Joyce P. Hervey, Just Folk: The Crowell Family,

C H A P T E R  I V

MARTIN J. CROWELL

Eldest son of John M. and Nancy Crowell, Martin J. Crowell was born in Leake County Mississippi about 1840 and moved with his parents to Jackson Parish Louisiana, where he appeared on the 1850 and 1860 censuses.

When Martin was about twenty-one years old, the Civil War began. Whether Martin served the Confederacy in the War Between the States is not certain. A Jackson M. Crowell, age 22, joined Gray's 28th Regt. at Monroe, Louisiana in 1862-- the same Regiment that Martin's younger brother, John, joined in 1863. Since no other Crowell families with sons the correct age were found on the censuses of Jackson, Lincoln, or Ouachita parishes in 1860 or 1870, the possibility is that Martin J. and Jackson M. are the same person.

Martin married Rebecca __?__ and had at least five children born in Louisiana. They lived for a time in Sabine County, Texas, where they were enumerated on the 1880 census next door to Martin's brother Henry. By 1900, Martin was back in Ward 3 of Sabine Parish, Louisiana, at Negriet, with his two youngest daughters. Since his wife was not listed with him on the census, it is assumed that she had died.

Known children of Martin J. Crowell and wife Rebecca were:

1.  Gordie Jane Crowell, born ca 1872, in LA.

2.  Nathan Crowell, born ca 1874, in LA.

3.  Collier Crowell, born ca 1877, in LA.

4.  Lena "Leen" Crowell; born ca 1878-1880 (according to family records printed in the book Sabine Memoirs); name did not appear on the 1880 or 1900 census in her father's household, so it is assumed she was born after the 1880 census was taken; buried at the Harpers Chapel Cemetery in Sabine County, TX; married (1st) on 18 Aug. 1898 in Sabine Par., LA to Alvene Meshell (said to be Mexican; see Marriage 2-40, Sabine Par., LA); married (2nd) to Sam Houston "Huse" Vickers;

Issue by (1st) husband, one:

(1) Harvey Meshell

Issue by (2nd) husband, two:

(1) Dewitt Vickers

(2) Wilford Vickers

5.  Cora Crowell; born Mar. 1886, in LA; died ca 1920-1930.

6.  Ada Crowell; born Oct. 1891, in LA; looked after her sister Cora, who was sickly, until Cora died; afterwards, Ada married Bailey McFarland.

Records pertaining to Martin J. Crowell:

1850-1860 Jackson Par., LA; see JOHN M. CROWELL

1880 Sabine Co., TX, e.d.85, pg 23, 2 June: MARTIN J. CROWELL, w, m, 39, md, farmer, MS, parents born MS; REBECCA, w, f, 33, wife, keeping house, cannot r/w, TX, parents born MS; GORDIE JANE, w, f, 8, dau, LA; NATHAN, w, m, 6, son, LA; COLLIER, w, m, 3, son, LA; SYLVESTER, w, m, 20, brother, single, farm laborer, cannot r/w, MS.

1900 Sabine Par., LA, e.d.85, pg 8, Ward 3, Negriet (information from Soundex index): MARTIN CROWELL, w, m, Jan 1840, 60, MS; CORA, dau, Mar 1886, 14, LA; ADA, dau, Oct 1891, 8, LA.

Index to U.S. Tract Book, NW Land Dist. (Old Natchitoches Dist) in LA State Land Office at Baton Rouge, LA, Book 62, pg 228.

(This may not be MARTIN J. CROWELL. Record shows:

JACKSON M. CROWELL, Pvt. Co. I, 28th (Gray's) Regt. LA Infty. En. May 11th, 1862, Monroe, LA, age 22 years.

Sabine Memoirs, by Helen Gomer Schluter