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.