn with more on Wolf Run in the Webster District of Marshall Co- a hoe, later plowed the growing crop with a single shovel unty, West Virginia. It was understood that he also own- plow, then hoed every hill and cut every weed in the corn ed 100 acres on Dry Ridge. This farm was sold soon after field. The corn was worked this way three times and they he received the other property. It took him years to pay tried to plow it twice after this process. off the other heirs, who were his brothers and sisters. CUTTING: Then in the fall, before frost if possible, Civil War Days the corn was cut and placed in shocks, eight hills by eight hills square, or if the fodder was very large in It is said that the Civil War caused inflation in growth, the shock squares were farm prices and made it possible for Michael Crow II to rectangular in shape, eight hills pay off his debt quicker and easier. The two eldest sons, by six hills in area. In the cutt- rierridge and John, were sent to Canada, due to the fam- ing of the corn, the bundles were ily's love for a peaceful existence and their aversion placed around horses. These horses to fighting in war. The boys were in Quebec- or Nova Sc- were nothing more than four hills otia for several years. They like*)the living conditions of corn bent and tied together to in Canada and worked on a farm during their stay there. make a form like the frame of a War is an awful device used by mankind to settle national tent or wigwam. The rest of the and sectional differences. Some form of quarreling has stalks in the corn hills were st- existed ever since the days of Cain and Abel. Some people acked or distributed nice and str- desire war as a way to make more money and better econom- aight around the horse. The horse ic conditions locally and nationally. Such people have kept the wind from blowing the sh- newer suffered the sad heart ache of worrying about a ock over, so that the ear corn and boy away in a battle situation. They have never seen a fodder would not rot during the boy lonely in camp, home sick for his home and folks, or late autumn rains. saddened by the death of a buddy, or lived in the squalor and misery in the theater of action in a war torn area. HUSKING: Next came the very slow and menial task of Why can't it be possible for men to follow Jesus' teach- husking all the corn. It would take the men and women ings and live in peace? many weeks to husk all the corn. Each shock had its hor- ses cut loose from the ground by a corn cutter and then It was possible to avoid serving in the army by pay- the great shock of corn was pushed to the ground. After ing $300 to a substitute who would volunteer in the place the ears of corn were removed from the stalks, the fodder of the drafted man. A case is known about one man who to- was tied into bundles and about twenty of them were plac- ok the place of the draftee and was killed in battle. Th- ed into one large fodder shock. ere were others, however, who received the money and went through the war unscratched. It takes bravery and courage GATHERING: When husked, the corn was piled in about to engage in combat on the battle field. To die from the two bushel piles and hauled in with a team, wagon, or bullet of an enemy was the supreme price to pay for free- 3led, and cribbed in a corn shed to be used until the dom or the upholding of an ideal. But is there fairness next crop was ready to harvest. The fodder was hauled in the truest sense of the word in suffering for the mat- during the winter to various herds of cattle and flocks terial and economic side of life? The Bible says that Jud- of sheep, that lived out in the open during the winter gment belongs to God, and that He will decide the fair- season, being sheltered by sheds. Usually one person ness or unfairness of man's war escapades at the final hauled this feed around every day, except Sunday. judgment day. FEEDING: The corn was carried from the crib in large 41 50 on behind the fellow, but once in a while a side saddle baskets and fed to the hogs that ran about the farm home and another horse was provided for the girl. stead. They slept in or under any shed available. During the hot summer, no one felt rightly acclimated to the Martin's father kept