William Crow was born in Pike County, Illinois, on February 4, 1 861, being the son of Jesse and Eliza E. (Coley) Crow. The father was born in St. Charles County, Missouri, on February 15, 1822, and on January 18, 1899, a tree fell upon him accidentally, which caused his death. His grandparents came from Germany. The mother of our subject was born in Indiana, on February 4, 1834, and died July 5, 1901. Her father was a veteran of the war of 1812.
William was reared in Illinois, spent a short time in Missouri, and in 1892 came to Milton, Oregon, where he rented land for a time and then came and took a claim on unsurveved land. Not liking it, he removed to his present place, five miles north from Culdesac, where he took forty-five acres of very fertile land. He has devoted himself to its culture and improvement since and has a good place. Mr. Crow has the following brothers and sisters. Edgar P., in the east: Thomas J., a railroad man near Boice; Robert and John, near Cavendish; Annie, wife of Charles Horn, near Cavendish; Mary, wife of Gilbert Bentley, in Lincoln County, Washington; Minnie, wife of William Rafferty, near Cavendish; Lulu, widow of Charles Rice, near Reardon. Washington.
On June 25, 1885, in Pike County, Illinois, Mr. Crow married Miss Kate, daughter of John and Lizzie Batz, natives of Germany and immigrants to the United States in 1868. They settled in Pike County and that is still their home. Mrs. Crow was born in Germany on February 16, 1862, and has the following brothers and sisters. John, with his parents; Anna, wife of .George Frank: Lizzie, wife of Jeff J. Petty, in Oklahoma. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Crow. Harry E., John W., Bertram Everett, Ethel, Robert and Oliver.
Mr. Crow is independent in politics, reserving for himself the right to choose the man. He is a thrifty, industrious man and one of that number who form the strength and boast of any substantial community.
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Source: An Illustrated History of Northern Idaho, Embracing Nez Perce, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone Counties, Western Historical Publishing Company, 1903