First Generation: Michael Crowe (1814-1890)

First Generation

1.  Michael Crowe was born about 1814 in Ireland.¹ He died on 1 Oct 1890 at the age of 76 in Middlesex, Ontario, Canada.²   

Little is known about Michael Crowe's early life. Family legend says that he came to Canada from County Clare in Ireland. There is reason to believe this legend; the Irish county where the surname Crowe is most common is County Clare, and the history of that county shows that many persons emigrated from there to Canada, Australia, and the U.S. during the 1820s, 1830s, and 1840s. 

Here are the records I could find on Michael Crowe and his family:

 
• 1861 Canadian Census for Simcoe, Ontario, Canada shows Michael Crowe, 47, a farmer born in Ireland, and family: Mary A., 47, also born in Ireland; Denis, 18, a laborer; William, 17, a laborer; Thomas, 10; Martin, 7; and Hannah Gray, 10. The children were all born in Canada. The family lives by themselves in a one-story log house. All are shown as Roman Catholic.

• 1861 Canadian Agricultural Census for Simcoe, Ontario, Canada shows Michael Crowe, who holds 200 acres, 10 under cultivation, 30 under crops, and 160 under wood or wild. Cash value of farm is $1500. Cash value of farming equipment is $30. Fall wheat, 4 acres and 60 bushels. Spring wheat, 16 acres and 240 bushels. Peas, 4 acres and 80 bushels. Oats, 1/2 acre and 20 bushels. Potatoes, 1 acre and 150 bushels. Turnips, 1 acre and 200 bushels.

• 1871 Canadian Census for Simcoe, Ontario, Canada shows Michael Crow, 57, a farmer born in Ireland, and family: Mary Ann, 57, also born in Ireland; and their children, born in Canada: William, 26, a farmer; Thomas, 19, a farmer; and Martin, 16, also a farmer. All are Catholic.

Michael Crowe and Mary Ann McHenry were married. Mary Ann McHenry was born about 1814 in Ireland.¹ She died on 1 May 1880 at the age of 66.

Michael Crowe and Mary Ann McHenry had the following children:

   2   i.   Denis Crowe was born on 9 Aug 1843 in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada. I could find no records for Denis Crowe in either Canada or the U.S. after 1861; it is possible that he died as a young adult.

 +3  ii.   William Crowe, born 9 Jan 1845, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada; married Elizabeth Lawler, 12 Feb 1877, Simcoe, Ontario, Canada; died 27 Nov 1912, Simcoe, Ontario, Canada.

 +4   iii. Thomas Crowe, born 22 Dec 1851, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada; married Mary Gibbs, 3 Jul 1876, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois; died 2 Jun 1908, Pueblo, Pueblo County, Colorado.

 +5  iv. Martin Crowe, born 22 Feb 1854, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada; married Ellen Gibbs; died 13 Apr 1926, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California.

             

Second Generation:

Second Generation

3.  William Crowe (Michael-1) was born on 9 Jan 1845 in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada. He died on 27 Nov 1912 at the age of 67 in Simcoe, Ontario, Canada.³  
 
  • Ontario, Canada Marriages, 1801-1926 shows William Crowe, 31, of Orillia, a farmer whose parents are Michael Crowe and Mary Ann McHenry, marrying Elizabeth Laler, 25, on 12 Feb 1877 in Orillia, Ontario, Canada.

  • 1891 Canadian Census for Simcoe East, Orillia, Ontario shows William Crowe, 46, a farmer born in Ontario of parents born in Ireland; and wife Elizabeth, 29, also born in Ontario of Irish parents. (Elizabeth is probably actually 39 here.)

• Ontario, Canada, Deaths, 1869-1936 shows William Crowe died 27 Nov 1912 in Orillia, Simcoe, Ontario, of "suicide by cutting throat". The physician's note says that he died in "a few minutes" of "loss of blood". William Crowe is shown as a 68-year-old widower whose parents were Michael Crowe and Mary McHenry. The informant was a Michael McConnell of Warminster.

