USA > Mississippi > Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. III > Part 22
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Crane, Edgar S., is one of the prom- inent and influential business men of Yazoo City, where his interests are of varied order, and he is known as a reli- able, enterprising and public-spirited citizen. He was born in New Albany, Ind., June 16, 1858, and is a son of Will- iam C. and Mary Elizabeth (Shields) Crane, the former of whom was born in Hartford, Conn., June 19, 1826, and the latter in New Albany, Ind., Oct. 14, 1831. Ancestors in the maternal line were found represented as soldiers in the Continental line in the War of the Revolution. . Will- iam C. Crane was a child at the time of his parents' removal from Connecticut to Indiana, and he eventually became one of the leading merchants of New Albany, where he was engaged in business for many years, having conducted a mercantile enterprise for three decades and having had other local business interests. He lived practically retired for ten years prior to his death, which occurred in 1890, and his venerable widow still resides in the old homestead at New Albany. They became the parents of nine children, all of whom are living except two. The subject of this review was reared to maturity in his native city, and after his graduation in the local high school he completed a course in the New Albany business college. He initiated his business career by working in his father's wood-working factory in New Albany, where he was employed as a mechanic for six years. He then assumed the position of bookkeeper for the New Albany Forge and Rolling Mill Company, with which he remained two years. He then, in 1882, came to Yazoo City, Miss., where he effected the purchase of the hardware business of Nierman & Doherty and established the firm of Crane Brothers & Company. Under this title the business was successfully continued until 1896, when it was incorporated under the title of the Crane-Hinman Hardware Company, and its functions amplified in all departments. The concern does a whole- sale and retail business and is recognized as one of the leading com- mercial houses of the city. Mr. Crane was one of the organizers of the Yazoo Cotton Warehouse Company, of which he was secre- tary until its warehouses were destroyed by fire, in 1890. He was a prominent promoter of the Yazoo Building and Loan Association, of which he was president for more than ten years, and he was the prime mover in the organization of the Independent Telephone Company, of Yazoo City, of which he has been president from the start. He was president of the city's first business league for five years and was one of its founders. Mr. Crane is a Democrat in his political allegiance and while he has invariably declined to become a candidate for political office, he has served continuously since 1892 as president of the board of education of Yazoo City, in which capacity he has done much to further educational interests. He is
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a zealous member of the Presbyterian church, as was also his de- voted wife, and for the past twenty-one years he has been superin- tendent of the Sunday school of his church. He is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, and the Columbian Woodmen. On Oct. 18, 1883, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Crane to Miss Eliza- beth L. Gebhart, daughter of John F. and Elizabeth (Santee) Geb- hart, of Maytown, Penn. Mrs. Crane was called to the life eternal Aug. 27, 1906, and her loss is mourned by a wide circle of devoted friends. She was a woman of gracious presence and gentle at- tributes and had long been prominent in the church and social life of her home city. Of this union were born six children, of whom two are deceased-Edgar and Letitia. The living children are Janet, John C., Paul S., and William E. The elder two sons are now studying for the ministry of the Presbyterian church.
