Clay County Georgia Biographies - Rev. William Oscar Crumbley ********************************************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net ********************************************************************************************** This file contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Charlene Parker" Sep 2002 From "History of Bethel Association Including Centennial Meeting", by Alexander Lee Miller WILLIAM OSCAR CRUMBLEY The subject of this sketch was born in 185-- within the bounds of the Bethel Association. His parents were A. A. and Mary A. Crumbley. He was reared three miles West of Cuthbert and remained there until he reached the age of twenty one. Due to the lack of schools at that time in that section he received only a limited common school education. When he was a young man he went West and for a while lived in Louisiana, finally returning home. Later he married Miss Clifford West of Ft. Gaines. From this marriage there were three sons born, all of whom preceded him to the grave. His wife died and he then married Miss Lizzie Barrow of Americus, Georgia. To them one daughter was born and soon thereafter Mrs. Crumbley died. Later he married Miss Fannie Harrell of Quitman County, who survived him. At the time of his marriage to Miss Harrell he was living on a farm near Mt. Vernon Church in Clay County. It was here he began to preach. In 1891 he was called to serve a church in Alabama and by request of this church the Mt. Vernon Church ordained him in 1891. The presbytery consisted of Rev. J. H. Corley, Rev. J. G. Corley and perhaps Rev. J. S. Knowles. After his ordination he entered actively into pastoral work. He moved from Clay County and located at Damascus where he bought a home. He served as Pastor, Hilton Church, Notchaway, Bethany, Hillside, Sylvester, Damascus, Early County, Pine View, Mt. Hebron, Benevolence, Elim, and several other churches. He was punctual in his attendance upon his churches and successful in his pastorates. He baptized many into the membership of his churches and preached at some of them for long periods at a time. He was courteous and well liked. In the latter years of his life, he operated successfully a mercantile business in Damascus and prospered to such an extent that after the war when merchandise became cheap he was still able to make and to loan money. Everybody, both white and black, old and young, called him "Brother Crumbley", and manifested the highest regard for him at all times. Even after he became too feeble to carry on his regular pastoral work, he preached almost every Sunday to some church near by which was without a pastor. He performed many marriages and officiated at many funerals and was useful to his denomination until a few weeks before his death. At the time of his death he was the outstanding citizen of his town and his community. He was firm in his Baptist beliefs and would not make a positive statement on any matter unless he personally knew it to be true. It was said of him that he never at any time made any remark that would reflect on any person whether he knew the matter to be true or not. He was also known as a "Peacemaker" among the brethren of his church or any others who might have had differences, and often by his advice and leadership he prevented law suits and difficulties. He delighted in taking charge of weak churches and building them up to where they were able to take care and support their own pastors. He was of great benefit to the churches in the southern part of the Bethel Association, for it was in that part of the Association he spent most of his ministerial life. Like his brother, Larkin Crumbley, he was well beloved by all who knew him. following notes added by Debra Crosby 1920 Federal Census Early Co. Ga Kestler Town page 88 ed 66 sheet 1 district 854 7/7 Crumly, William O. 65 Ga Ga Ga Grocery, Owner Fannie 54 Ga Ga Ga Ruth 17 Ga Ga Ga Ruby 17 Ga Ga Ga 1870 Federal Census Randolph Co. Ga Cuthbert page 233b 32 Crumbly Alexander 48 M W Farmer 5000 1000 Ga Mary 45 F W Keeps House Ga Rosetta 17 F W at school Ga Fannie 15 F W at school Ga Oscar 13 M W at school Ga Ella 11 F W at school Ga Locholin 10 M W at school Ga Abiah 8 M W Ga 1850 Federal Census Randolph Co. 9th District page 418 9/9 Alex Crumly 29 farmer 400 Ga Mary E. 21 Ga Georgia Marriages Stewart County Beard, Mary R. - Crumley, Alexander A 19 May 1850 Old Damascus Cemetery, Early County GA Crumbley, Mary Frances 7 Dec 1860 27 Mar 1937 Wife of W. O. Crumbley Crumbley, W.O. Rev. 25 Jan 1855 15 June 1923 Hus of Mary Frances Crumbley. Lewis & Crumbley Lot. 1 inf grave in lot