J. W. Crowdus

John William Crowdus
19th Mayor of Dallas
In office 1881–1883
Preceded by	J. J. Good
Succeeded by	William L. Cabell
Personal details
Born	(1828-07-06)July 6, 1828 Franklin, Kentucky, U.S.
Died	September 11, 1895(1895-09-11) (aged 67) Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Spouse(s)	Fannie Bell Hammond Margaret Adeline Lindsey
Children	6
Alma mater	St. Louis Medical College
Occupation	Physician
Military service
Allegiance	Confederate States of America
Branch/service	Confederate States Army
Rank	Surgeon
Unit	3rd Missouri Infantry

John William Crowdus (July 6, 1828 – September 11, 1895) was an American physician and politician who served as the 19th mayor of Dallas from 1881 to 1883.

Early life and education

Crowdus was born July 6, 1828, in Franklin, Kentucky, United States, to Mark Crowdus and Frances Bush Eubank. Crowdus attended St. Louis Medical College at Saint Louis University.[1][2]

Career

Crowdus practiced medicine in Robertson County, Tennessee, and Neosho, Newton County, Missouri, before coming to Texas.[3][4] He joined the 3rd Missouri Infantry Regiment as a surgeon. He appears on a list of Confederate soldiers in hospital at Elm Springs, Arkansas paroled by G. W. Kelly, Major 4th Cavalry Regt., Missouri on November 2, 1862.[5]

After the Civil War, Crowdus and family moved to Dallas, Texas where established a medical practice and became involved in civic affairs. He was elected to the Dallas City Council in 1875 and served until 1878. In 1881, he was elected mayor of Dallas and served until 1883. Crowdus was also a prominent druggist and established a wholesale firm, J.W. Crowdus Drug Company in 1884.[6][7]

Personal life

He married Fannie Hammond in 1849.[8] They had six children. Their daughter, Elizabeth, married Thomas Marsalis, a land developer and founder of Oak Cliff. After the death of his first wife in 1885, Crowdus married Margaret Adeline Lindsey Bickham.[6]

He died September 11, 1895, in Dallas from blood poisoning as a result of a leg injury.[6] He was interred at Pioneer Cemetery.

References

1. Western druggist: A journal of Pharmacy, Chemistry and Allied Sciences. Volume 15, 1893. Chicago: G. P. Englehard & Co.p. 344 (accessed on Google Books December 4, 2010
2. Slate, John H. (October 17, 2024). "Crowdus, John William (1828–1895)". Texas State Historical Association.
3. 1850 Robertson County Tennessee census, NARA Publication M432, Roll 894, Page 146B.
4. 1860 Neosho, Newton, Missouri census, NARA Publication M653, Roll 636, Page 61.
5. Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Missouri, NARA Publication M322, Surname Starts with C.
6. "Death of Dr. J. W. Crowdus." The Dallas Morning News, September 12, 1895, p. 8
7. Marie Louise Giles. The Early History of Medicine in Dallas, 1841-1900. Thesis (M.A.), University of Texas, 1951.
8. Simpson County Kentucky records were destroyed in a fire in 1882.