HISTORY OF MARTIN CROW
Source Notes: "The Fireside Stories of The Jacob Crow Family".
Martin had been employed by the surveyors of the first seven ranges of Townships in Ohio, in 1786.
He did serve in the Washington Co., PA Militia after the Revolution. He was known as a backwoodsman and a skilled hunter and trapper.
Martin was enumerated in the census of 1800, in Richhill Twp., Greene Co., PA; at that time his household contained only himself and wife. In 1810 he was still there, with three females under 10 years of age also in his household. By 1820 he was enumerated in Monroe Co., Ohio (Union Twp.) and his household then contained, in addition to himself and wife, two males 18-26 years of age, one male 16-18 years of age, two females 10-16 years of age, and three males and one female under 10 years of age. James and David Farley were his next door neighbors in Greene Co. The 1830 census shows Martin still in Union Twp., aged 60-70 years; his wife was aged 40-50 years and, living with them was one female 15-20 years. Next door was George Crow, a son.
If it is true that Elizabeth (Cackler) Crow, wife of Martin, died in 1822 it seems likely that he must have married a second time. It further seems likely that this second wife was named Phebe. The 1830 census shows a female, aged 40-50 years, in the household of Martin Crow; she is likely the Phebe Crow, aged 67 years, who was living with William and Phebe Bevan (in Franklin Twp., Monroe Co., Ohio) at the time of the 1850 census. Further indictions of this are found in the fact that George Crow and Phebe Crow, administrators of Martin Crow , dec'd., settled the account in April 1840. Martin Crow and wife, Phebe, deeded 109 acres of land to Michael Crow on 11/29/1835 (this was likely the 109 acres recieved by Martin (by patent) 8/17/1816. Martin Crow and wife, Phebe, deeded to George Crow, 190 acres ofland on 11/5/1835.
Likely the Martin Crow whose will was brought to court for probate at the March term of 1826. It was witnessed by John Wells and David Lazure. The executor was Jacob Crow and the appraisers were Elisha Enochs, Daniel Blake and John Richardson. Martin Crow and john McBride (husband of Christina Crow) erected a brick house near Carlisle, Ohio, between 1836 and 1840. In those days a brick house was looked upon as an unprecedented extravagance. Martin Crow was buried in the McBride Cemetery, near Carlisle. There is also a marker in the McBride Cemetery with the initials E.C. carved upon it, probably for Elizabeth (Crackler) Crow, wife of Martin.
MARTIN CROW RIDES A BEAR
This bear story is related about Martin Crow and Enoch Enochs, who lived in the vicinity of Carlisle, Ohio, and hunted all the surrounding country. On one of their hunting expeditions, Martin and Enoch cornored a bear in a sink-hole, in which there was three or four feet of water. A log lay across the pool of water and Martin, in attempting to cross it, by some means lost his footing and fell, coming down astride the bear's bck. Here was an unpleasant situation, but the old hunter was equal to the situation, taking a firm hand on the bear's neck on each side, he kept the animal's head upright to prevent being bitten. The water was not so deep that Martin could not stand on the bottom, but the bear was swimming; Martin held on and rode him around the pool several times. Enoch, standing and watching the preformance, dared not shoot at the bear for fear of wounding his companion. Martin, at length, succeeded in getting the bear's hed in a favorable position and ordered Enoch to fire. The latter blazed away, his shot took effect, and the hunter was speedily released from his unpleasant and dangerous predicament.
