Ray County, Missouri Biographies - George W. Crowley 1874-1958.

Source: A History of Northwest Missouri 1915; p.918-921


Hon. George W. Crowley. The ordinary, every-day man, engrossed in the business avocation which 
brings him his daily bread, is representative of the nation's citizenship. This is the normal 
type, and his life begins and ends, perhaps, with nothing more distinctive than is the ripple 
on the stream caused by the throwing of the pebble into it. It is the unusual type that commands
attention and it is his influence exerted upon the community and the record of'his life that 
are interesting and valuable as a matter of biography. In the learned professions, especially
that of the law, the opportunities for usefulness and personal advancement depend almost entirely
upon this unusually gifted individual, and here natural endowment is as essential as is thorough
preparation. The bar of Ray County, a representative body of the state, has its full quota of
brilliant men, and one of its foremost members is the Hon. George W. Crowley, who has long served
with dignity and impartiality on the probate bench.

Judge Crowley was born near Lawson, Missouri, December 20, 1874, and is a son of John and Ann
(Fuller) Crowley. The great-greatgrandfather of Judge Crowley, Benjamin Crowley, was born in 
England, early emigrated to the United States, and lost his life in a battle with the Indians 
on the Ohio River in Kentucky. His son, James Crowley, served as a soldier during the Revolutionary
war. and was present at the surrender of General Cornwallis at Yorktown. John Crowley. the 
grandfather of Judge Crowley, was born in Alabama, February 2, 1792, and in 1818 came with his
father to Clay County, Missouri, where he passed the remainder of his life, dying September 10, 1851.
John Crowley, the judge's father, was born August 10, 1828, on the Clay County farm, and remained 
on the old homestead until Ms twenty-sixth year, at which time he went to California. He started on
his long journey from St. Joseph, Missouri, May 4, 1853, in company with his brother Thomas and four
hired men to drive their cattle, and after an overland journey of four and one-half months they 
arrived at their destination, September 16th. After spending two years in the Golden State, Mr. 
Crowley started for his home, taking passage on a steamboat at San Francisco, February 14, 1855, 
for the isthmus, subsequently crossing among the first passengers on the railroad across Panama, 
and then sailing from Aspinwall to Cuba and thence to New Orleans, from which city he traveled the
remainder of the journey by river and arrived at his home March 31, 1855. In the following year 
Mr. Crowley moved to Ray County, and here spent the remainder of his life, passing away on his 
farm August 19, 1907. He was a large landholder and dealt largely in stock, also devoting much of
his time to the breeding of thoroughbred cattle and horses, sheep and hogs. A man of shrewdness, 
acumen, judgment and foresight, he won success in his various ventures through the application of
industry and energetic effort, and at the same time gained the esteem and confidence of his 
fellow-citizens because of his honorable dealing and strict integrity. On February 2, 1858, Mr. 
Crowley was married in Clinton County, Missouri, to Miss Ann Fuller, who was born in Clinton County,
April 6, 1833, and died November 27, 1880. They became the parents of nine children, as. follows :
Charles, born January 15, 1859, now a resident of Yuma, Colorado; Sarah M., born October 11, 1860,
a maiden, living at Lawson, Missouri; Elizabeth J., born September 17, 1862, the widow of 
Robert L. Jacobs, of Kansas City, Missouri; Albert S., born September 15, 1864, a resident of 
Bedford, Indiana; John C., born February 27, 1867, residing at Lawson, Missouri; Frank T., born
October 9, 1869, also a resident of Lawson; Anna M., born January 27, 1872, who died in 1909; 
George W., and his twin brother, Claude C., born December 20, 1874, the latter now a resident of
Richmond. The parents of Judge Crowley were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and
the children were all reared in that faith. The father was for a long period up to the time of 
his death connected with the Masonic fraternity, and was popular with his fellow members in 
Bee Hive Lodge, No. 393, A. F. and A. M.

George W. Crowley was reared to manhood on the home farm, which he assisted his father and 
brothers in cultivating during the time not spent in school. His elementary education was secured
in the common schools and the high school at Lawson, following which he became a student in the 
Presbyterian College at Lawson, and was graduated therefrom in 1895 with the degree of Bachelor 
of Arts. Succeeding this he took the academic and law courses in the Missouri State University, 
from which institution he received the degree of Bachelor of Laws in June, 1897, and in October 
of the same year was admitted to the bar. In 1901 he came to Richmond and established himself in
active practice, and his superior abilities were soon recognized by his election to the office 
of prosecuting attorney of Ray County, a capacity in which he served efficiently for two terms. 
In September, 1908, he was appointed probate judge of Ray County, to complete the four months' 
unexpired part, and in November of the same year was elected for the succeeding two years of the
unexpired term of Judge Frank P. Divelbiss. On November 3, 1910, he received'the election to this
office, in which he has continued to serve to the present. Judge Crowley is one of the most 
popular jurists of the Ray County bench, and his broad learning, his deep knowledge of the law 
and his courage and fairness enable him to discharge the duties of his high office in a manner 
calculated to uphold the dignity and traditions of the judicial position. His time is almost 
fully occupied by his court duties, but when he is able to secure a few leisure hours they are 
spent on the old homestead farm of 216 acres, near Lawson, on which Judge Crowley was born and 
reared, and of which he is now the owner. He is a member of the Sigma Chi Greek letter fraternity
of the University of Missouri, and belongs also to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the 
Knights of Pythias and the Masonic order.

On October 25, 1899, Judge Crowley was married to Miss Helen Schweich, who was born in Ray County,
Missouri, September 9, 1879, daughter of G. W. and Sarah Schweich. Five children have been born 
to this union, as follows: Claude C., born September 24, 1900; Helen Louise, born March 22, 1903;
George W., Jr., born September 10, 1908; John, born November 27, 1910; and Paul V., born 
April 14, 1913.






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