William Crowe and Elizabeth Lawler were married on 12 Feb 1877 in Simcoe, Ontario, Canada.⁴ Elizabeth Lawler⁴, daughter of Thomas Lawler and Mary Connor, was born about 1852 in Ontario, Canada.⁴ She died of carcinoma of the pelvis on 17 Feb 1910 at the age of 58 in Simcoe, Ontario, Canada.³

  

Thomas Crowe

4.  Thomas Crowe (Michael-1) was born on 22 Dec 1851 in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada. He died on 2 Jun 1908 at the age of 56 in Pueblo, Pueblo County, Colorado.⁵

  • 1880 Census for Chicago, Illinois, shows Thomas Crowe, age 29, who works in a rolling mill (a steel mill?), as head of household containing: wife Mary, 26; son Willi, 3; and son Thomas, 1.  They live on North Avenue.

  • 1900 Census for Pueblo, Colorado, shows Thomas Crowe, born Dec 1851 in Canada, whose occupation is listed as "Supt., C(illegible; might be Convection) Steel Works", as head of household consisting of: Mary, his wife of 24 years, who has had six children with five still living; daughter Nellie, Dec 1880, a ceramic artist; daughter May, Dec 1883; son Edward T., Sept 1889; and son Arthur L., Nov 1892. They own their own home on Berkeley Ave.

  • Obituary: Yuma Pioneer – June 5, 1908 – Thomas Crowe, aged fifty-six, and proprietor of the new Southern hotel at Pueblo, died June 2nd after a short illness. Mr. Crowe was an old resident of Pueblo, and was considered one of the best steel men in the West. For several years he was superintendent of the converter department of the Minnequa plant. He was an elk and a member of the Royal Arcanium, and is survived by a widow, three sons, and two daughters.

  • Family legend is that Tom Crowe was ambitious, capable, and a "born foreman" who made enough money in the steel mills of Chicago and Colorado to buy a large hotel in Pueblo, Colorado.

Thomas Crowe and Mary Gibbs were married on 3 Jul 1876 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois.⁶ 

Mary Gibbs, daughter of Walter Gibbs and Nancy Ann Frisbie, was born on 1 Mar 1855 in McHenry County, Illinois.⁷ She died on 22 Jul 1928 at the age of 73 in Angeles Hospital, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California.⁷ She was buried in Pueblo, Pueblo County, Colorado.⁷

  • 1910 Census for Pueblo, Pueblo County, Colorado, shows Mary Crowe, 55, a widow who has had five children with five still living, as head of household along with: son Edward, 20; and son Arthur, 17. Occupation is listed as "none" for all three.  All of them were born in Illinois.  Mary's parents were born in Ireland, the two sons' father was born in Canada.  They own their own home on Berkeley Ave.

Thomas Crowe and Mary Gibbs had the following children:

  +6  i.   William Joseph Crowe, born 8 Sep 1876, Joliet, Illinois; married Leta Kimball, abt 1897, Colorado; died 18 Mar 1954.

  7  ii.   Thomas Crowe was born about 1879 in Marseilles, LaSalle County, Illinois. He died at the age of six months.

  +8  iii.   Eleanor "Nellie" Crowe, born 26 Dec 1880, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois; married Henry Charles McMaster, 15 Feb 1906, Pueblo, Pueblo County, Colorado; died 9 Nov 1950, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California.

  +9  iv.   May Crowe, born Dec 1883, Illinois; married Gus Nestrom, abt 1909; died 9 May 1916, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois.

  10  v.   Edward T. Crowe⁸ was born in Jan 1889 in Marseilles, LaSalle County, Illinois.⁹  Ed Crowe's whereabouts after 1910 are unknown at this time.

  +11 vi.  Arthur Leonard Crowe, born 27 Nov 1892, Joliet, Illinois; married Marie Antoinette Schneider; died 16 Jul 1970, Castro Valley, Alameda County, California.

5.  Martin Crowe (Michael-1) was born on 22 Feb 1854 in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada. He died on 13 Apr 1926 at the age of 72 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California.  
 
  • 1910 Census for Los Angeles, California shows Martin Crowe, 56, born in Michigan, a gold miner, as head of household with: wife Ellen, 59, born in Illinois, who has had two children, one still living; and William F., 20, born in California, a laborer at a pottery company.

Martin Crowe and Ellen Gibbs were married. Ellen Gibbs¹⁰, sister of Mary Gibbs Crowe and daughter of Walter Gibbs and Nancy Ann Frisbie, was born in 1850 in Marseilles, LaSalle County, Illinois.

  • Might be the Ellen Gibbs, 19, single, born in Illinois, who is working as a domestic servant in a private home in Chicago, Illinois, in the 1870 Census.

