DAVID M. CROWDER. To be the son of worthy parents is a matter both for honorable pride and devout thankfulness, and he who can make this boast does well to carry still further the honorable standing of the family by making good his claim to be worthy of such parents. The father of our subject, the late Robert Crowder, was born in Buncombe County, N. C., July 17, 1807, and his mother, who bore the maiden name of Barbara Prater, was born in Greene County, Tenn., April 15, 1807. The first two years of their married life was spent in East Tennessee, upon a farm. after which they moved to Indiana and settling in Jennings County remained there about two years and then emigrated to Missouri, where they settled near Boonville, and lived there for one year.

Robert Crowder brought his family to Illinois in January, 1838, and settled in what is now Marrowbone Township, Moultrie County, where they continued to live until called hence by death. Our subject is the eldest of their ten children and his birth occurred in Eastern Tennessee, November 18, 1828, so that he was thus about nine years old when he came with his father to what is now Moultrie County, where he grew to manhood and has made his home from that day to this.

Under the parental roof this young man made his home until that important event took place which was celebrated in Marrowbone Township, August 30, 1848, when he was united in marriage with Susan E. Mitchell, daughter of George and Jane W. Mitchell, who were of Southern birth but became early settlers in Moultrie County, Ill. Mrs. Susan E. Crowder was born in Tennessee, July 9. 1831. The family home of this wedded couple has been ever since their wedding day upon section 15, Marrowbone Township, with the exception of one year which they spent in Bethany. Farming has been Mr. Crowder's pursuit through life and in it he has been successful, which success may be attributed to two reasons. In the first place he has been thoroughly intelligent, energetic and enterprising, and in the second place he has had a richly productive farm such as is to be found only in the Prairie State. Hiy tract of two hundred and fifteen acres has been excellently improved and upon it will be found all the conveniences and appurtenances which belong to a first-class farm.

Mr. and Mrs. Crowder rejoice in the possession of seven children, namely: Sarah J., who is the wife of William H. Hoskins; Margaret A., who married F. T. Scheer; Mary A., now Mrs. Joel A. Yeakel; Barbara E., who was the wife of W. F. Logan, and died April 3, 1890; Dora S., married J.E. Scheer; and two sons who died in infancy. The principles of the Republican party command the respect and allegiance of our subject and although he is not an office-seeker he is earnestly devoted to the prosperity of his party and works for its supremacy. Both he and his excellent wife are earnest and devoted members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

A biography of David M. Crowder would be incomplete did it not include a fuller resume than we have already given of the life of the parents whose honorable record is his dearest possession. It was in the fall of 1828 that Robert Crowder removed to Indiana, and after first settling in Ripley County, Ind., removed as we have said, to Jennings County, where he settled in New Marion. In the fall of 1836 he removed, as has been stated, to Missouri, and there remained until January, 1838, when he came to Moultrie County, Ill. His wife, whose maiden name was Barbara Prater, brought him ten children, namely: David M., William A., Sarah J., Thomas II., Mary S., Robert S., James H., Andrew W., John A. and Marshall M. Robert enlisted in Company E, Twenty-first Regiment of Illinois Infantry, taking rank as First Sergeant, and was killed in the battle of Chickamauga, in September, 1863; Andrew W. was a member of Company B, Forty-first Illinois Infantry, and was killed during the siege of Vicksburg, in June, 1863, when about sixteen years old. The brave and noble record of these loyal sons of a loyal father awaken a sympathetic response in every patriotic heart, and the memory of these brave boys is cherished by their brothers and sisters and handed down to their posterity for they believe that

"Brave hearts are more than coronets,
And simple faith than Norman blood".

The Cumberland Presbyterian Church was the body with which Robert and Barbara Crowder were connected, and in its service and communion they found both comfort and opportunity for Christian work. Their genuine Christian charity and uprightness mark them as worthy both of trust and emulation, and their influence will not die out for many generations to come. Robert Crowder passed from earth September 22, 1877, and his bereaved widow survived him until January 25, 1890, when she too made her transit to a better world. The handsome property which Robert Crowder left to his children is but a small portion of the precious heritage which they have received from him and their venerated mother.

Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties, 1891 - p. 400-402

Transcription copyright 2003/2007, Moultrie County ILGenWeb/USGenWeb