Crawford, Nathan Barrett, of Houston, Chickasaw county, has been long and prominently identified with the industrial and civic interests of that section of the State, has attained to distinctive success in temporal affairs and has ever com- manded the most unequivocal confidence and esteem. His loyalty to the Confed- eracy was shown in his gallant service as a soldier in the war between the States and he has also honored and been honored by his State by membership in both branches of the legislature. Captain Crawford, as he is familiarly known, was . born in Edgefield district, S. C., Nov. 12, 1835, and is a son of Robert H. and Mary Winn (Jennings) Craw- ford, both of whom were likewise native of that district, where the respective families were early settled. His paternal grandfather, David Crawford, was born in South Carolina, and his great-grand- father, Joel Crawford, was born in Virginia, whence he removed to South Carolina, from which State he finally removed to Georgia, where he passed the residue of his life. John and William Craw- ford, ancestors of the subject of this sketch, were loyal soldiers in the Continental line in the War of the Revolution. Robert H. Crawford was a member of a Georgia regiment in the War of 1812. In December, 1839, accompanied by his family, he made the over- land trip with teams and wagons from Georgia to Chickasaw county, Miss., where he bought a half section of land and became one of the pioneer settlers of that section of the State. He con- tinued to be engaged in agricultural pursuits in Chickasaw county until his death, which occurred in 1854. He held the office of county assessor for sixteen years, and at one time was a candidate for sheriff, being defeated by only forty-nine votes. His wife died in 1879, at a venerable age. The subject of this sketch was reared to manhood upon the home plantation and his early educational train- ing was secured in the common schools of Chickasaw county. He
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is a man of broad information and his education has been amply rounded out by personal study and reading and by active associa- tion with the practical affairs of life. On March 27, 1862, he laid aside the labors of civil life to go forth in defense of the Confed- erate cause. He enlisted as a private in Company H, Thirty-first Mississippi infantry. He was in the thick of the fray much of the time thereafter until the close of the war. He took part in the battles of Baton Rouge and Resaca and in the series of spirited skirmishes from Resaca to Atlanta, Ga., and back to Franklin. In the battle of Peachtree Creek, twenty-four out of the thirty-two men in his company were killed. The following day, as senior surviving officer, Mr. Crawford assumed command of his regiment. He was a participant in the siege of Atlanta, and in the battle of Franklin was twice wounded. He was thereafter confined to the hospital for nineteen days, at the expiration of which he rejoined his com- mand at Tupelo. In September, 1862, he was unanimously elected first lieutenant of his company. In February, 1865, he was granted a furlough and he was still at home at the time of the final sur- render. Six of his brothers were likewise gallant soldiers in the Confederate ranks and all served until the close of the war. Cap- tain Crawford manifests his abiding interests in his old comrades by retaining membership in the United Confederate Veterans. Upon leaving the army the captain's cash capital was represented in the sum of seven dollars and fifty cents, and for two years he worked land on shares. He then purchased a stock of general merchandise, for a consideration of $2,800, and in the connection assumed an indebtedness of $2,000. He opened a store in Atlanta, Chickasaw county, where he built up a large and flourishing enter- prise. He continued in business there for the long period of thirty- five years and his reputation for integrity and fair dealing was ever held inviolable. At the time of closing out his mercantile business he publicly made an advertisement to the effect that if any man had lost a cent through dealing with him he was ready to make restitution to whatever amount could be justly claimed. The sig- nificance of this is shown in the fact that not a single claim against him was entered. As his financial resources increased, Captain Crawford made judicious investments in real estate, and he is now the owner of 6,600 acres of valuable land. Besides this he has val- uable realty interests in town property and also many capitalistic investments in various parts of the State. In 1903 he removed from Atlanta to Houston, in which latter town he has since maintained his home. At the organization of the Bank of Houston, in Sep- tember, 1903, he was elected its president, and he is still incumbent of this office. He is a stockholder in the Clay County Oil Mills and the First National bank of West Point. In 1906, he erected the fine Houston hotel, at a cost of $19,000, and he still owns the property ; he is also owner of a half interest in the Jackson House at West Point. In politics Captain Crawford is an uncompromis- ing adherent of the Democratic party, in whose councils he has been a prominent figure in his State. In 1861 he was elected justice
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of the peace, and in 1880 he was elected a member of the lower house of the State legislature, being chosen as his own successor in 1884. In 1899 he was chosen to represent his district in the State senate, in which he served one term, at the expiration of which he declined renomination. Later he was a candidate for State rail- road commissioner, but was defeated in the nominating convention. While a member of the house he served as a member of the com- mittee on ways and means, as well as that on corporations and also the committee which had charge of the redistricting of the State. In the senate he was chairman of the committee on banks and bank- ing. As a senator he also was foremost in bringing about an in- vestigation of the affairs of the State penitentiary-an investiga- tion that revealed a grievous condition of affairs and resulted in needed reforms. He is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity and he and his wife hold membership in the Missionary Baptist church. On July 12, 1857, was solemnized the marriage of Captain Craw- ford to Miss Jane Harley, daughter of Moses J. and Serena (Jack- son) Harley, of Chickasaw county. Mrs. Crawford was summoned to the life eternal Feb. 14, 1885, and concerning their children the following data are entered: Van E. is the wife of Dr. James W. Abernathey ; Yancey is the wife of James E. Logan; Jannie is the wife of Alonzo C. Naron ; John A. is president of the Citizens' bank at West Point; Joseph W. is engaged in the mercantile business in Oklahoma; May is the wife of Rev. William H. Thompson, a clergyman of the Missionary Baptist church; Lucile is the wife of John W. Logan ; Rena remains at the paternal home and is a popu- lar teacher in the Houston public schools; and David, who is a graduate of the Mississippi Agricultural and Mechanical college, has charge of all of his father's farms. On Nov. 12, 1885, Captain Crawford was united in marriage to Miss Sudie Frazie, and they have two children-Annie and Jossie Nace.
