Visit the MO Commandery of MOLLUS or the Index to the Civil War in Franklin Co., MO
1.1) John Thomas Crowe, was born on December 28,1841 in Union Twp., Franklin Co., MO the eldest of six children of Martin Luther Green and Jane Katherine (Jump) Crowe. He received a fair education in the country schools, although his opportunities for doing so were limited. At the age of 18 he became his father's deputy in the office of county clerk, where he worked until the breaking of the war, when he was among those first to respond to the President's call for 3 months volunteers.At the age of 19 years and 6 months, John entered the service in June, 1861 for the 3 months call after which he returned to Union and enlisted on September 20, 1861 for a three year term as a private in Co.E of the 26th MO Inf. This company was organized in the southern part of the county, recruited by Robert C. Crowell, who desired and expected to be be captain. At the election of officers, however, John was unanimously elected captain. But owing partly to his youth, but more largely to the loyality to his older friend, he declined any office in the company at that time. As time went on his ability was recognized and he was promoted in rapid succession to 1rst Sergeant and 2nd Lieutenant of his company and was detailed as Adjutant of his regiment in April 1862, in which position he served for about a year. He was with his command and participated in several battles in the rear at Vicksburg, leading up to the siege and surrender of that stronghold. It was during this time that he was commissioned 1st Lieutenant of Co.I of the 26th MO Inf. in May of 1863 and would become Captain of that Company for meritorious conduct.
From his membership application to MOLLUS he listed his service as follows: "I participated in the Battles of New Madrid, Port Gibson under Prentiss, down Miss. under General Pope, Siege of Corinth, Battle of Iuka, Miss. Sept. 19th, Corinth, Miss. Oct. 3rd & 4th, 1862, Yazoo Expedition, Battle of Port Gibson, Raymond, Jackson, Champion Hill, Black River, Seige of Vicksburg, Battle of Missionary Ridge, on Sherman's March to Atlanta, to Marietta, Ga.. Was sent from Cartersville, Ga. to Chattanooga Hospital on account of injuries received, when recovered was detached and served as Post Adjutant at Louden, East Tenn. Was mustered out at Nashville December 1864. Our first Division Commander was Crocker, then John E. Smith commanded us as 3d Division 15th Corps from opening of Vicksburg Campaign till my muster out."
His record of military service was highly commendable and honorable. By his ability and fidelity to duty he rose through several ranks from Private to Captain. The history of the 26th MO Inf. is the military history of John Thomas Crowe. The following is extracted from the report of the Adjutant General of Missouri: "The 26th presents a clear record: there is no defeat that can dim its many victories and no failure that can tarnish its fair name." (See the Index to the Civl War in Franklin Co., Missouri for the history of service of the 26th MO Inf.) He was finally mustered out on December 28, 1864 in Nashville at the end of three and on-half years service. He returned home and was appointed by the governor as Adjutant of the 2nd Military District of State Troops.
He married Mary Minerva Breckenridge on January 16, 1866. Mary was born on October 26, 1844 in MO, the daughter of Asa Breckenridge, an early settler of Franklin Co. and descendent of the famous Breckenridge family of KY. In 1870 John and Mary are found living in Union TWP with real estate valued at $1,200 and a personal estate of $5,000 and John's occupation as clerk in the county court. They had four children. Mary died on July 06, 1874 and is buried in the Union Cemetery, Union, MO. John married a second time to Sarah Elizabeth Hendrick on March 09, 1877. Sarah was born in 1860 in MO, the daughter of Madison and Nancy (Brown) Hendrick of Franklin Co. John and Sarah had three children. In 1880 they are living in Union. Sarah died September 18, 1895. In 1900 John is found living in Union TWP with an occupation of a farmer. He married a third time to Laura C. ? in 1902. Laura was born in 1861 in MO. In 1910 they are found living in Union TWP on Springfield Road with John's occupation listed as general farming. Laura died by 1920 and John is found living in Beaufort on the Crowe farm, finally retired. John died at his home in Beaufort, MO in April 16, 1923, and is buried in the Union Cemetery, Union, MO with his first wife Mary.