Martin Crowe and Ellen Gibbs had the following child:

  12  i.   William F. Crowe¹¹ was born on 17 Mar 1890 in California.^11–12 He died on 31 Jul 1965 at the age of 75 in Los Angeles County, California.¹²  
 
 • World War I draft registration card shows William F. Crowe, of 252 N. Ave 21, Los Angeles, California. He was born 17 Mar 1890 in Los Angeles and works as a painter for Bradford Building. He is single, tall and slender, with no disabilities. 

  • California Death Index shows: William F Crowe; Social Security#:563053375; Male; Birth Date: 17 Mar 1890; Birthplace: California; Death Date: 31 Jul 1965; Death Place: Los Angeles; Mother's Maiden Name: Gibbs

Other details of William F. Crowe's life are unknown at this time.

Third Generation:

Third Generation

Will, Nellie, May, and Ed Crowe,
circa 1890

6.  William Joseph "Will" Crowe (Thomas-2, Michael-1) was born on 8 Sep 1876 in Joliet, Illinois. He died on 18 Mar 1954 at the age of 77. 

• 1900 Census for Pueblo, Colorado, shows William J. Crow, born Sept 1877, whose occupation is listed as "Roll Turner" (which is a steel mill job), as head of household containing: Alleta, his wife of three years, born Feb 1879; and their son, Collins, born Oct 1898.  William and Alleta are both shown as born in Illinois, he with parents born in Canada, she with parents born in Pennsylvania and Ohio.  Collins was born in Colorado.

• World War I draft registration card shows William Joseph Crowe, a resident of 1805 Berkeley, Pueblo, Colorado, who was born 8 Sept 1877.  He is employed as "foreman roll shop" by C F & S Co. of Pueblo.  Nearest relative is listed as Carrie Francis Crowe of the same address.  He is listed as 5'8" with brown eyes, black hair, and no disabilities.

  • 1920 Census for Pueblo, Colorado, shows William J. Crowe, 42, whose occupation is Superintendant of Merchant Mill Steelworks, as head of household along with wife Carrie, also 42.  She was born in Pennsylvania, as were her parents.  They are renters on Berkeley Ave.

  • During the 1930 Census, Will Crowe was working in Siberia.

William Joseph Crowe and Leta Kimball were married about 1897 in Colorado. Leta Kimball was born on 1 Feb 1879 in Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana. She died on 12 Feb 1951 at the age of 72 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California.

William Joseph Crowe and Leta Kimball had the following child:

   13  i. Collins Crowe was born in Oct 1898 in Colorado. He died on 27 Aug 1918 at the age of 19 in U.S. Navy submarine chaser #209 during World War I. 

  • The Nevada State Journal, a newspaper published in Reno, Nevada, has a notice in its August 28, 1917 issue that a Collins Crowe had been charged with a traffic violation and fined $40.

  • Collins Alwin Crowe; Place of Death: submarine chaser no.209; Death Date: Aug.27,1918; Cause of Death: lost when vessel was sunk; Next of Kin: Leta K. Barnett; Relationship: mother; Address: Los Angeles,Calif.; Appointed: Reno,Nev.; Rank: machinists mate,second class; U.S.Naval Reserve Force

Nellie Crowe McMaster and daughter May

8.  Eleanor "Nellie" Crowe (Thomas-2, Michael-1) was born on 26 Dec 1880 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois.¹² On 1 Jun 1900 she was a ceramic artist. She lived in 646 W. 41st St., Los Angeles, California on 22 Jul 1928.⁷ Nellie died on 9 Nov 1950 at the age of 69 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California.¹² She was educated  in the Art Institute of Chicago.

Eleanor "Nellie" Crowe and Henry Charles McMaster were married on 15 Feb 1906 in Pueblo, Pueblo County, Colorado.⁶ 

Henry C. McMaster

Henry Charles McMaster¹³, son of John McMaster and Martha Devlin, was born on 8 Mar 1877 in Dixon, Lee County, Illinois.¹² He died on 22 Feb 1961 at the age of 83 in Palm Springs, Riverside County, California.¹² He was buried in Hayward, Alameda County, California. 

  • 1910 Census for Dalhart, Dallam County, Texas shows H.C. McMaster, 33, a chief clerk for a railroad, as head of household with: Nellie, 29, his wife of four years, and daughter May, 3.  May was born in Missouri, the parents in Illinois.  They own a home with a mortgage on Scott St.

