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John Crichton, planter. This, in brief, is
the sketch of a man whose present substantial position in like has been
reached entirely through his own perseverance, and the facts connected
with his operations and their results only show what a person with
courage and enlightened views can accomplish. His birth occurred in
Muskogee County, Ga., October 17, 1843, to Peter and Mirian A. (Grieve)
Crichton, both of whom were natives of Scotland, but who came to America
while still unmarried, their union taking place in Georgia about the
year 1838. Of a family of eight children born to them, the subject of
this sketch was the third, four sons and two daughters now living. The
names of the eight in their order of birth are as follows: George P.,
William, John, Thomas, Sarah A., Adam H., James E. and Mary S. Those
deceased are George P. and William, the former dying of camp fever while
in the confederate service at Manassas Junction, Va., in 1861, the
latter being killed in the battle of Port Republic June 9, 1862. The
third and fourth sons, John and Thomas, also served in the Confederate
States army, their father being in the same service, a member of the
Twenty-eighth Louisiana Regiment, being killed in the battle of
Franklin, La., April 23, 1863.
When the subject of this sketch was eight
years of age, or in January, 1851, he accompanied his parents to that
portion of Claiborne Parish that is now Webster Parish, La., and there
he spent his early years on a farm near the town of Minden. At the age
of seventeen he was employed a few months in a drug store in Minden,
after which, in August, 1861, he went to Virginia, and there entered
Company G, eighth Louisiana Regiment, serving with it and participating
in the battles of Winchester, Cross Keys, Port Republic, the battles in
the vicinity of Richmond, Manassas, Antietam, Harper's Ferry and
Fredericksburg, until May4, 1863, when, in the battle of
Chancellorsville, he was wounded by a ball in the left shoulder. This
rendered him unfit for duty for several months, two of which were spent
in the hospital, then he returned home on furlough; while here he did
what he could to repel Gen. Banks, and subsequently retruned to Virginia
and rejoined his command, but not having fully recovered from his wound
he was still unfit for service, and was again obliged to spend some time
in the hospital.
For four years following the war Mr.
Crichton conducted a photograph gallery in Minden, La., but in December,
1869, removed to that part of Natchitoches Parish that is now Red River
Parish, and here has resided ever since, his attention being given to
farming. He located on his present farm ,which is know as Elder Grove
plantation, in January, 1878it being situated on the left bank of the
Red River twelve miles above Coushatta, and contains 1,300 acres, of
which 375 acres are under cultivation, well improved with good residence
and barn, one cotton-gin and twenty-three cabins. Mr. Crichton's
marriage to Miss Frances W. Williams, a native of Alabama, took place
January 29, 1873, and to them six children have been born as follows:
Walter G., Fannie W., Josie D., Gracie, Thomas and Warren S. All are
living with the exception of Gracie, who died at the age of 10 months.
Mrs. Crichton is the daughter of the late Dr. W. S. Williams, of this
parish. Mr. Crichton is a member of the A. O. U. W., and in politics is
a Democrat, and has served several years as a member of the school
board, and since July, 1885, he has been a member of the police jury,
having first been appointed by Gov. McEnery, and Secondly by Gov.
Nichols. He is one of the leading citizens of this parish, and he and
his family hold a high place in the estimation of citizens throughout
this section. |
