Luther M. Crowl of Hicksville Looked for Greener Grass

 

Go West, Young Men!

It was a trend in the mid-1880s for farmers to sell their Ohio lands to move west to Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and other mid-American states. Land was cheap there, but why leave the fertile farms of Ohio?

In September, 1884, Hicksville resident, Luther Crowl, put his small farm up for sale near Hicksville.

"Two and one-half (2 1/2) acres of land, large house in good repair, well of never-failing water, good cellar, cistern in kitchen, new barn, over thirty large apple trees of choice varieties, pears and small fruits. This is one of the finest locations in town, situated on South-West High Street near Antwerp road. Will sell cheap on long time. 

Enquire of Luther Crowl"

When asked why farmers were leaving, the answer given to one newspaper writer agreed that Ohio had good farms, but more land was needed to provide for the large families of sons who followed. 

"They must be provided for. Our sons must have a home. We cannot afford to buy each one a farm here.  Out west, we can purchase a large tract of land cheaper than we can here and divide it up, and we might as well go with our children. Then it is easier farming there."

Usually, the head of the family would head west first, perhaps taking along another family member to help. Land would be purchased and prepared for the arrival of the rest of the family or even extended family. Luther Crowl's first land purchase was in Colby, Thomas County, Kansas.

"Luther Crowl started for Colby, Kan. where his mother and he and his brother have taken up 480 acres of government land. The rest of the family go this week.

It is in the north-western part of the state, in a rapidly developing country and they feel that they are entering the golden gate of prosperity..."

(The Hicksville News, April 9, 1885)

A later paper clarified that Edward Crowl and Frank Sollenburger had accompanied Luther Crowl to Kansas.

 The Hicksville News, April 19, 1885, noted:

"Last Sunday evening Mrs. Mary Crowl, her youngest son, and her mother, Mrs. Holabaugh, and Sadie, wife of Luther Crowl, started for Colby, Kansas, where they expect to make their future home.

As a token of the high esteem in which they were held by their friends and classmates, about eighty in number, accompanied to the depot to bid them good bye and give them their best wishes.

May success accompany them in their new home. They will be missed in church and Sunday school, where they were efficient and faithful workers whose example is worthy of imitation. May others by raised up to take their place."

In May of 1887, that dream was over and Luther Crowl had other ideas for success. 

Hicksville News, May 19, 1887 --

"Luther Crowl of Thomas County, Kansas, arrived Sunday morning and is spending some weeks visiting friends and relatives, now. He has disposed of his interests in Thomas County and contemplates purchasing property in Independence, Missouri and engaging in carpentering."

 Luther's mother had died in Thomas County, Kansas in 1886. After that, Luther returned to Hicksville, saying that he and his family would now make their permanent home there. He purchased a lot from Sarah Scott's estate, his wife's mother who died in 1908, and "commenced work to build a two story dwelling for himself..."

In the 1900 Federal Census, they were enumerated back in their hometown of Hicksville. Luther, 42, worked as a carriage maker, and he owned a mortgaged farm. Sadie, 39, took care of the children: Earl, 12, born 1887 in Ohio; Owen, 11, born 1888 in Ohio and Marie, born 1898 in Ohio. 

Luther did leave Hicksville, however.  He procured a job for several years in South Bend, Indiana, as a mechanic in a Singer factory. Whether he ever went to Missouri or not is unknown., But the wanderlust hit again and soon it was reported that Luther and his family were heading for Portland, Oregon. He was always looking for greener pastures.

"Luther M. Crowl, 1031 Saerman Ave., several years a mechanic at the Singer factory, left today with his family for Portland, Oregon."

The South Bend Tribune, April 8, 1911

In the 1920 Federal Census of Anselmo, Marin County, California, Luther Crowl, 62, a builder in an auto factory, and Sarah A Crowl, 59, owned a mortgaged home on Butterfield Road. All of their children were with them. Earl, 32, was an electrician; Owen, 31, was a baker in a bakery; and Marie, 21, was a forewoman in a tobacco factory. It seemed that they had finally found their forever home.