  • World War I Draft Registration card shows Henry Charles McMaster, born March 8, 1877, a resident of 1112 Laurel St., El Paso, Texas.  His occupation is listed as "Chief Clark to J. J. Pruett, V.P." of a Rwy Co. (hard to make out the name), 1300 S. Stanton St., El Paso, Texas.  Nearest relative is Mrs. Eleanor McMaster.  He is shown as of medium height, slender build, with blue eyes and black hair.

• 1920 Census for Township of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California shows Henry C. McMasters, 42, a retail grocer, as head of household including: wife Nellie, 39; daughter May, 13; daughter Eleanor, 7; mother-in-law Mary Crow, 63, a widow; and brother-in-law Arthur Crow, 27, single, a roll turner in a steel works.  May was born in Missouri, Eleanor in Texas, and the others in Illinois.  They rent a residence at 414 East Twenty-fifth Street.

  • 1930 Census for Los Angeles, California, shows Henry C. McMaster, age 52, a (something -- illegible) agent for the railroad, as head of household containing: Nellie, 49, his wife of 23 years; and daughter Jane E., 18, born in Texas.  Henry and Nellie were both born in Illinois.  They own a home worth $8000.

  • From the Personals column in The Dixon Evening Telegraph (Dixon, Illinois), September 29, 1951: "Mr. and Mrs. Henry McMaster, Long Beach, Calif., visited Mr. McMaster's hometown, Dixon, the first of this week.  Wednesday they entertained 17 friends at dinner at the Rainbow Inn.  Mr. McMaster who left Dixon nearly 35 years ago is a retired railroad official and made a name for himself in that field.  Mrs. Maude McMaster of Los Angeles, Calif., is visiting Mrs. Frank Ortgiesen, Peoria Avenue."

Henry Charles McMaster and Eleanor Crowe had the following children:

   +14  i.  May Elizabeth "Mary" McMaster, born 30 Oct 1906, Eldon, Miller County, Missouri; married Ralph Alden Bedwell, 8 Feb 1930, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California; died 19 Feb 1962, Westwood, Lassen County, California.

    15  ii.  Boy McMaster was born and died on 30 Oct 1906 in Eldon, Miller County, Missouri.

   +16 iii.   Eleanor Jane McMaster, born 1 Jun 1912, Dalhart, Dallam County, Texas; died 11 Jun 2000, Fresno, Fresno County, California.

May Crowe

9.  May Crowe¹⁴ (Thomas-2, Michael-1) was born in Dec 1883 in Illinois.⁸ She died on 9 May 1916 at the age of 32 at 506 N. Clark St., in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois.¹⁵  
 
• 1910 Census for Pueblo, Colorado shows May Nestrom, 26, as wife of Gus Nestrom, 30, who is listed as "Proprietor, Southern Hotel". They have been married for one year. May is shown as born in Illinois of parents born in Canada and Illinois.

• 1911 Pueblo Business Directory has a listing for: "New Southern Hotel. May Crowe prop, opp Union Depot." http://www.hometownchronicles.com/co/pueblo/1911pueblo.htm

• Illinois Statewide Death Index shows May Nestrom, died 5 Sept 1916, in Chicago of alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver.

May Crowe and Gus Nestrom were married about 1909.¹⁶ Gus Nestrom¹⁶ was born about 1880 in Michigan.¹⁶ He died on 23 Feb 1942 at the age of 62 in Cook County, Illinois.¹⁷   

  

Art Crowe, 1917

11.  Arthur Leonard Crowe (Thomas-2, Michael-1) was born on 27 Nov 1892 in Joliet, Illinois.^18–19 He died on 16 Jul 1970 at the age of 77 in Castro Valley, Alameda County, California.¹⁸  
 
• World War I draft registration card shows Arthur L. Crowe, a resident of 1805 Burkly, Pueblo, Colorado.  He was born in Joliet, Illinois on 27 Nov 1892 and is employed as a roll turner.  He is white, single, and the card states that he has a physical disability but does not say what it is.

• 1920 Census for Los Angeles, California, shows Arthur Crow living in the household of brother-in-law Henry McMaster.  He is 27, single, and working as a roll turner in a steel mill.

• 1930 Census for Pueblo, Colorado, shows Arthur L. Crowe, 36, a roll turner in a steel mill, as head of household consisting of: Antoinette, 30, his wife of six years; and brother-in-law Joseph J. Schneider, 19, a collector for an insurance company.  They own a home worth $4500 on Carteret St.

