James Crownover was born on 16. Nov. 1826 at Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. He was the son of
James Crownover and
Elizabeth Knox.
James Crownover was shown in the census on 30. Sep. 1850 as a farmer.
James Crownover appeared on the census of 30. Sep. 1850 at with his brother Robert, Henderson County, Illinois.
He removed to at Bureau County, Illinois, in 1851. He married
Martha Jane Davis, daughter of
Isaac Davis and
Phoebe Gray, on 12. Jan. 1859. James Crownover a member of the Congregational Church. He died on 25. Jul. 1898 at age 71.
JAMES CROWNOVER.
James Crownover, deceased, was a pioneer resident of Princeton and of Bureau county, arriving here in 1851. He became a factor in commercial circles, engaging in the grocery business for a few years, after which he withdrew from that line of business activity and took up his abode upon a farm in Wyanet township.
A native of Pennsylvania, Mr. Crownover was born in Lycoming county, November 16, 1826. The family name was originally spelled Covenhoven and early representatives of the family came from Holland to America in 1630, settling in the Keystone state, where several of the name participated in the Indian wars in that section at an early day. The grandfather, Robert Covenhoven, was a noted guide in the Susquehanna valley during the Revolutionary war and a monument, erected to his memory. now stands in the commons at Northumberland, Pennsylvania. The name has been variously spelled Conover and Crownover. All of the early branches of the family were residents of Pennsylvania, but in later years the younger generations have scattered to various parts of the Union. James Crownover, father of our subject, always made his home in the Keystone state, where he engaged in farming. Both he and his wife died in Pennsylvania. Only two of their children are now living, namely : Mrs. Skinkle, who resides in Dorchester, Nebraska ; and Mrs. Peasley, living in Burlington, Iowa.
James Crownover acquired a good education in the common schools of Pennsylvania and afterward continued his studies in Knox College at Galesburg, Illinois. It was in his boyhood days that he left his native state and went to White Pigeon, Michigan, where he was employed in various ways for a few years. He then removed to Burlington, Iowa, and was engaged in farming near that city for a short period, after which he became a resident of Peru, Illinois, where he entered the employ of his brother-in-law, Mr. Skinkle, in the establishment and conduct of a drygoods business. They were merchants of that city for a few years, at the end of which time Mr. Crownover came to Princeton and opened a grocery store, having a good business on Main street, where he remained actively in trade for twelve years. Selling out on the expiration of that period, he purchased a farm in Wyanet township. In commercial circles he had made an enviable name and had secured a liberal patronage by his straightforward methods, his reasonable prices and his earnest desire to please his customers. When he began farming he purchased the old Allen place in Wyanet township and there carried on general agricultural pursuits for eighteen years, after which he removed to Princeton, where he lived retired for six years. He then returned to Wyanet township, where he purchased what is known as the old Daniels farm and to its further development and improvement he directed his energies until his death.
In the early years of his residence in Princeton James Crownover was married to Miss Martha J. Davis, a daughter of Isaac and Phoebe (Gray) Davis, who came to this county about 1855 and settled near Peru, where the father engaged in farming for several years. Selling his land there Mr. Davis afterward took up his abode in Princeton, where he was engaged in the furniture business for three years. He then went to Grinnell, Iowa, where some of his children lived, and both he and his wife spent their last days in that city. Some of their family are still living in Grinnell; Mrs. John Goodfellow and Harrison I. Davis, who was first lieutenant of Company K. Ninety-third Regiment of Illinois Volunteers during the Civil war. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Crownover were born seven children: William 0., who married Laura Ross, of Princeton, and now resides on a. part of the old homestead farm in Wyanet township ; John D., who is also engaged in farming in Wyanet township May, likewise living on the farm ; James, now residing in Kansas ; Charles, a resident farmer of Wyanet township ; Arthur, who was killed by a train on the home farm in Wyanet township, August 22, 1891; and Elizabeth, who has always made her home with her mother.
Mr. Crownover was never an office seeker but crave stalwart allegiance to the republican party, for he deemed its principles most conducive to good government. His family all belong to the Congregational church, and in his life he stood for all that is upright and just in man's relations with his fellowmen and was an advocate of the true, the good and the beautiful. When he started out in life and worked at farm labor in his boyhood days near Burlington he began saving some of his earnings and his economy and diligence constituted the basis of his success. As the architect of his own fortune he builded wisely and well and he won not only a competence but also an honored name through carefully directed labors and his straightforward dealings. He was very liberal and the poor and needy found in him a friend, while his greatest happiness came to him in providing the comforts of life for his family. He passed away July 25, 1898, when in the seventy-second year of his age. His residence in Bureau county covered almost a half century and throughout this period he had maintained an unassailable reputation, which made him one of its most respected and valued citizens. She occupied the old home place until 1901, when she removed to Princeton and purchased a residence at No. 319 South Church street, where she and her daughter Elizabeth are living, and in social circles they occupy an enviable position.
PAST AND PRESENT OF BUREAU COUNTY.