Bio: Thomas Crichton, Webster Par., Louisiana
Source:Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana
The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville, 1890
Submitted by: Gwen Moran-Hernandez
Date: April 2000



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===Thomas Crichton, merchant and president and manager of the Minden 
Railroad, Minden, La.  Mr. Crichton is a fair example of what may be 
accomplished by honesty, industrious habits and good business 
management.  He started out a poor boy and empty handed after the war, 
but hi is now one of the wealthy and highly esteemed citizens of the 
parish.  He was born in the town of Columbus, Ga., May 27, 1846, and 
his father, Peter Crichton, was a native of Scotland.  The latter 
emigrated to the States when a young man, located in Georgia, and 
was there married to Miss Marion Grieve, also a native of Scotland.  
Mr. Crichton was a farmer and merchant in Georgia up to 1851, when he 
moved to Louisiana and located in Webster Parish.  He was a soldier in 
the Civil War, and was killed at the battle of Franklin, La.  His widow 
survives him at this writing.  Thomas Crichton grew to manhood in 
Webster Par., Louisianaand he, too, entered the army in August, 1863, Eighth 
Louisiana Cavalry, and served until the close of the war. He participated 
with his regiment in a number of small engagements and skirmishes.  
After cessation of hostilities he returned to Minden, attended school 
for a short time, and then entered a store as salesman, continuing in 
that capacity for several years.  In 1868 Mr. Crichton found it 
necessary to quit the State on account of his health and went to 
California, where he remained three years.  In 1871 he returned to 
Minden and again engaged in clerking.  Later he entered a warehouse, 
receiving and forwarding business and this continued up to the building 
of the Shreveport & Vicksburg Railroad.  Mr. Crichton then embarked in 
general merchandising under the firm name of Lary  & Crichton, the 
present firm.  In 1885, on the organization of the new railroad company, 
Mr. Crichton took stock in this enterprise, and was one of the first 
directors.  He has bought more stock in this enterprise from time to 
time, and now is the heaviest holder.  He was married in Mansfield 
August 23, 1883, to Miss Katie Jackson, a native of Louisiana, but 
who was reared and educated at Mansfield.  The fruits of this union 
were three children: R. Powell, Thomas, Jr., and Katie.  In 1886 Mr. 
Crichton was elected president of this road, and this position he 
still holds.  He has his road in good shape and on a good paying basis,
the stock being away above par.  Mr. Crichton also owns other valuable 
property, and he and his partner own several plantations on Red River 
bottoms.  He is a very enterprising and public-spirited citizen, and a 
gentleman whose social qualities are of the best.