many sheep, perhaps as farm unless he had at least a dozen fleas running over many as 500 or more, on the 900 acres of land th- his body, taking a bite as they wished and when they at ilichael wow 11 owned. There were 546 acres wished, v.'hen the fleas became too unbearable, a flock of in the honestead on Dunkard Creek. Martin was sheep were brought around for a few weeks and the fleas the sheep herder, and makes on«think of David, would get into the wool and die. They found it very diff- the son of Jesse, who also tended sheep. As Mar- icult to travel in the wool. The work horses and teams tin carried out his duties and went through pas- were fed ear corn, and also oats. The work horses were ture, woods, and dales, he must have been imbued stabled during the winter. with the greatness of God and the beauties and wonders of the universe. Man makes the beautiful Hay Harvesting art pictures of the world, but only God makes the unexcelled great and beautiful flowers, TRANSITION: There was quite a transition in harvest- hills, valleys, mountains, trees, and clouds. v.'e ing the hay from the first generation to the third gener- are reminded of the words of Joyce Kilmer, a gre- ation. The first hay harvesting on the old Crow home- at but simple vision of God written by a noble, stead was done in a very tedious and difficult manner. godly fellow, who was a casualty of V.'orld War I, Many settlers lived in the vicinity of Aleppo and Jack- when he said, "Poems are made by fools like me, son Townships in Greene County, who hired out in harvest but only God can make a tree". time. They were what might be called squatters. They own- ed a few acres of what was undesirable land, had a log Martin taught a few one room schools, and cabin with an open fire place, a cow, a few chickens, had a great desire in his heart for existing edu- and maybe a pig. They made what money they could by work- cational things and for godliness, he had one ing for the large land owners, by gathering crops and defeat that he could never conquer and died leav- olearing the land of under brush by bush whacking. There ing it unconquered, but left a father with a soul were loggings when the timber was out down, rolled into so touched by his son's death, that the regret heaps, and burned, so that the ground could be uaed to and sorrow was never healed this side of heaven. raise crops. At other times., they were hired to help The son had longed so much to see his father bef- erect log houses or large log barns. ore he died in Soth Dakota, on the lone prairie with the stars of heaven as the ceiling of the BEGINNING THE HARVEST:When it was time to begin the dome of the universe. hay harvest, some of the Crows would go into the squatter settled territory and hire a dozen or more men to come 7. SARA JANE CROW: b. Dec. 1, I856 - d. Jan. 31, and help put up the hay. At day light, on a bright sunny I924 - m. Dec. 25, 1876, Henry Dinsmore, b. April morning in June, one oould see these men coming in a 21, 1852, and d. Sept. 25, 19M>. They had the group down over the hill into the valley to mow the hay. following children: Bessie Lee (m. Joseph Murphy), Each man carried his scythe on his shoulder. They would Martha Jane (m. Samuel Powers), Hattie Vera (m. start and mow an entire field with their scythes, v.'hen Frank Stockdalej, Wylie Lucas (unm), Graoe Mable the hay was cured, they would rake it together with hand (m. Charles U. Ross), and John (m. Bessie Barn- rakes, gather it with forks into shocks, and haul it into hart ). the log barn with the oxen and a cart. 8. WILLIE WILTON ChO'.V: b. Dec. 26, 1859-d. Jan. 18, STACKING: At other times, they used a long grape 1942 - rc. Feb. 6, I884, Ida M. Alley. Children: vine for a hay rope to put around the shook. Then an ox Vera (m. Clinton Archer), Wilma (m. Harry Tooth- would be used to pull the shock into some central place man, and Harold (m. Helen Harvey). in the field where a stack was to be built. The Stacks were usually about sixteen feet high and ten feet in 9-10-11. TV1N GxKLS and a SON not named. The girls diameter. The building of the stack was slow tedious are buried in the Grow cemetery. The three were work and had to be done right, or the stack would take probably born