Biographies and Obituaries
In loving memory
Howard Crooke
History of Knox and Daviess Counties
Goodspeed Publishing Company 1886
HOWARD CROOKE, attorney, of Odon, Ind., was born in Lawrence County, Ind., February 7, 1825, and is one of thirteen children born to Olly and Nancy (Cruse) Crooks. The father was of Irish descent, born in 1798, in Kentucky. He was a tanner by trade, and was married in 1819, and in 1823 moved to Lawrence County, Ind., where he built a tannery and worked at his old trade. In 1883 he came to Daviess County, Ind., where he and his son James purchased a farm of 158 acres. His death occurred October 11, 1884. The mother was born October 7, 1802, in Virginia, and died March 17, 1882. Subject rsoeived his education in the district schools, and made him home with his parents until twenty years of age. In early life he learned the tanner's trade of his father, but on attaining his majority abandoned that occupation, and hired out as a traveling salesman to a merchant at Springville, continuing in this business eight years. April 6, 1854, he married Ann Culmer, daughter of Stephen and Sarah Culmer. Mrs. Crooke was born in the parish of Kent, England, July 23, 1833. She came to the United States with her parents when a child, and lived for some years in Pennsylvania, and then came to Lawrence County, Ind. To Mr. and Mrs. Crooke's union six children were born, five of whom are living: Sarah M. (wife of James Burrell), Fanny C., Margaret A., Harry H., and Lillie B. Mr. Crooke came to Daviess County after his marriage, and purchased 115 acres of land and began his career as a tiller of the soil. He lived there but a short time when he sold out and moved to Odon, and began merchandising. In 1855 he and Olly Owen began doing business together, but in the fall Owen sold his interest, and the next spring Zimri Garten became his partner. Four years later they took our subjects brother James in as partner, but Garten soon sold his interest, and the property then belonged to the brothers. In 1864 they sold out to Carrell & Garten. Since that time our subject has given his attention to farming and serving as notary public. He owns 165 acres of land in Daviess County, and 133 acres in Martin County, besides a dwelling-house, office, and business block in Odon. In politics he is a Republican, and cast his first vote for Taylor. He is one of the leading men in his party in the county, and in 1855 was elected justice of the peace for Madison Township, and served eight years. In 1864 he was elected to the State Legislature, and served one regular term and one special term. In 1876 he was appointed notary public, and was twice re-elected. He came to Odon when there were only six families in the place.
Contributed by: Michael L. Tedrow