Letter from Elizabeth Davis Crumley to Thomas Crumley Sr. and Elizabeth Gardner Crumley

Contributed by: Cheryl Wall, yodatwin@GTE.net

I am researching my Crumleys who settled in Wells County Indiana, Bluffton Township about 
1837.  The following letter is copied exactly as written, incorrect spellings and 
puntuations.  A brief follow up is listed after the letter.  I am Cheryl Crumley-Wall 
and have much more information about my Crumley family from Wells County Indiana. 

 
November the 2 one 1853

Dear Father and Mother it is with sorrow that I have to inform you of the loss that we have 
met with this fall: Thomas has left us to be with us no more till we shall meet beyond the 
grave he was takin with bilious feaver and lasted thirteen days when his spirit left this 
world of sorrow and trouble and left us to morn the loss

He died on the twentieth day of October and was followed to the grave by a large number of 
friends regreted by all but we do not morn as those that have no hope but trust to meet him 
on the shore of happy eternity where parting is no more He has left a larg amount of 
business to settle which will take some time Ira is about to administer on the estate and 
arrange business as soon as he can we can not say what we shall do yet the boys talk of 
keeping mill it is valuable property by which they can make money very fast

I have been sick for some time but am more able to go about we haven't had no letter from 
you for a long time but would like to have a letter from you at this trying time

We would be very glad if some of you would come to see us it would be a comfort to the 
widow and fatherless we will write to you as soon as we get our business arranged

Nothing more but remain your effectionent daughter Elisabeth Crumley

To Thomas and Elisabeth Crumley




This is the letter transcribed from copy of orginal letter; sent by James Crumley of Toledo, 
Ohio, to Cheryl Crumley Wall in October of 1997.... The letter is from Elizabeth Davis 
Crumley to Thomas Crumley Sr. and Elizabeth Gardner Crumley (living in Harrison County 
Ohio), the parents of Thomas Crumley Jr.. Thomas Crumley Jr. died in Buffington Township, 
Wells County Indiana, October 20, 1853. His son Ira, mentioned in the letter, did keep the 
mill, which on the 1870 census, he indicates he 'runs a sawmill' as occupation. The 1860 
census, show's Elizabeth Davis Crumley living with her son Ira. Ira married Margaret Myers, 
a neighbor girl, March 10, 1861. Ira Crumley served in the Union Army during the Civil War. 
He was with Company E, 153rd Infantry. Entered as a Pvt, mustered out a Corporal. Sometime 
before 1870 Elizabeth Davis Crumley probably died. Although I have not found record of her 
death, Ira Crumley was still raising his younger sister according to the 1870 census. Ira 
remained in Indiana until Margarets Myers Crumleys untimely death from childbirth in 1872. 
Ira and two of his youngest children, and his maiden sister, Ruth Jane (listed as blind on 
the 1880 census) settled in Wilson County, Kansas.