between ','illiam Jdilton Crow and water and the hay would then mold and rot and be worth- .i'ylie Lee Grow, in the pericd between I859 and less for feeding the livestock in the winter time. In 1808. stacking, one made a small like bottom, built this up for about five feet, then n bulge would be extended out I'd. •JYLIK hhli; ChO.i':b. Sept. 2j, 1868 - d. Feb. 20, over the bottom for about three feet all around the st- 1945 - m. June 8, 18^, h.innie V. ocott. Two ack and this would be built upward for about four feet. sons: iiartin 1-ichnel Jrow (b. uct. }0, 1901 j, By this time, the weight of the hay would settle the st- 4C.J ack down to an elevation from the ground of about six life, she married John f.rcher, a farmer, who feet, then th* body of the stack would be constructed, lived riftnr Prosperity. She left no descendants, keeping the center of the stack well tromped, and filled was blind the latter portion of her life, and solid with hay. If this was not well done, the stack was buried at Prosperity. would take water when it rained and spoil. There was st- ill an important task to construct the conical top, which 5. MICHAEL LA^ErtJ* CHOW: b. *pril 17, 1853 - d. *pril must not be slanted into the central apex too fast, or 7, 193 The following item appeared in the Ottawa, Ohio Gazette, 2 Sept 1910 THE CROW REUNION The Second Annual Reunion of the Crow Family was held on the Ottawa Fair Grounds on last Thursday, Aug. 25th, 1910. In response to the many invitations sent out a large crowd was in attend- ance, there being about three hundred relatives present. The day was an en- joyable one to all, and all did justice to the fine dinner which was spread on the tables in the large dining hall. The program was well rendered and every- one appreciated the music by the Wisterman Orchestra of Continental; also of the Agner Bros' Quartette of Ottawa. A special feature of the day was the presentation of a fine gold headed cane to Stephen Crow, the oldest member of the Crow family present, by his nephews. In absence of the speaker, French Crow, of Marion, Ohio, short talks given by John N. Crow of Mitchell, S. Dakota and Frank M. Crow of Evansville, Wis., were greatly enjoyed by all. Those present from a distance were; John N. Crow, S. Da.; Miss Blanche Crow, Chicago, 111.; Elias Farabee, Tina, Mo.; Han Crow and wife, LaFontaine, Ind.; Frank M. Crow. Evansville, Wis.; James and Abner Crow, Wabash, Ind.; William Johnson and family, Peru, Ind.; E. G. Crow and wife, Smith's Ferry, Pa.; Adon Crow and family of Michigan; James Crow and family of Michigan; Will Crow and family of Pioneer, 0.; W. 0. Crow, Elkton, 0.; Dr. C. E. Crow, Elkhart, Ind.; Phil M. Crow and wife, Kenton, 0.; John and Eli Neill and families, Bryan, 0.; Will Neill and family, Mich.; Mrs. M. L, Mason, Bryan, 0.; J. A. Crow and neice, Cambridge, 0.; and Horance M. Crow of Urbana, 0. All old officers were re-elected for the ensuing year. The following is a part of the Crow history read by Mrs. Odula Henry ol McComb, Ohio. Far away across the Atlantic, away back about 1750, three brothers of a Crow family were living in one of those faraway countries, evidently in down- trodden Ireland. One of the brothers named Abraham was born about 1748; the others may have been some older or may have been some younger; there may have been other brothers or sisters, or both; that we can not tell. About this same time there was another boy whose name was William Crow, who was born near Dublin, Ireland, and whether a brother, cousin or whether any relation at all to these other boys, that we can not tell. About the time the American Revolution broke out these boys all ca-ne to An.erica. William Crow first went to Germany and married him a wife and then came across the Atlantic when he was twenty-five years of age, and settled in Pa., east of the Allegheny mountains. He was the father of twelve children, eight boys and four girls. Balser Crow, son of Wm Crow, married a Pa. Dutch lady, then moved across the mountains and settled in Miffin County, Pa. Balser Crow was the father of fourteen children. The names of some of them were Joseph, William, John, Balser, Richard, James, Jeremiah, Jacob, Sarah and Margaret. Jacob Crow, the youngest son, was