Denver, History of Colorado, BIOS: CROWLEY, Clement Francis (published 1918)
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"History of Colorado", edited by Wilbur Fisk Stone, published by The S. J. 
Clarke Publishing Co. (1918)  Vol. II


p. 320, 322
photo p. 321

CLEMENT FRANCIS CROWLEY.

	Clement Francis Crowley, attorney at law, whose clientage is of 
an extensive and most important character, ranks with the leading 
representatives of the profession in Denver. He is yet a young man and 
his future career, judged in the light of past events, will be well 
worth the watching. He was born In Virginia City, Nevada, January 9, 
1889, and is a son of Caleb John and Margaret (Moran) Crowley, whose 
family numbered ten children, six sons and four daughters, of whom six 
are yet living, Clement F. Crowley being the third among those who 
still survive and sixth in point of age in the family of ten. The 
father was a native of Maine and belonged to one of the old families of 
the Pine Tree state of Irish lineage-a family established in Maine 
while this country was still numbered among the colonial possessions of 
Great Britain. Mr. Crowley was an accountant and became one of the 
early settlers of Nevada, locating there during its palmy days. He was 
but two years of age when his parents started with their family to San 
Francisco and while they were in Panama the train upon which they were 
making the trip was maliciously wrecked and both the parents were 
killed outright, being murdered and robbed by the natives. A friendly 
American, who was a ship captain, picked up the child, whose parentage 
was then unknown. He kept the little lad for nine years, rearing him as 
his own. During this time he traveled abroad upon a sailing vessel to 
all parts of the world. On one occasion he arrived in the port of San 
Francisco and after a seven years' search he found an uncle of Mr. 
Crowley and thus the child was returned to his own kindred. He was then 
reared and educated in San Francisco and in 1874 he removed to Nevada 
but later returned to California and during the last years of his life 
was a resident of Butte, Montana, where he passed away in August. 1914, 
when sixty-six years of age. He had followed mining during the greater 
part of his life and met with varied success, his labors sometimes 
bringing to him substantial returns, while again he was not successful 
in his search for the precious metal. In politics he was a stanch 
democrat, always much interested in politics and in civic affairs. His 
religious faith was that of the Roman Catholic church. His wife was 
born in New Haven. Connecticut, and is of Irish lineage, her parents 
having been natives of the Emerald isle and early settlers of Virginia 
City, Nevada, and also of Sutro, Nevada, where her father followed 
mining. Mrs. Crowley was the daughter of Barney and Margaret Moran. She 
is still living and yet makes her home in Butte, Montana, where she has 
lived since her husband's death, their home having been established 
there some years before.

	Clement F. Crowley of this review was largely educated in the 
public schools of Butte and was graduated from the high school in 1906. 
He afterward spent one year in pursuing a literary course in Albion 
College and later he entered upon the study of law in the University of 
Denver and won his LL. B. degree upon graduation with the class of 
1911. His early life was devoted to study save for the summer months, 
when he worked in the mines. He started working as a nipper and later 
was advanced to the position of shift boss but became imbued with the 
desire to enter upon a professional career and utilized his opportunity 
to study law as previously indicated. Following his graduation in 1911 
he took up the practice of law in Denver and in 1913 he entered the 
office of the attorney general, serving as an assistant until January 
6, 1917, or for a period of tour years. He has not only become well 
known as a leading lawyer of the state, forceful and resourceful in his 
practice and in his presentation of a cause before the court, but has 
also left the impress of his individuality upon the lawmaking interests 
of the commonwealth. In upon the duties of the position in January, 
1917. He became floor leader and speaker pro tern of the house during 
the last regular session and in the special session. He is the 
November, 1916, he was elected to represent his district in the state 
legislature and entered father of what is known as the minimum wage 
bill for women and children and also the bill to prevent discrimination 
against the Jews and has taken an active part in every platform measure 
presented by the democrats. He was also largely instrumental in 
securing the passage of the bond bill, providing for carrying on the 
war and other state necessities. He has closely studied political, 
economic and sociological conditions which have had to do with 
questions coming up before the state legislature and has oft-times 
taken a firm stand on the side of advancement, reform and progress. His 
position upon any vital question is never an equivocal one and he gives 
most earnest support to the cause which he advocates, owing to a firm 
belief in its value as a public measure. He has long been a very active 
worker in democratic ranks in Colorado and is a recognized leader in 
the party.

	On the 24th of November, 1910, Mr. Crowley was married in Denver, 
Colorado, to Miss Plavia Churchill, a native of Wyoming and a daughter 
of Edmund J. and Liska (Stillman) Churchill. Her parents are natives of 
Nebraska and Mrs. Crowley is a very prominent club woman of Denver. To 
Mr. and Mrs. Crowley have been born two children: Clement F., who was 
born in Denver, April 20, 1912; and Churchill Robert, born October 30, 
1913.

	Mr. Crowley is a member of Sigma Nu and also of Phi Alpha Delta, 
a legal fraternity. He belongs to the Catholic church, being a 
communicant of St. Francis De Sales parish. He is also connected with 
the Knights of Columbus and he has filled all of the offices in Harmony 
Lodge, No. 45, W. O. W. He is connected with the Bar Association of the 
City and County of Denver and also has membership in the Colorado State 
Bar Association. He took a very active part in athletics during his 
high school and college days and his chief diversion is football, while 
he also greatly enjoys hunting and fishing. He has acted as coach for 
football and base ball teams and for those participating in track 
meets. In high school he held the championship as a long distance 
runner of the state. He was captain of the Denver University team when 
it won the football championship in 1908, 1909 and 1910. Since 1912 he 
has been acting as referee on football, base ball and other sports In 
Colorado and neighboring states and he is the Rocky Mountain editor for 
A. G. Spalding's Guide and has been special writer for the past five 
years on football for various papers of Denver and Salt Lake City. In 
addition to his other activities he is serving as special prosecutor 
for the fish and game department of the state. The extent and variety 
of his interests show him to be a man of well rounded character and 
development. It is characteristic of him that he never stands still but 
attacks everything with a contagious enthusiasm that produces results. 
His undaunted energy does not stop at obstacles or difficulties but 
finds some way to overcome these, whether it is in the training of a 
college team in athletics or the passage of a bill in the state 
legislature. He is equally strong and resourceful-in presenting a cause 
before the court and he never tails to impress judge or jury with the 
strength of his position and seldom falls to win the verdict desired.