Lewis Publishing Company, 1904

Transcribed from the original book by Kristin J. Vaughn © 2008

Robert Crinklaw Page 552 Robert Crinklaw is one of the oldest settlers of Steele City, Nebraska, where he took up his residence over thirty-five years ago. Although now in the main retired from active pursuits and in poor health, his past years have been exceedingly useful ones, and he has had a career of which he may well be proud. He has experienced pioneer conditions in Nebraska, and went through it all to prosperous circumstances. Likewise as a citizen and soldier he has performed his part, and is honored and esteemed by all his friends and associates. Mr. Crinklaw was born near London, Canada, April 16, 1837, in a family known for its uprightness and integrity. His ancestors were Scotch, and of warlike disposition, having taken part in many of the wars of that nation. James Crinklaw, his father, was born in Scotland, and grew up there and was married to Miss Janette Smith, who was also born and reared in Scotland, and was of an old family in the heart of Scotland. They left Scotland and came to London, Canada, where he was a prosperous farmer. He died at the age of eighty-three, and his wife at seventy. He had been married twice, and by his first wife had two sons and three daughters, and by his second wife had six sons. One son, David, lives in St. Joseph, Missouri. Robert Crinklaw was reared on a Canadian farm, and there developed a vigorous constitution by chopping wood and clearing land and making rails. At the age of eighteen he went to McHenry county, Illinois, near Marengo, and worked at farm labor until the Civil war. In 1862 he responded to Lincoln's call for sixty thousand men, and enlisted in Company A, Ninety-fifth Illinois Infantry, under Captain Avery and Colonel Church, and later Colonel Humphreys, who was killed in Mississippi. He participated in many battles in Mississippi and Alabama, was at the long siege of Vicksburg until the final surrender on July 4, 1863; was at Natchez; in the Red River expedition and the battle of Sabine Cross Roads; at the siege and capture of Mobile and Fort Blakely, and numerous other engagements. He served as corporal, and was a fine-looking soldier, standing six feet three in his stocking feet. After the war he returned to McHenry county, and later to Canada. In 1867 he came to Nebraska and took up a homestead. He lived in a log cabin for a time near Steele City, or rather where that town now stands. There were Indians in the vicinity, wild game abundant, and the entire country was primitive and untouched by man's civilizing hand. He still owns one hundred acres of his homestead. He came to Steele City and was in the implement business for a number of years. He was also postmaster during Grant's administration, being Steele City's first postmaster. During the Indian massacre northwest of Steele City he went to the assistance of the settlers and helped bury those killed and take care of the living and helpless. For a number of years he has been retired from business, partly because of his poor health, and is living in the enjoyment of the esteem and appreciation of his friends and neighbors. Mr. Crinklaw was married in Jefferson county, Nebraska, to Miss Ida Flowers, a native of Michigan and a daughter of Mr. C. Flowers, of New York. Mr. and Mrs. Crinklaw have two sons: Frank is proprietor of the Steele City meat market, and he married Anna Kelly; Robert is a single man, in Chehalis, Washington. Mr. Crinklaw is a man of strong opinions on matters of politics and public interest, but is genial and popular in all his relations with others, and has hosts of friends.