born in 1799. He married in Pa, and was the father of eight children by the first marriage. He afterwards moved to Ohio and married a Yankee girl and to this second marriage were born ten children in all. Four of this family are still living. A. E. Crow, one of the sons, lives at Grover Hill, Ohio. One of the three brothers who came to America, was killed in a well; a- nother was killed in the battle of Brandywine, Sept. 11th, 1777, and his de- scendants settled on pension lands near New Castle, Pa. Abraham, the third 78 brother, was born about 1748 and died Oct. 8th, 1814 at the residence of his son in Elkrun Twp. Columbiana Co., Ohio. He was amony the early settlers of Pa.. Married Rachel Craven who came from Holland, in Berks Co., in the east- ern part of Pa. In the year 1787 they crossed the Alleghenies and settled at Crossroads, Washington Co., Pa. At the time of his death, his posterity num- bered four living children and nine dead, 71 grandchildren living and 24 dead, 141 great grandchildren living and 14 dead, and three great great grandchild- ren living, making in all 219 living and 44 dead. He was blind for years before his death and had to go on crutches on account of an injury caused by running the point of a sickle into his ankle. The names of the children of Abraham Crow were: Jesse, Thomas, William, Abra- ham, James, John, Annie, Martha, Rachel and Jane. Jesse Crow, son of Abraham Crow, married Hannah McCarter and they had ten children, five boys and five girls. He married a second wife and to this union were born two sons. Thomas Crow married Mary McClurg April 10, 1810. They were the parents of six children, 3 boys and three girls. The children of Thomas Crow moved to Monroe, Green Co., Wis., after his death. William Crow married Margaret McClurg Jan. 2, 1806. To this union were born five children. He married a second wife named Hannah Stevenson and they were the parents of five children. Wm. Crow died July 25, 1852, in the 67th year of his age. He was born in Fayette Co., Pa. After spending nine years of his early life in that county, he moved with his family to Crossroads, Wash- ington Co., Pa. In 1815 to Elkrun Twp. Columbiana Co., Ohio, where he lived until his death. Abraham Crow married Sarah Thompson. The names of their children were Milton, Sylvanus, Miles, Thompson, Reason, Addison, Rachel., Eliza, Mahala and Minerva. This family moved from Columbiana Co. to Putnam Co., 0. about 1830, or probably a little earlier, and entered 160 acres of land in Greens- burg Twp., a part of which is now owned by W. G. Mullet. James Crow, his brother, came some time later with his family and settled on this farm entered by Abraham and he went a few miles farther down the river and entered 160 acres on the south side. Abraham Crow died Dec. 25, 1843, aged 54 years, 3 months and 15 days. Sarah, his wife, died June 25, 1873, aged 83 years, seven months and 5 days. Their, remains lie side by side in the old Crow cemetery, about five miles west of Ottawa. James Crow married Elizabeth Moreland. The names of their children were Abraham, Jason, Richardson, Stephen, Nancy, Lydia, Phoebe, and Elizabeth. Stephen is the only one of this family still living; he is in his 85th year, and his wife whose maiden name was Elizabeth Fretz, is in her 84th year. Stephen was about 7 years of age when his father came with his family to Putnam Co. from Columbiana Co. James Crow died Aug. 7, 1863, aged 71 years; 9 months and 2 days. Elizabeth, his wife, died Aug. 24, 1875, aged 83 years, 10 months and 27 days. They too, lie side by side in the old Crow cemetery. Annie Crow married Jas. Moore. Martha Crow married Randal Smith. Rachel Crow married John Dorman. Each of thes three sisters was the mother of a large family. The first generation of Crows were Qilakers and talked the Quaker dialect; of the next generation, some hung to the Quaker dialect but joined the Prerhy- terian church. Clement Valandingham was their minister for a long time and several of the older ones are buried in the graveyard at the old church in Pine Hollow, near Elkton, Ohio. Defiance; Co. Chapter, OGS mewsletter YESTERYEARS TRAILS, Vol. VI, #2 p87-33 -r, Caldwell, Ohio First Presbyterian Cm tES Pi&.x> students of William »•-»» ard Barbara Hires w.ll present | a recital this S: :ricaj, Dec. 3, ai "«! by RNER the First Presbyterian Church in Caldwell. The d-M p.m. pro- will be Julie '"'-. , iWren's Hospital nine gram is open to the public. Hints, Tos^ i together, and was as The recital will begin with Winder, Brand-.