My Genealogy Hound

John M. Crook, a prominent pioneer of Clark County, was born May 13, 1823, in Grant County, Ky. He is the only living child of William and Nancy (McCann) Crook, the former of English origin, born in 1796, in Bourbon County, Ky., and the latter a native of Virginia, of Irish descent. After a youth spent in Mason County, Ky., the parents married and came to Pendleton County, and thence to Grant County, from which place they immigrated to Quincy, Ill., when our subject was twelve years old. They lived chiefly at Burton until 1838, when they came to Winchester, and here died, the mother in 1850 and the father in 1879. The father was a skillful cabinet-maker, but during his western residence was devoted chiefly to farming. Our subject lived with his parents until the age of twenty-four, and in the meantime had learned the plasterer’s trade. He continued this business until 1854, when he married, and after two years in Winchester began farming. It was three years later that he moved to another farm, and about the same length of time afterward he went to Kansas. He spent but a short time there, and then came to his present home. In 1868 he spent a few months working on the Union Pacific Railway, in Colorado. His wife, Armilda, a daughter of Lawrence and Mary (Norton) Buskirk, was born September 25, 1831, in Grant County, Ky., and was married May 7, 1854. Their children are Mary E., Nancy A., Sarah J., Mattie and Willie. Our subject is a reliable and respected citizen, and has held the political principles of the Whig and Republican parties in succession. He served as constable for eight years. He and his wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church.