Crump, Robert Poe, M. D., of Nitta Yuma, is one of the able representatives of his profession in Sharkey county, but he is now giving the major portion of his time and attention to the supervision of his plantation and mercantile interests, which are large and important. The doctor was born in Caldwell county, N. C., Feb. 18, 1865, and is a son of Elijah Harvey Crump, who was born in the same county, Jan. 27, 1834, and Jane (Sydes) Crump, who likewise was born and reared in Caldwell county. Elijah H. Crump was a valiant soldier of the Confederacy in the Civil war and he still resides in his native county, where he is the owner of a valuable plantation and where he is now living practically retired. His paternal grandfather was a soldier in the Continental line in the War of the Revolution, and in the same great conflict one of the
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maternal great-grandfathers of the subject of this sketch served under the celebrated Gen. George Rogers Clark. The father of the doctor entered the Confederate service at the outbreak of the war between the States, enlisting as a private in Company H, Fifty- eighth North Carolina infantry. In the charge on Snodgrass hill, incidental to the battle of Chickamauga, he was four times wounded, his injuries being so serious that it was considered impossible for him to recover. He was sent to his home and gradually recuperated, though he never became again eligible for service in the field. Dr. Robert Poe Crump attended the Globe academy in North Carolina, and in 1888 he entered the medical department of the University of Louisville, Ky., where he was graduated in 1890, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. In 1895 he received the same degree from the Kentucky school of medicine, in Louisville, where he had taken effective post-graduate work, and in 1896 he took a post-graduate course in the East London hospital, England, also gaining valuable clinical experience in the leading hospitals of the world's metrop- olis. He also traveled extensively on the continent and visited many of the best European hospitals and medical schools. Upon his return to America he resumed the practice of his profession at Nitta Yuma, Miss., where he had established himself soon after his graduation. Here he continued in active and successful professional work about four years thereafter, or until 1898, since which time he has found it expedient to devote his time largely to his large plantation interests and mercantile business, though he still keeps in close touch with professional affairs and is recognized as one of the able physicians and surgeons of the State. Dr. Crump is now the owner of 2,000 acres of good delta property, and he has a beau- tiful home in Nitta Yuma, where he and his wife dispense a gracious hospitality to their wide and appreciative circle of friends. The doctor owns a fourth interest in the Nitta Yuma plantation, which comprises about 4,000 acres, and is also the owner of 300 acres of delta property in Bolivar county. The deeds to the Nitta Y'uma plantation bear the signature of Gen. Andrew Jackson, who was then president of the United States, and were issued to Col. Henry Vick, the founder of Vicksburg, Miss. (see sketch of John Wesley Vick). Dr. Crump is a stanch adherent of the Democratic party and he is rendering effective service as a member of the State board of levee commissioners, a position to which he was appointed by Governor Vardaman in 1906. He and his wife are communicants of the Protestant Episcopal church, and he is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, besides holding membership in various medical associations. On Nov. 26, 1901, was solemnized the marriage of Dr. Crump to Miss Ellen Bodley Phelps, daughter of Dr. Alonzo J. and Mary Bullock (Vick) Phelps, of Nitta Yuma. Her mother is a repre- sentative of the celebrated Vick family in whose honor Vicksburg was named, and is a collateral descendent of Gen. George Rogers Clark, of Revolutionary fame and Gen. William Clark, of the his- toric Lewis and Clark expedition, and is a great-granddaughter of
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Gen. Jonathan Clark, who likewise was an officer in the War of the Revolution.
