Judge John Crow, for so he is familiarly known in his home locality, needs no introduction to the readers of this volume, having for more than a quarter of a century been one of the public-spirited and leading citizens of Minden. The circle of his friends embraces nearly all of the townspeople and includes many others in different parts of the county.

Here he has lived since 1877 and his residence in Iowa dates from 1856. At the time of his arrival in this state he was a lad of only about seven years, his birth having occurred in Mercer County, Ohio, November 16, 1849. The father settled in Cerro Gordo County, where he reared his family, and when John W. Crow had reached adult age he looked back upon a boyhood largely devoted to farm labor interspersed with some little attendance at the country schools. He is largely self-educated, however, and has added greatly to his knowledge through reading, observation and experience. Through the practical affairs of life he has learned many valuable lessons. After arriving at years of maturity he worked on a farm by the month and later when his labors had brought him sufficient capital he purchased a tract of land in Hancock County, Iowa, and was there engaged in general agricultural pursuits.

Coming to Pottawattamie County in 1877, Mr. Crow settled in the village of Minden and here became identified with commercial interests, opening a store and carrying on a dry-goods business for eighteen years. Later he engaged in the real estate, insurance and collection business, in which he still continues, and in this direction he has a liberal clientage. At different times he has been called to serve in various offices of public honor and trust and has left the impress of his individuality upon the city's growth and its municipal development. He has served as mayor of the town at different times, also been a member of the town board and a member of the city council. In these different positions he has closely studied municipal needs and possibilities and has labored along effective lines for the welfare and progress of the community. For the past fifteen years he has been secretary of the independent school board and was elected and served as justice of the peace for ten or twelve years. His decisions were strictly fair and impartial, so he thereby "won golden opinions from all sorts of people." In the discharge of his official duties he has ever been found thoroughly trustworthy and he is regarded as one of the foremost representatives of the democracy in Minden and this part of the county. He cast his first presidential ballot for Horace Greeley in 1872 and has since voted for each nominee at the head of the democratic ticket since that time, never missing a single election. He has served as a delegate to numerous county and state conventions. He is well acquainted with many of the democratic leaders of the state and his opinions are not without considerable weight in the party councils.

Mr. Crow was married in Minden, February 27, 1889, to Mrs. Sophia Lederer, a native of Germany, who was there reared. There is only one son of this marriage, John L. By her former marrriage Mrs. Crow had a daughter, Lilly, who grew to mature years, became the wife of Harry Peters and died in 1904.

Mr. Crow is a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge at Council Bluffs and also of the Woodmen of the World. He possesses good business ability, is attentive and diligent, neglecting no opportunity, nor duty. He is well known as one whose integrity stands as an unquestioned fact in his business career and whose personal worth has won him the confidence and friendship of many with whom he has been brought in contact.