"A HISTORY OF THE DAVIESS-McLEAN BAPTIST ASSOCIATION IN KENTUCKY, 
1844-1943" by Wendell H. Rone.  Probably published in 1944 by 
Messenger Job Printing Co., Inc., Owensboro, Kentucky, p. 453.
Used by permission.  [Daviess]

DEACON JAMES B. CRUSE:  James B. Cruse was born on January 29, 1828, 
in Daviess County, Kentucky, and was the son of Thomas and Rachel 
Barnhill Cruse.  His father was a native of Virginia and came to 
Kentucky at an early date settling in Oldham County.  He came to 
Daviess County in 1826, and was murdered in August 1828, by Joseph 
Potts, during an election campaign.  His mother married Jasper 
Bristow, an old pioneer Baptist preacher of the Hardshell connection.  
Elder Bristow died about the year 1846.
	Our subject was reared on a farm and in the year 1847 he 
enlisted in the Mexican War, in Captain McCreary's Company, the 
Fourth Kentucky Regiment.  He came out of the army in Mexico City in 
1849 and returned home in June and went to farming.  He sold his farm 
in 1854, came to Owensboro, and engaged in the mercantile business 
until the year 1877.  After 1878 he engaged in the tobacco buying 
business for some time.  He was a Trustee of the City of Owensboro 
for some time before the city was incorporated, and was a member of 
the city council in 1875-1876, and again in 1880-1881.
	Brother Cruse married Miss Elizabeth Ann Harrison in 1852.  She 
died in 1854 leaving two children-Samuel D. and Elizabeth A.  In 
November, 1855, he married miss Mildred D. King.  Two children 
blessed this union-Thomas, who became a graduate of West Point 
Military Acadamy, and Zachariah, who died at the age of nine.
	From all records we have seen Bro. Cruse did not become a 
Christian until the year 1877.  He then united with the First Baptist 
Church and in a few years was ordained as Deacon of the Church.  He 
served in this capacity until the Church divided over the liquor 
question in 1896 when he went into the constitution of the Third 
Baptist Church.  He served on the Board of Deacons of this Church 
from its organization until his death in 1907.  He also served for 
some time on the District Mission Board.  From all accounts he was a 
useful man to his Church and Community.

Cruse Barnhill Potts Bristow McCreary Harrison King
=
VA Oldham

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/daviess/cruse.jb.txt