Currie, J. H., of Meridian, prosecuting attorney of the Tenth judicial district of Mississippi, and known as one of the fore- most criminal lawyers of the State, was born in Kemper county, Miss., in 1856, being a son of sterling residents of that county, where the father was a repre- sentative planter. After completing the curriculum of the common schools he con- tinued his studies under the direction of M. C. Day, one of the leading educators of the State at that time, and finally he entered Cooper's institute, near Daleville, Lauderdale county, where he was grad- uated in June, 1878, having shown much ambition as a student and having manifested those rare powers of assimilation and practical application of knowledge which have so signally typified his professional career. In 1880, after one of the most spirited campaigns known in the annals of Kemper county, he was elected to represent the same in the State legislature, and in the meanwhile he devoted his attention to teaching and to read- ing law under effective preceptorship, being admitted to the bar in 1884. He began practice in Kemper county, and his professional novitiate was of exceptionally brief duration since he soon gained special recognition for his able handling of criminal cases and gave evidence of a well-grounded knowledge of the various other de- partments of legal work. He was chosen superintendent of public education of Kemper county, retaining this office four years and bringing to bear his splendid energies and abilities in promoting the interests of popular education in his jurisdiction, while he still continued the arduous work of his rapidly increasing law practice. Of his career at this period it has been written: "His resourceful- ness, his diligence and his splendid oratorical powers bringing him a constantly increasing clientage, he was soon compelled to devote his entire time to his profession, and for the next decade or more no criminal case of importance was tried in Kemper county that he was not engaged in. He was one of the attorneys for the defense in the celebrated Lipscomb case, which attracted attention through- out the country, and his conduct of this complicated cause, through several years, won for him a still wider reputation, opposed, as he was, by the best legal talent that rich and powerful insurance companies could command for the prosecution." In 1899 Mr. Cur- rie was elected prosecuting attorney of the Tenth judicial district, comprising the counties of Clark, Jasper, Noxubee, Neshoba, Kemper and Lauderdale, the campaign having been one which en- listed the attention of every voter in the district, and he entered upon the duties of his responsible office in January, 1900, admirably . equipped for the position, which brings into play his strongest and
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most individual mental and professional talents. In 1903 a mark of popular approval was given in his being re-elected to the office for a second term of four years. After his second election Mr. Currie. removed from Kemper county to the city of Meridian, where he now maintains his home.
Crumpton, Joseph W., M. D., who is established in the practice of his profession at Starkville, is recognized as one of the repre- sentative physicians and surgeons of Oktibbeha county. and is an ex-member of the State legislature. He was born in Webster, Winston county, Miss., April 22, 1859, and is a son of John R. and Margaret (Baker) Crumpton, both native of the State of South Carolina, the former having been born in Fairfield and the latter in Newberry. They are still residing in Winston county, Miss., where the father is a successful agriculturist and influential citizen. John R. Crumpton and six of his brothers enlisted as loyal soldiers of the Confederacy in the war between the States, five of the number being killed in battle and one having died of disease while still in the service. The father of the doctor remained in the ranks of his. regiment until the close of the war. Joseph W. Crumpton passed his boyhood days on the homestead plantation and received his early educational training in the common schools of Winston county and in the Betheden Collegiate institute. In 1881 he was matricu- lated in the medical department of the University of Tennessee, in which he was graduated in March, 1883, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He came forth admirably fortified for the practical work of his profession. He engaged in general practice and met with success. In September, 1905, he removed to Starkville, where he has built up and retains a large and representative professional business and where he is held in the highest esteem both as a phy- sician and as a citizen. He is identified with various medical associa- tions and is affiliated with the Woodmen of the World. He and his wife hold membership in the Presbyterian church. In politics the doctor is a stanch advocate of the principles and policies of the Dem- ocratic party, and in 1895 he was elected to represent the western dis- trict of Oktibbeha county in the State legislature, making a most ex- cellent record and being re-elected in 1899 and again in 1903. Within the time of his service in the legislature he held membership on the following house committees : Public health and quarantine, humane and benevolent institutions, universities and colleges, fees and salaries, and ways and means. In December, 1885, Dr. Crump- ton was united in marriage to Miss Mary R. Crow, daughter of Thomas and Harriet (Holmes) Crow, of Oktibbeha county, and her death occurred in November of the following year; she left one child-Mary Ruth. In December, 1889, the doctor married Miss Elizabeth Fondren, daughter of Robert K. and Elizabeth (High) Fondren, of Choctaw county, and the children of this marriage are seven in number, namely: Myrtis, Joseph Rufus, Morris, Anita, Dan Fondren, Annie Beulah and Elizabeth.
