William Holmes Crabill

As printed in 1902

WILLIAM HOLMES CRABILL.

William Holmes Crabill is a retired farmer and stock-raiser now living in Springfield. He was born four miles northeast of the city, in Moorefield township, upon the farm which he still owns— a tract of three hundred and fifty-four acres which his father entered from the government. David Crabill was a native of Virginia, born and reared near the Potomac river, and on leaving the Old Dominion he

$ made his way westward to Ohio, He had been married in his native state and two of his children were there born. He served as a soldier under General Wayne in the war of 1812, holding the rank of first sergeant, and after his death our subject obtained the land warrant for his widow, which entitled her to an entire section of land because he had been an officer. Mrs. David Crabill bore the maiden name of Barbara Baer, and like her husband was a native. of Virginia. His death occurred in 1839, when he was about fifty-seven years of age, and his wife passed away in 1863. They were the parents of twelve children, eleven of whom reached years of maturity. Sarah become the wife of George Kiser and died in Champaign county, leaving four children. Maria became the wife of Adam Yeazell, by whom she had seven children, and her death occurred in Champaign county, Illinois. John died at the age of sixteen years. Thomas married Sydney Yeazell, who died leaving a large family. David married Eliza Hedges, by whom she ha done child, and died in Clark county. James and Joseph have also passed away. Mary became the wife of Joshua Crown and died leaving several children, but all are now deceased. Susan married Levi Enos Weir, and her children died prior to her death. Pierson is living upon the home farm. William H. is the eleventh in order of birth. Eliza married Oscar Jones and died leaving three children.

William Holmes Crabill was reared under the parental roof. He had but limited opportunities for securing an education, never attending a free school. He was, however, a student in a subscription school for a short time and he has always been a great reader, whereby he has largely broadened his knowledge. He was but eight years of age at the time of his father’s death, and he remained with his mother until twenty-two years of age, when he started out on his own account. The father was in very limited circumstances when he arrived here, not having money enough to purchase a cow. He had made the journey with Thomas and Solomon Voss, and he worked for them by the month while his wife did the house work for them. As the years passed, however, Mr. Crabill prospered and became an extensive land owner, having twelve hundred acres. Our subject therefore inherited over one hundred acres of land and has made the money with which he purchased the remainder of his farm property, now comprising three hundred and fifty-four acres. In earlier days he was an extensive stock dealer and drove stock from Illinois to Pennsylvania. His life has been a very busy one, and his close attention to his farming interests resulted in bringing to him a very desirable capital. As the years passed his competence increased until he is now enabled to live retired and yet to enjoy all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. His birth occurred May 10, 1826, so that he is now seventy-six years of age. He was reared in the faith of the Whig party, and cast his first presidential ballot for Taylor in 1848. In 1856 he voted for Fremont, and has since been a stanch Republican, although he has never been an office seeker. He served as assessor for sixteen years. He never sought the position, but proved so capable and efficient that he had no opposition. He was also land appraiser at one time. Socially he is identified with Clark Lodge, No. tor, F. & A. M., and in his life he has exemplified the helpful and charitable spirit of the fraternity.

As printed in A Biographical Record of Clark County Ohio (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.