CROWELL, JOHN (15 Feb. 1801-10 Mar 1883) was a well-known attorney, supporter of the Republican Party, and public speaker.
Crowell was born in East Haddam, Conn. His family moved to Ashtabula County, Ohio, where his father farmed. In 1822 he entered an academy in Warren, Ohio, leaving it in 1825 to teach school and study law. After being admitted top the Ohio bar in 1827, he bought part interest in and wrote articles for the Western Reserve Chronicle of Warren.
He was elected to the Ohio State Senate in 1840 and to the U.S. Congress, as a Whig, in 1846. He won reelection twice and retired from Congress in 1852 at which time he moved to Cleveland where he practiced law. Shortly after arriving, he began lecultring on commercial law at Forsom Business College.
Crowell held the position of president of Cleveland's Ohio State and Union Law College from 1862 to 1876. He edited the Western Law Monthly and was instrumental in the formation of the law library of the CLEVELAND BAR ASSN. (CBA) in 1866.
An avowed supporter of the Federal Union, Crowell spoke and worked for the candidacy of Abraham Lincoln. After the outbreak of war he used his oratorical skills to garner support for the Union cause, raising both funds and recruits through his efforts. He was called "general" Crowell because of his service as commander of the 20th Division, Ohio Militia in the 1840s. He did gain the rank of major general.
He remained active in politics in the post-war years, being elected chairman of the Cuyahoga County Republican Committee in 1868 and serving as the secretrary of the Republican Congressional Convention in 1870.
Crowell married Eliza B. Estabrook in 1833. They had 4 children. Crowell is buried in LAKE VIEW CEMETERY.
Last Modified: 15 Jul 1997 01:07:44 PM- Related Article(s)