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Dabbs, J. R., is one of the leading business men of the city of Tupelo, being president of the Tupelo Mercantile Company. Mr. Dabbs was born in Talladega, Ala., and is a son of Dr. A. H. Dabbs, who removed with his family to Mississippi and located in Guntown, Lee county, in 1856, there continuing in the practice of his profession until his death, in 1890, save for the period of four years which he passed in the Confederate service during the Civil war. He was surgeon of a Mississippi regiment, in the com- mand of General Armstrong. J. R. Dabbs was reared and educated in Lee county and has here continued to make his home since his childhood days. In 1888 he engaged in the general merchandise business in Guntown, being associated with his brother L. H., and they built up a large and prosperous enterprise, which they con- tinued until the year 1905. In 1900 Mr. Dabbs removed to Tupelo, where he became one of the organizers of the Tupelo Cotton Mills, of which he has been secretary and treasurer from the start. The company has a well equipped plant and manufactures brown sheet- ing, shirting, drills, osnaburgs, etc. In 1904 he organized the Tupelo Mercantile Company, which is incorporated with a capital stock of $50,000.00 and of which he has been president from the time of organization. The company has erected, at the corner of Main street and Broadway, a fine brick building 90x195 feet in dimensions and three stories in height. The entire building is util- ized by the company and a large and complete stock of general merchandise is carried, the establishment being the most extensive wholesale and retail concerns of the sort in the northern part of the State. Mr. Dabbs' brother, L. H., is secretary and treasurer of the company. He is a Democrat in politics and a member of the Christian church. Mr. Dabbs married Miss Sudie Burrow of Saltillo, Miss., and they have three children: Roy, Hoyle and Claude.
Dampeer, James Monroe, M. D., a leading physician and surgeon of Copiah county, is established in the successful practice of his profession in Crystal Springs. The doctor is a native of Mississippi, having been born in Simpson county and being a son of James Monroe and Susan (Allen) Dampeer, the former of whom was of French lineage. Dr. Dampeer passed his youth in his native county, where he availed himself of the advantages of the common schools and prepared himself for higher educational work. He then entered Mississippi college, at Clinton, and in this institution was graduated as a member of the class of 1890, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Science. He then entered the medical department of Tulane university, in New Orleans, where he completed the prescribed course and gained his degree of Doctor of Medicine, being gradu- ated in 1892. In 1897 he took an effective course in the New York Post-Graduate School, and in 1903 further fortified himself for the work of his profession by a course in the Chicago Poly- clinic. Shortly after receiving his degree he located in Crystal Springs, where he has made his impress as a skilled physician and surgeon and where he has gained a large and successful practice,
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having initiated his work here in the spring of 1892. Dr. Dampeer holds membership in the American medical association and the Mississippi State medical association. He is at present incumbent of the office of health officer of Copiah county and is local surgeon for the Illinois Central railroad. In a fraternal way he is identified with the Masonic fraternity, the Knights of Pythias and the Wood- men of the World, and his political faith is that of the Democratic party. In 1892 was solemnized the marriage of Dr. Dampeer to Miss Lou Williams, daughter of John H. and Sarah (Brinson) Williams, of Lawrence county, Miss., and they have two children- Mai and Miles.
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