Thomas Denton Crow

Had 2 sons whose names are not presently known with his first wife.

"THOMAS DENTON CROW, attorney at law, Urbana. Thomas Denton Crow was born in Harrison Township, Champaign Co, Oct. 21, 1821. His father, Joseph Crow, was born in Virginia Oct. 1, 1790, and came of German stock. His mother, Martha (Hull) Crow, was born Jan. 4, 1796, and was of New England descent. They were married April 9, 1813, and immediately took up their residence on a quarter section of land on the head-waters of Glady's Creek, which Joseph had purchased of his father, Thomas Crow, March 29, 1811. Joseph was a man of more than ordinary education and intelligence, and was a Methodist "Class-leader and exhorter." He died in February, 1825, leaving to the care of his widow one daughter and four sons. Being thus left on a new farm, she was induced to marry, in 1826, Joseph Longfellow, an old settler of Concord Township, and by this marriage became the mother of six sons, five of whom are still living. She was truly a Pioneer woman and after a life of toil and exemplary piety, died August 2, 1864. Her second marriage did not result as she had hoped with reference to her first husband's children. One was sent away at once, and two others soon afterward. Thomas D. became a bound boy on the old Thomas Hines farm when 8 years of age. After five years of hardship, during which the school privilege stipulated was not allowed him, he was released, and ever afterward was his own master, and was self-sustaining henceforth, his share of his father's estate having been mostly taken by his step-father. He immediately began to plan and look forward to an education. At 14, he began working in Urbana at tailoring, and followed that trade several years. At 18, he taught his first school, and at 19 entered the Ohio Conference High School at Springfield. By teaching during vacation, serving as janitor and performing other services during the odd hours of his school days, with the practice of the most rigid economy, living on brown bread and water a good portion of the time, he succeeded after four years and a half, in passing through the preparatory examination, and, although somewhat in debt, entered Augusta College, where he graduated in 1846, out of debt and having $400 due him from his alma mater for salary as Principal of the Preparatory Department. At one time in college, he taught from six to ten classes, carried on four to five studies and did duty in a literary society, besides being Superintendent of a Sabbath school in town and doing other official church service. On his return to Urbana, the Ohio Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church being in session at Piqua, he was received as a member, and subsequently filled important charges. He was a member of the faculty of the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio, two years. Owing to domestic difficulties, in 1860, he turned his attention to law. He graduated at the Cincinnati Law School in April, 1861. He then entered into a partnership with a brother-in-law at Monticello, Ind., and practiced there a little more than two years, meanwhile was active in raising troops for the Union army, and, but for his three motherless little children, would have himself enlisted. In 1864, he returned to Urbana and opened a law office. From 1865 to 1866, he had charge of the Public schools of Urbana, and was County School Examiner for several years. He was Chief Clerk and Acting State Commissioner of Schools from 1869 to 1872, during which time he resided in Columbus. In the summer of 1872, he resumed his law practice in Urbana and has since resided here, and, by his taste, means and labor, has done much to improve his native county, especially its chief town. He married first, in 1847, Miss Henrietta Downs. Her Parents, William and Elizabeth Downs, were Quakers of Scotch descent, and early settlers in Urbana. Of this marriage there were born four sons and a daughter. Two sons and the daughter are yet living, the latter being the wife of a prominent attorney of Cleveland. The two sons are both practicing law in Urbana. His wife died in Cincinnati in 1858. The next year, he contracted what proved to be an unfortunate marriage, from which he was compelled to seek divorce, the only good as yet apparent coming of this union being a daughter, now a teacher in the schools of Cincinnati. After six years of single life, he married, May 7, 1868, Mrs. Eliza M. Cahill, of Clark Co. She was a daughter of Seaton Hedges, who came from Virginia and settled in Champaign Co. in 1817. Her mother was a daughter of Robert Miller, who came from Kentucky and settled at Moorefield, Clark Co., in 1810. Mr. Crow has been a Republican from the organization of the party, with strong convictions favoring prohibition. His life has been one of peculiar toil and misfortune, but he has always bravely made his way against all obstacles and, by his native talent and perseverance and indomitable will, has compelled success, secured a varied and correct scholarship, and established a character above reproach. He now holds the office of U. S. Commissioner for the Southern District of Ohio, and enjoys a lucrative practice in his profession."