Crews Family Genealogy

Re-written from 1910 Lawrence County Illinois History and Biography page 663-664

Albert Crews was born in the Allison Township September 16, 1841, a son of James Crews, who was also a farmer of Allison Township. The latter was born in Tennessee in 1800, a son of John Crews, a native of Virginia, who moved from his native state to Tennessee and there married, later removing to Crawford County Ill and locating five miles south of Palestine, where he lived until his death, which occurred when he was ninety-six years old.

James Crews was reared in Tennessee and Crawford County but in young manhood moved to Russell Township., Lawrence County and there entered 160 acres of land at $1.25 per acre. This he cleared and cultivated and otherwise improved. While still living in Crawford County he married a Miss Little, and by her had five children. After her death, he married Malinda Duke Warner who was born in Virginia. They had two children, one of whom died in infancy. The family born of the two marriages of James Crews is as follows: William J, James, Mary Jane, Franklin, Bertie Ann, Wiley, Albert all born in Lawrence County. At one time James Crews was a heavy landowner in Lawrence County. During the black Hawk War, he responded loyally to the call made upon him, and served in it. In politics he was a Democrat, while in religious faith he was a member of the Christian Church, and served it as an elder. Although he accomplished much, he died when only forty-nine.

Albert Crews attended the schools of Allison Township and as he was only eight years old when his father died, he began working for himself very early. His first work earned him $10 per month. Later he worked for a man by the name of Bible, and learned from him the blacksmith trade, receiving $50 for the first year and $75 for the second. After finishing his apprenticeship, in 1857 Mr. Crews began working at his trade on his own account. He opened a shop in 1860 in Allison Township and found plenty to occupy himself. Later he built another blacksmith shop near the Allison post office, and continued to work at his trade until 1873 when he sold his shops and bought a farm of 235 acres from Jacob Stahl. This he cultivated and improved and kept adding to his holdings until he owned 1,000 acres in Russell and Allison Townships. On July7, 1862 Mr. Crews, married Martha Ellen Highsmith, daughter of Whitfield Highsmith, a farmer of Crawford County. Mrs. Crews was born and reared in Crawford County. The following family is the result of this marriage: Albert H, William, Carl, Martha Ellen, Minta May, Ora Pearl, Joseph LeRoy, James Clifford, Charles and John all of whom were born in Allison Township.

Mr. Crews made a specialty of shipping and feeding stock for twenty years, and was very successful in his undertakings. In politics he was a Democrat, and served as Township commissioner. He was a member of the Christian church.

Albert Crews and Martha Ellen Highsmith Crews