Wyandotte County Biographies
"Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas--Historical and Biographical"
Goodspeed Publishing Co., Chicago, 1890
M. L. Critchfield, of the firm of Critchfield & Daily, merchants of
Armourdale, Kas., is a gentleman who enjoys an enviable reputation
for integrity and high business ability, while he is esteemed and respected by all. He was born in Jefferson County, Kas., in November,
1859, and is the son of Terry Critchfield, who came to Kansas in
1855. The elder Critchfield located at Leavenworth and there handled claims for some time. He subsequently engaged in the real estate business, was county clerk of Jefferson County for several years,
and was Representative for three terms. He is now engaged in the
banking business at Oskaloosa, Kas. He is, and has been, a very
prominent man. M. L. Critchfield passed his youthful days in Jefferson County, and received his education at the State University, at
Lawrence, Kas. He was reared to mercantile pursuits and was in business at Oskaloosa, Kas., for a number of years, carrying an immense
stock. He was postmaster at Oskaloosa under President Cleveland's
administration, and put in a fine Yale lock office while filling that position. In March, 1890, he came to Armourdale and established an
immense store, which receives an extensive patronage. Mr. Critchfield was married in 1885 to Miss Mollie Johnson, a graduate of Bethany College, and whose father is a banker in Oskaloosa. Mr. Critchfield is a Royal Arch Mason, K. of P. and A. O. U. W. He is at
present assistant cashier of Jefferson County, Kas., Bank.
Capt. Thomas Crooks, farmer and horticulturist, Quindaro, Kas.
Mr. Crooks was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, on September 8,
1831, and is the son of Henry and Catherine (Donally) Crooks. The
father followed farming all his life, and was an industrious, enterprising citizen. His family consisted of seven children � three sons and
four daughters � three of whom are now living, and the Captain, the
only one in Kansas. The latter passed his boyhood days in assisting
his father on the farm, and in addition to a common-school education,
attended the academy at New Hagarstown two terms. After this taught
school in winter and attended school in summer, thus receiving an unusually good education. During the winter of 1856-57, induced by
the favorable reports from Kansas, he determined to emigrate, and as
a result reached Wyandotte County in the last-named year, settling
within half a mile of where he now resides, three miles northwest of
Kansas City, Kas. Having been reared to agricultural pursuits, it was
but natural that he should at last make that his chosen calling, and he
first hired out as a farm hand. Later he rented land, but the following spring went to Colorado, where he prospected some for gold, and
was engaged in other enterprises until September. He then returned
with a sick companion to his home in Kansas, and there taught school
for two terms. Upon the breaking out of the war he was filled with
a patriotic desire to assist his country, and on July 21, 1861, he enlisted in Company E, Fourth Regiment Kansas Volunteers, his company being the first cavalry company raised in the State. G. W.
Veal, of Quindaro, was captain, William Wier was colonel, and Mr.
Crooks was first orderly sergeant, filling that position until January
2, 1863. He was then made second lieutenant of the company, and
on July 9, 1863, he was commissioned captain of the company by the
governor at the request of the company. He was mustered out on
May 8, 1865, but was in the service until July 14, 1865. He served
as captain until his company was mustered out. He was first under
Gen. Jim Lane, and then under Col. Freemont in Missouri, then
under Gen. Steele in Arkansas. His first introduction to the Southern
army was at Fort Scott on September 1, 1861, and the next day
another engagement took place on Drywood Creek, where the first one
in the command was killed and several wounded. This company being mounted was used as scouts, and Mr. Crooks was in many sharp
skirmishes and dangerous positions. In November, 1864, while on
the way to Fort Leavenworth to be mustered out, the command was
attacked about forty miles below Fort Scott and routed, most of the
train being captured. This was his last war experience. Coming
home, he remained but a short time, and then reported for duty at
Du Vall's Bluff, and was discharged finally in July. He began working on his farm of thirty-one acres, which he had purchased in 1862,
and in 1866 he added fifteen acres, and then in 1882 he added twenty
acres more. He has been living here and improving his place ever
since, and has been fairly successful in his operations. He has about
twenty acres in fruit, and has a good house and outbuildings. The
Captain has held several township offices, and his name has been prominently mentioned for the position of sheriff. He is a member of the
Congregational Church. In 1867 he was married to Miss Julia A.
Farnsworth, of Clay County, Mo., and daughter of Isaac and Louisa
Farnsworth. They are the parents of two living children, Lily May
and Adaline Inza. The Captain has been a Republican, but is op-
posed to high tariff.
Timothy Crowley is foreman of the hog-killing and cutting department of the Kansas City Packing & Refrigerating Company, and
although he has resided here since 1885, he was born, and his youth
and manhood up to that time were spent in Johnson County, Iowa. His
birth occurred on August 25, 1862, to Edward and Hannah (Bradley)
Crowley, the former of whom was a native of Maine, and is now residing in Iowa City, at the age of fifty-four years. He is one of the early pioneers of Johnson County, and was a true and trusty soldier during the
Rebellion. His wife was born in the "Emerald Isle" and died in May,
1890, at the age of fifty- two years. Timothy Crowley is the second of five
children, and his knowledge of books was acquired in the schools at
Iowa City, he being an attendant for some time at the Williams Commercial College of that place. He was connected with his father in the
stone contracting business, but gave this up in April, 1885, to come to
Kansas City, Kas., where he soon secured employment with Morris,
Butt & Co., now the Kansas City Packing & Refrigerating Company,
and for the past three years has acted in the capacity of foreman. He
is an excellent man for the place and his duties are always promptly
attended to, every detail being carefully looked after. He has always
been a warm Republican, and his first presidential vote was cast for
James G. Blaine, in 1884.
James H. Cummings, foreman of the hide and wool department of
the Armour Packing Company, Kansas City, Kas. To an active, wide-awake young man, who is the happy possessor of energy and ambition, there is always a broad held for labor, and a chance to "hew"
out a promising career in the mercantile world. Everywhere and
among every class of men, there is a feeling of sincere respect for
the man who takes up the scattered "threads of his destiny" and
weaves them into a beautiful whole. And prominent among this class
ranks James H. Cummings, the subject of the present sketch. Without any assistance but his own willing hands and indomitable energy,
he has raised himself from obscurity to his present lucrative position.
He began with his present employers in 1884, as a common laborer
and by means of close application and competency was promoted, in
two years, to fill a position where he has thirty men under his immediate control, and the entire responsibility of his department. Mr.
Cummings is a native of County Down, Ireland, his birth occurring
in that country in the month of December, 1863. His parents, John
and Mary Cummings, are also natives of County Down, Ireland.
After attaining the age of sixteen, and receiving a good common-school
education there, Mr. Cummings started for America to make for himself a position in business circles, and such has been his success in
this undertaking that to-day he is held in the highest esteem in this
community, and is rapidly accumulating a fortune. While not an active politician, by any means, he votes the Republican ticket at
elections. In 1883 Mr. Cummings married Miss Martha Rebecca
Tippett, of Menard County, Ill., and to this union has been borne
one child - Bud. Like most good business men, the subject of this
sketch is largely interested in advancing in every possible way the
religious and educational interests of the city.
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