• World War II draft registration card shows Arthur Leonard Crowe, a resident of 219 Castro St., Hayward, California.  He was born in Joliet, Illinois on 27 Nov 1892 and is employed by the Pacific State Steel Corporation of Niles, California.

Arthur Leonard Crowe and Marie Antoinette Schneider were married. Marie Antoinette Schneider, daughter of Joseph Schneider and Francine Garnier, was born on 25 Apr 1899 in Silverville, Colorado.¹² She died on 15 Sep 1988 at the age of 89 in Sacramento, Sacramento County, California.¹²

Fourth Generation:

Fourth Generation

  

Mary McMaster
Bedwell on her
wedding day,
1930

14.  May Elizabeth "Mary" McMaster²⁰ (Eleanor Crowe-3, Thomas-2, Michael-1) was born on 30 Oct 1906 in Eldon, Miller County, Missouri.²⁰ She died of botulism poisoning on 19 Feb 1962 at the age of 55 in Westwood, Lassen County, California.²⁰ She was buried in Feb 1962 in Westwood, Lassen County, California. Mary was Catholic.  
 
▪ Obituary from The Chester Progressive, 22 Feb 1962, p. 5: "Mary Elizabeth Bedwell of 615 Delwood Street in Westwood passed away at her home Monday at the age of 55. Mrs. Bedwell was born in Elwood, Missouri, and had lived in California 43 years, in Westwood one year. Rosary was said Wednesday at Souders Funeral Chapel in Westwood. Mass is set for 9:30 am Thursday at the Catholic Church in Westwood. Survivors include her husband, Ralph; a son, Dr. Robert Bedwell of Pinole, California; one sister, Mrs. Jane Schneider; and one grandchild."

May Elizabeth "Mary" McMaster and Ralph Alden Bedwell were married on 8 Feb 1930 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California.⁶ 

Ralph A. Bedwell
on his wedding
day, 1930

Ralph Alden Bedwell²¹, son of Robert Scott Bedwell and Margaret Baumgardner, was born on 5 Nov 1904 in St. Marys, Auglaize County, Ohio.²¹ He was educated at Redlands College, Baptist Divinity School. He died on 10 Dec 1981 at the age of 77 in Vallejo, Solano County, California.²⁰ Ralph was buried in Westwood, Lassen County, California. He worked for Standard Oil Company in Bakersfield, Kern County, California. He was Catholic, converted from Baptist.
 
Ralph Alden Bedwell and May "Mary" Elizabeth McMaster had one child (still living).

16.  Eleanor Jane McMaster (Eleanor Crowe-3, Thomas-2, Michael-1) was born on 1 Jun 1912 in Dalhart, Dallam County, Texas.¹⁸ She died on 11 Jun 2000 at the age of 88 in Fresno, Fresno County, California.¹⁸

Joseph James Schneider, son of Joseph Schneider and Francine Garnier, was born on 21 Aug 1910 in Westcliffe, Custer County, Colorado.¹⁸ He died in Jul 1986 at the age of 75 in Sacramento, Sacramento County, California.¹⁸

Joseph James Schneider and Eleanor Jane McMaster had three children (still living).

References

1. 1861 Census for Simcoe, Ontario, Canada.

2. Ontario, Canada, Deaths, 1869-1936 and Deaths Overseas, 1939-1947.

3. Ontario, Canada, Deaths, 1869-1936.

4. Ontario, Canada Marriages, 1801-1926 .

5. Obituary.

6. Marriage Certificate.

7. Mary Gibbs Crowe, death certificate no. 28-635438 (1928), California State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics.

8. 1900 Census, Pueblo County, Colorado.

9. 1900 Census, Pueblo, Colorado.

10. 1850 Census, Brooklyn, McHenry County, Illinois.

11. 1910 U.S. Census, Los Angeles, California.

12. State of California Department of Health Services, comp., California Death Index, 1940-1997, online. 

13. Robert H. Bedwell, October 1984.

14. 1900 Census, Pueblo County, Colorado., page 294.

15. Death Certificate of May Nestrom, State of Illinois Standard Certficate of Death.

16. 1910 Census, Pueblo, Colorado.

17. State of Illinois, comp., Illinois Statewide Death Index, 1916-1950, online. 

18. Social Security Administration, Social Security Death Index, Master File 

19. National Archives and Records Administration, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-18.

20. Death Certificate.

21. Ralph Alden Bedwell, son of Robert Scott Bedwell and Margaret Baumgardner.