In his professional life after the service, John served as a Trustee of Union in 1865, was admitted to the bar in 1868 and practiced law at times from 1868-1880, was clerk in the county court in 1870, was elected sheriff of Franklin Co.1872-1876, and elected a probate judge from 1876-1880. He won an award for Marksmanship in 1879 and was Captain of the Union Township Protective Association in 1880. In 1881 he removed to the farm in Jeffriesburg, MO, and on December 1, 1881 was commissioned deputy United States revenue collector of the First Missouri District, which he held until 1885, at which time he resumed farming. Soon after he returned to public service as the President of the School Board in 1891, a State Represenative from 1891-1893, received a patent for a grain harvester attachment in 1894, and elected a Judge in Beaufort serving from 1910 until 1922. John was a Mason in Beaufort and a member of the Knights of Pythias in Union.
On 05Nov1887 he was elected a Companion of the First Class, Insignia #59133, of the MO Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States of which he was a member of for nearly 40 years until his death. His eldest son Asa became a Companion of the Second Class in 1903 and was also a member for 31 years until his death in 1934. His youngest son Samuel also became a Companion of the Second Class in 1912. John was also very involved with the 26th MO Inf. Assoc. which held yearly reunions of the regiment, many were held in Union and Washington, the last one held in 1915 in Union. He was also a member of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) in Union and was Commander of the Franz Wihelmi Post No.344. S/A,B,C,D,E,16
Children of John and Mary (Breckenridge) Crowe:
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1.1.1) Asa Breckenridge Crowe, was born August 30, 1867 in Union, Franklin Co., MO, see later. S/A,B
1.1.2) Martin Luther Crowe, was born in May of 1870 in Franklin Co., MO, and lived in Beaufort. He died October 16, 1890 near Port Royal. He was a brakeman for the railroad and fell between the cars while performing some duty and was run over and killed. "Luke" as he was known was a universal favorite with all his acquaintances. The funeral was at the Presbyterian Church in Union and is buried at ?. S/A,B,10
1.1.3) Mary E. (Maud) Crowe, was born in February of 1871 in Franklin Co., MO. She was a school teacher in Jeffriesburg, Franklin Co., MO from 1893 to 1894. She married Russell Allen in 1896 in ?(not Franklin Co.). Russell was born in April of 1868 in MO to ? (fbp.IL, mbp.MO). In 1900 they lived in Bloomfield, Stoddard Co., MO where Russell was a lawyer. In 1920 they lived in Farmington, St. Francis, MO and were still living there in 1923. S/B,d,e,6
- Children:
1.1.3.1) John M. Allen, was born in April of 1897 in MO. S/d
- Children:
1.1.4.1) Hallie Brown, was born in 1911 in MO, m.Essman, d.by 1948.
- Children:
1.1.4.1.1) John Lilburn Essman, of Sullivan, MO, the only descendent of Nellie in 1948.
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1.1.5) John Thomas Crowe Jr., was born September 26, 1877 in MO. He married Emily L. Parker on November 27, 1903 in ?(not Franklin Co.,MO). Emily was born on July 26, 1875 at South Point, Franklin Co., MO the daughter of ? (fbp:MO, mbp:MO). In 1920 they were living with John's brother Samuel in Joachim Twp., Jefferson Co., MO with John as a Laborer in a Lead Company. After working for the Meyer Tea and Coffee Company for a number of years, they returned to Franklin Co. in 1923 to run the family farm in Beaufort, MO, and were living there in 1934. They were members of the Leslie Methodist Church since 1930. John died February 10, 1953 and Emily died January 11, 1956. They are both buried in the Union City Cemetery in Union, MO. S/B,C,c,15,16,20
- Children:
1.1.5.1) Dora Crowe, was born in 1909 in MO. She was living in Beaufort, MO in 1956. S/c,20
- Children:
1.1.6.1) Fred Russell Lyford, b.04 Jun 1904, d.03 Oct 1989.
- Children:
1.1.6.1./) Richard Lyford.
1.1.6.2) John Harold Lyford, b.03 Apr 1906, d.18 Dec 1993 Madison, Dane Co., WI.
1.1.6.3) Marjorie Lyford, living in Iowa City, IA in 1989, donated photo to Franklin Co., Historical Soc.
References: Data Compiled by the MO Commandery of MOLLUS
Visit the MO Commandery of MOLLUS Homepage or the Index to the Civil War in Franklin Co., Missouri
Missouri Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States