They were still there for the 1930 census, and Luther worked as a carpenter again. Sarah, 69, and Owen, 41, divorced and a restaurant worker, completed the family. In 1935, Luther and Sadie celebrated their 50th anniversary. The local paper noted their marriage in Hicksville, Ohio, and their move from Oregon to California in 1918.

Luther died in 1938, an acclaimed citizen of Anselmo, California, located north of San Francisco.

"LUTHER M. CROWL

One of the best known of San Anselmo citizens died Tuesday last and was laid to rest Saturday afternoon following funeral services at the Guy W. Jenness & Co. Chapel.

He was Luther M. Crowl, 80 years old, and for twenty years a San Anselmo resident. Mrs. Sadie Ann Crowl, the widow survives him, as do two sons, Earl W. and Owen S. Crowl; a daughter, Mrs. Marie Young; a granddaughter, Betty Young, and two grandsons, Donald Young and Jean Crowl. All of these are San Anselmo residents, with the exception of the last named, whose home is at Long Beach."

Sadie followed him in death on February 18, 1940, at the age of 79, as reported in the San Anselmo Herald.  No burial place could be determined.

Dianne Kline, Researcher

Related Obituaries:

The mother of Luther Crowl who followed him to Kansas, Anna M. Crowl:

"DIED. Anna M. Crowl was born near Gettysburg, Pa. June 14th, 1829, and died in Thomas county, Kansas, May 14, 1886. Last April a year ago she settled some six miles northwest of Colby, where she resided until her death.

She was not seriously ill but a few days, and as she laid in a state of deep stupor for four days previous to her death, of course, she did not fully realize her condition, but as she had been a consistant christian in health, we feel assured that she died the death of the righteous. The writer preached at her funeral at the residence of her son, Luther Crowl.

(Thomas County Cat, Colby, Kansas, May 20, 1886)

The mother of Sarah (Sadie) Scott Crowl, Sarah Ann Menear:

"Sarah Ann Menear, daughter of William and Mary Ann Menear, was born near Gettysburg, Adams Co., Pa, August 28, 1826. With her parents when two years of age, she was removed to Dillsburg, York Co., Pa. where she resided until 25 years of age.

She was united in marriage to Matthew K. Scott of Fredricksburg, Wayne Co. O. September 27, 1849. In a carriage drawn by two horses, the devoted groom took his bride from near Gettysburg, over the Allegheny mountains to Fredericksburg, O, nearly 400 miles to their new home.

In 1850, they moved to Hicksville, Defiance Co., O. about 58 years ago. To this union were born 9 children, Wm. M. who died Jan. 1, 1880; C. C. Scott of Dayton, Ohio; Mary A. Farnham, Edgerton, O.; J. D. Scott, Nappanee, Ind.; G. R. Scott of Hicksville, O.; Sadie Crowl, South Bend, Ind.; Jesse Scott, who died Dec. 18, 1907; F. Scott, Toledo, O.; and J. L. Scott of Portland, Oregon. 

Matthew K. Scott, her husband, died April 17, 1874. She was of a family of 14 children, having seven brothers and six sisters. One brother and two sisters are all that remain of the large family.

After her marriage, while residing in Wayne Co., O., she united with the Presbyterian church. On removal to Hicksville, she became one of the charter members of that church in our city. In 1865, she identified herself with the church of the United Brethren in Christ in Hicksville and remained a most worthy and honored member until passing to the church triumphant.

Sister Scott was a woman of unusual ability and possessed of rare qualities of mind and heart. Even in temperament, careful and considerate in all that she did, her example was most worthy and her life a model one. Coming to this vicinity nearly 60 years ago, she surely shared in the privations of pioneer life...

For the last sixteen years she has visited among her children but had her home much of this time with her eldest daughter, Mrs. Farnham of Edgerton, O. at whose residence she departed this life, Oct. 5, aged 82 years, 1 month and 7 days. She leaves seven children, 23 grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren ... Burial in Forest Home Cemetery."

(The Tribune, Hicksville, Ohio, October 15, 1908, page 1)