My Genealogy Hound

JOHN M. CRUTCHFIELD is one of the enterprising and able members of the legal profession of Warrensburg, Johnson County, where he has been engaged in practice for the past twenty years. In 1877 he was elected to serve as City Attorney, and in 1885 was re-elected to that position. He made a good record both for himself and for his constituents while acting in a public capacity, and discharged his duties with zeal and uprightness of purpose. In his political faith he is a Democrat, and, as should be the case with every true citizen, he takes great interest in the affairs of the Government and in everything which tends to advance the weal of the community in which he dwells.

A son of John A. and Flora (Staley) Crutchfield, our subject was born October 30, 1853. His parents were natives of North Carolina, the father born in 1814, and the mother about 1821. On the paternal side John M. is of Scotch-Irish descent, while on the maternal side he is of Dutch and English origin. While living in North Carolina J. A. Crutchfield was employed in merchandising, but after coming to Missouri, which he did in 1848, he devoted himself to agricultural pursuits. During his career in this state he owned farms and lived in Lafayette, Clinton and Nodaway Counties. In the county last mentioned he entered a tract of land and obtained a post office, which he named Sweet Home, as it was to him in fact a sweet home. He had the honor of being the first Postmaster of the place, and the office is still in existence. He came of a family who owned slaves, but when he grew to manhood he became convinced that this was entirely wrong, and accordingly left his native state, empty-handed, and never received his share of the inheritance. He was married early in the ‘40s and had three children when he arrived in Missouri. In 1858 he moved to Johnson County and soon afterward was called to his final rest. Of his eight children, all but one are still living, the exception having been a little girl by the name of Oriana, who died in Nodaway County from the effects of a rattlesnake bite. The father was a Whig in politics, and as a matter of conscience was on the side of the Union. He was a member of the Baptist Church and took an active part in religious work. Being well educated, he taught school for some time while living in Nodaway County. The wife and mother is still living, and after her husband’s death she managed to keep her family together by renting the land and making a home for her children, while her sons managed the place. When the war broke out one of her sons, William J., enlisted in the service and fought in defense of the Old Flag.

The early years of John M. Crutchfield were spent in Clinton County, Mo., where his birth occurred. He received a common-school education, and in 1870 attended the Warrensburg High School for four months. The previous year he had attended a private academy in this city, and in the fall of 1871 he passed the required examination and received a certificate to teach. In June, 1873, he was graduated with honor from the State Normal, after having taken a two-years course, the money for his expenses having been earned by his labors as a teacher. In the fall of 1873 he began reading law with Wells H. Blodgett, now of St. Louis, but then a well known lawyer of this city. Later Mr. Crutchfield studied in the office of Senator Cockrell, and was admitted to the Bar in 1874. Returning to his native county, he taught school for about one year, and it was not until 1875 that he seriously began his legal practice in Warrensburg. He has been very successful and enjoys the respect and high regard of all with whom he has come in contact, either in a business or social way.

October 11, 1882, Mr. Crutchfield married Susie Dawson, of this county. She was born March 7, 1862, and is the daughter of E. W. and Martha (Bosley) Dawson. To our subject and wife there have been born three children, namely: Nina, born October 22, 1883; John, December 12, 1885; and Corinne, February 3, 1892. The parents are members of the Christian Church, and are liberal contributors to worthy benevolent and religious enterprises.