The following biography of this individual was written in 1904 and published in the “1905 Historical Souvenir of Williamson County.”
“The subject of this sketch, who with single exception of Dr. Armstrong easily takes the lead in ranks of his profession in Southern Illinois, is a native of Jackson County and a farmer’s boy. He was born October 31, 1866 near Carbondale and at the age of 18 entered the Carbondale High School. After three years faithful application, however, he returned to the old homestead and in April 1889, two years later, he married and followed the plow for about six years. But, tempted by the good wages offered, he entered the employ of Fredonia Coal Mine and dug coal for a couple of years. But he felt himself superior to the occupation, and entered the private veterinary school of Dr. Killman at Kansas City, Kansas. His studies under that famous teacher were supplemented with a year’s practice with Dr. John Armstrong of Toronto Cananda at Carbondale. In June 1902, he passed the rigid examination of the State Board at Springfield and has since practiced under this certificate. In July 1899, he came to Marion and has been in steady and successful practice here ever since.
His wife was Manthus Cruse, also a native of Williamson County, born on Herrin’s Prairie, by whom he has had three children: Libbie, aged 15; Ruby and Ray C. He comes of English parentage and of an exceptionally large family. His father was Benjamin Crowell and his mother’s name was Catherine (Goodwin). Both were married three times and the children of all these unions numbered twenty-six. He was the youngest except one sister, of a single family of 14.
His father died in 1874, but his mother still survives and is living with her children at Carbondale. At the age of 78, she is as active and vigorous as most women of 40.
In politics, Mr. Crowell is a Republican and is a member of the Free Baptist church and Knights of Pythias.”
The 1880 census reflects the passing of his father in 1874, since Josiah was found living in Carbondale in the home of one of his many half-brothers Henry Cranshaw along with his wife Minerva Cranshaw and their children Joseph R. & Hattie Cranshaw. Josiah Crowell was found along with his full sister Lavina Crowell and their mother in common, Kate Crowell 53.
On April 4, 1889, Josiah married Unity Manthus Cruse, daughter of John Marion Cruse and Rebecca Ann Sizemore in Williamson County.
After coming to Marion in 1899, Josiah and Manthus were found in the 1900 federal census living in Marion in a rented home. At the time of the census, the couple had two children, Libbie aged 9 and Ruby aged 8. Manthus indicated that she had had two children and that both were still living.
A 1907 Marion city directory listed the couple as living at 106 S. Mechanic Street in Marion.
In 1908 and 1909, Josiah served as city alderman for Marion under Mayor J.C. Mitchell.
By the time the 1910 census was taken the couple had purchased a home that was rent free at 306 E. Marion Street. Josiah and Manthus were both shown as being 42 years old. Their children were Libbie M. 19, Ruby A. 17 and Ray C. aged 6. Josiah was listed as a veterinary surgeon and Manthus declared that they had had 3 children with 3 living.
In 1914, an article in the newspaper stated that their daughter Libbie was married to William Matthews in the home of her parents at 205 E. Main Street. But, things appear to go south after this. Two years later another newspaper article stated that their other daughter Ruby married George Attebury on August 12th in Marion, oddly enough, the only parent present at the wedding was the mother Manthus and not Josiah B.
The only reason I think this is significant is that by the time the 1920 census was taken, 48-year-old Josiah listed himself as single, working as a coal miner and was boarding in a home at 102 W. Oak Street in West Frankfort. Another newspaper article appearing later in 1920, indicate that Dr. Crowell has now located his offices in Herrin at the Tygett Livery barn at 205 N. 16th. The article indicated that he was equipped to do all kinds of surgical work and specialized in treating cattle. Yet another article from August of 1920 stated that his wife had just returned from a year away in Colorado and Wyoming where her son and daughter were living.
Although no divorce records could be located it is clear that the relationship with Manthus soured somewhere around 1915 or so and that fact was confirmed by the 1920 census. In 1925, Josiah remarried to his second wife Zona Edwards in West Frankfort.
A street directory indicated that in 1928 Josiah was living at 123 1/2 W. Main Stret in West Frankfort with his new wife Zona. Zona Edwards was originally from Clifford, Illinois, a now defunct mining town north of Colp, Illinois.
In the 1930 census, Josiah, then 53 and his 2nd wife Zona then a much younger 35 appear to have had a new child between them, Charles K. Crowell aged 4. Also in the home was Zona’s daughter from a previous marriage named Blanche Robertson aged 11. The couple were living at 308 S. Short St. in West Frankfort where Josiah operated a home office as a veterinarian and were paying $16 a month in rent.
On November 9, 1932, Dr. Josiah B. Crowell passed was in West Frankfort. Burial was in Maplewood cemetery in Marion. The last child born to this couple was Ann Crowell that occurred a few months after his death on February 8, 1933.
Josiah’s first wife Manthus, born in 1867, lived until 1953 and was buried in Hammond, Indiana. His second wife Zona, born in 1895, lived until 1955 and was buried alongside Josiah in Maplewood cemetery in Marion.
Notes on children:
Libbie M. Crowell Matthews, born ca 1901, married William Matthews in 1914
Ruby A. Crowell Attebury, born 1893, died 1982, married George Attebury in 1916, both are interred in L.A. County, California
Raymond C. Crowell, born 1904, died 1951 in Hammond, Indiana
Charles Kenneth Crowell, born 1926, died 1983
Gene Crowell, born 1930, died 1975
Ann Crowell, born in W. Frankfort February 8, 1933, died of alcohol and chloral hydrate poisoning in Chicago at Illinois Masonic Hospital shortly after going to sister Ruby’s home on March 12, 1952 at age of 19
Sources: Federal census records, Marion and West Frankfort Street directories, Marion city cemetery records, newpapers.com, Events in Egypt, 1905 Historical Souvenir of Williamson County, Williamson County Marriage records, Ancestry.com. Compiled by Sam Lattuca on 3/5/3024. Revised to add daughter Ann Crowell on 11/02/2024)