* -..-.. i Summit Acres Oc- four dance movements of the Tiffany Herchur, 1979. Baroque period (1600-1750). Samuel, &nd Janat. V >'s mother comes to "Performing a minuet, gigue, Compositions bj *. ng home daily to give march, and bourree will be writers Frsacis Pouteiv her bath - rarely Adam Kirk. Leanna West, Sara Alexandra Taasman w day except for a well- Skeslock, and Zachary Lention. presented by Megan She acation. She has Mar- Two sonatas by Un Spanish Lori Warriek, Amy P om decorated as a keyboard composer, Domenico and Darren Lucas rl's room should be • Scarlatti, will.be played by SUtora will play a wdtz tains, etc. Lori Keyor and Evangeline Rusni&n master, Serge; e u? t;.;- fortunate pev- Primmer. This section will kofieff. remiMitwsr Marsha conclude with the Two pianos will be use was *« Ai-tive, friend- CHRISTINE CROW SHAWN CKOV "Allemande" movement from •Ae loved living on the duo performance of ' u FRENCH SUITE No. 6 by J. S. Run!" from SCENE] d alway-5 -ad her Happy Holidays Bach performed by Sara n heipio^ Sob and CHILDHOOD by Octavi 1 Christine, age 20, and Shawn, age 18, are the cn,io Sukalich. to, presented by Dylan with thet: 4-M calves. Ruth Crow, Route 6, Caldwell, and grandchildren o,* . .c c, r Beth '. r«r. was a Beethoven will be the and Adam LaFaber. J Parson, Route 6, caldwell and the late Marcella Pa-•-•-. '(I ' featured composer of the Sukalich will then pertoij grade c/w-~ieader, Robert Crow, Route 2, Cumberland, Ohio, and the late J-v.r: 'as the -cam's masci>t classical section in Sunday's expressive third moved Christine is planning to attend a college in Virpiwe Norman Dello Joio's .' \-ix y recital. Performing sonata spring on music and show business Shawn is in the ' ^ movements by this composer FOR PIANO. The aft. id her .jo'Mwbies and m San Diego, California, schooling m Data Processing. Thev favorite - Sherry will be Aimee Williams, Jen- program will be brougl both graduates of Shenandoah highjchccl^classoTiBT^nd^ nifer Wheeler, and Amy close with a two-piano 1 ;r Marsha went, 1 *ent. Sherry even residents get such a kick out of Bailey. Jody Brown will con- mance of "Moreninha out wes:. with the seeing their aides and others clude this section with a Haydn Little Paper Doll) by 1978. dressed in something other sonata movement. Lobos, presented by lily feels that Marsha than white. Music of the 19th Century Brown and Jennifer Wht rpose on earth, and We will have pumpkin tarts will see performances of two they will know the and whipped cream for a treat sonatina movements by Fritz Dental Hygi*nltt$ Spindler played by Jeremy the afternoon of Wednesday The Muakingum Vallt Peters and Sarah Bettinger. Nov. 22, at l p.m., and Hilles tal Hygieoist Aamdati) Andrew Peters will play a r we decided to have Keeton is bringing his banjo. meet at 6:30 p.m., Thti short Allegretto by Koehler ;iving party at Sum- I'll play the organ, and we December 7, at the Gu and then be joined by hit . It will also be an usually can get the residents Memorial Hoqpital I brother, Jeremy, for a duet ned dress-up day, tapping their feet - some even Morrison Room. All hyj performance of a German s for the best outfit get up and dance. On and their friends are w dance by Hoffmeister. An ar- « shifts. We'll have Thanksgiving Day, each resi- to come and join us for < rangement of "Flight of the -okmia! dresses, and dent's dinner tray will be meeting and our Bumble-Bee" by Rimsky- n Indian or two. It's adorned with a nut hip from Christmas Auction, Korsakov will be played by to see what shift of the Caldwell Elementary Stu- forget your gift with a » Adam LaFaber. Evangeline has the most dress- dent Council Mrs. Pam Moore bid on it. After thii btf Primmer will finish the ie occasion. The is their advisor, and they also we will meet for aij Romantic section with a per- are the group who have meeting and report on q formance of the "Revolu- 1 adopted about 40 of our tion on January J8,1990