Chicago: Inter-state Publishing Co., 1882.
LaCrosse, WI : Brookhaven Press, 2000 [Reprint]

NOTE:  There are several biographies on this page.  They seem to be one family with Edward Crowell being the father.  James M. and Edward Crowell, Jr.  served in the 27th Iowa.

Edward Crowell     Pages 1135 - 1136

Deceased, was born in the town of Half Moon, N. Y., in 1807. When about six years of age he moved with his parents to Allegany County, N. Y., where he made his home till about thirty-six years of age. In 1828 he and Miss Esther Felt were united in marriage. They had five children - Elmina, George W., Andrew J., Phoebe and Helen M. Mrs. Crowell died in 1840. In 1841 he married his second wife, Mrs. Caroline (Persons) Capen. They had nine children - Edward, Abigail, James M., Silas R., John H., Oren L., Charles W., R. Esther and Lily L. Mrs. Crowell had two children by her first husband. Their names were Richard W. and Sylvia Capen. Of this large double family all are still living except Sylvia, who died in 1860, at the age of twenty-two and Esther, who died in 1881, at the age of 29. She was the wife of Sereno Whitney. In 1856 Mr. Crowell moved with his family to Ulster Township, this county, where he resided till his death, which occurred March 11, 1881. Mrs. Crowell still makes the homestead her abiding place. Of Mr. Crowell it may be said he was one of the pioneers who helped lay the very foundations of the history of Floyd County. Both Mr. and Mrs. Crowell were members of the M. E. church for thirty years. He was a member of the I. O. O. F., and started the order in this county.

Edward Crowell, Jr.     Page1036

Was born in Centreville, Allegany County, N. Y., Dec. 16, 1840. In the year 1843 his father and family moved to Bloomfield, Walworth County, Wis., where they remained till 1856, when they came to Floyd County, Ia., and located in Ulster Township, upon a farm of 240 acres. Edward Crowell, Sr., had entered on sections 30 and 31 the year previous. This property the family called the old homestead. It is here the family grew to man and womanhood; it is here the father and mother lived happily together till death broke the ties by removing Mr. Edward Crowell, Sr., March 12, 1881; and it is here the mother still lives. At the age of twenty-one Mr. Edward Crowell, Jr., the subject of this sketch, enlisted in Company G, Twenty-seventh Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He served his full term, being three years; was mustered out May 6, 1865, at Davenport, Ia.; was never wounded nor taken prisoner, but was a hospital patient about fifteen months; was very low with typhoid pneumonia and erysipelas, and we are sorry to have this fact to chronicle that he is still a sufferer from the effects. His army experience was that of the usual faithful soldier - hard marches, hot skirmishes, and short rations, and the usual exhausting and undermining camp life. After his return from the army he moved upon his farm of eighty acres, which he had purchased in 1863, on section 29, Ulster Township. Here he lived till the year 1880, when he sold and purchased eighty acres on section 31, same township, where he still resides. He has under cultivation about fifty acres, and has usually about fifteen head of cattle, four horses and thirty hogs. June 3, 1864, he and Miss Sarah Y. Porter were united in marriage. She was a native of Steuben County, N. Y., born in 1846. They have five children - Dora L., Clarence H., Clyde A., Guy E. and Ida C. Politically Mr. Crowell is a sound Republican. Is at present Justice of the Peace, which he has been for many years, and has held various township offices. He is a member of the I. O. O. F.

John H. Crowell     Page 1037

Was born in Walworth County, Wis., in 1847. He is a son of Edward Crowell, who came from Allegany County, N. Y., to Wisconsin about 1844, remaining till 1856, when he came to Iowa, and located upon 240 acres which he had bought the year previous, on sections 30 and 31, Ulster Township, this county, where he made his home till his death, which occurred in March 1881. Edward Crowell, as will be seen by these dates, was one of Floyd County's pioneers, and his position in those matters of early date shows that he was a man of public spirit, whose name will never be forgotten in the history of this county. The author of this work was one of his early friends and associates. An item of interest is well worthy of the space it takes here, and we give it as related by his son, J. H. Crowell: One day, when he and his little brother were in the field, W. P. Gaylord came and asked his father to accompany him that day. In answer to the boy's inquiry as to where he was going, Mr. Crowell replied that they were going to set the most important stake in the county, it being the staking off of the court house ground. This spot was in the geographical center of the county and near the east line of Ulster Township. History shows that this place was one of some contest and contention, and after some hot spirit and solid voting it was placed upon record as the county seat, by a large majority. But afterward some of the Charles City people, and those whose interests centered there, concluded there was some discrepancy in the voting, and, without thoroughly testing the technicality, proceeded to locate the county seat at Charles City and erect public buildings. J. H. Crowell accompanied his father to this county, and made his home with him till he was twenty-one years of age. At this date he married Miss Libbie Pyatt, a native of New York State, being born there in 1852. Their family consists of five children - Jennie G., Burton L., Irving R., Granville P., and Charles G., aged twelve, ten, seven, four and one respectively. Both Mr. and Mrs. Crowell are members of the Congregational church of Ulster Township. In the year 1861 he purchased forty acres on section 31, Ulster Township, where he still resides, and also a forty of section 30, making a farm of eighty acres, all under good cultivation. He usually puts in crop of from fifty to sixty acres, and keeps in stock, all told, about forty head.

S. W. Crowell     Pages 1037 - 1038

Was born in Bloomfield, Walworth County, Wis., in 1845. He is a son of Edward Crowell, who was one of Floyd County's pioneers, and whose biography will be found in this work. S. W. Crowell became a citizen of Floyd County in 1856; made is first purchase of real estate in 1864. This was a tract of forty acres on section 30, Ulster Township; this he afterward sold and bought eighty acres on section 29, which he also sold. He again made a purchase of forty acres on section 31. This he also soon sold, each transaction yielding him a fair profit. In the year 1866 he purchased fifty acres on section 5, where he now resides. In 1873 he bought forty acres on section 31, adjoining his other land, making a farm of ninety acres. He usually puts in crop about sixty acres, and keeps about six head of cattle, two horses, and from fifty to seventy hogs. He was married in Charles City in 1871 to Esther A. Collins, a native of New York, born in 1841. They have two children - Ralph, aged five years, and Nellie, aged two. Politically Mr. Crowell is a Greenbacker; has held the office of Assessor for two years.