James Campbell Crenshaw1

b. 3 November 1854, d. 11 November 1934
James Campbell Crenshaw
photo courtesy Peggy Lester
FatherGeorge Sanders Crenshaw2,3 b. 20 Jul 1818, d. 10 Mar 1891
MotherMargaret Wilson Buchanan2,3 b. 20 Mar 1812, d. 27 Aug 1883
Birth3 Nov 1854 James Campbell Crenshaw was born on 3 Nov 1854 in Quarry, Smyth County, Virginia.4,5 
Childhood  James was the youngest child in a family that included 3 girls and 3 boys. He spent his childhood on his father's land in Smyth County.6,7 
Marriage30 Sep 1879 He married Mary Elizabeth Virginia Thompson, daughter of William Newton Thompson and Mary Ann E. Butt, on 30 Sep 1879 in Washington County, Virginia.8 
Cens-188016 Jun 1880  James and Jenny (as she was known within the family) lived with his parents immediately after their marriage. The family by then had moved slightly westward into Washington County.9 
Residence  Although the 1880 census did not include specific information as to location, James's parents are known to have lived in the Chestnut Ridge neighborhood. 
ParentsDcd  James's mother died in 1883, followed by his father in 1891. 
Cens-191021 Apr 1910 By 1910 James and Mary [Jenny] were the parents of 10 children, all of whom were living. Six children were still residing at home. James listed his occupation as "farmer" but the 2 sons who were still at home worked in jobs outside the farm. The adult children at home included: Ada (25), a teacher, John (22), a bookkeeper and Elbert (20), a clerk at a wholesale house. Mary, Grace and Jamie were all still of school age. The location of the farm was identified as Chestnut Ridge.10 
  The widow of James's brother William [Mary Jane "Jenny" Crenshaw] also lived on Chestnut Ridge. Both James and his brother William had married women whose names were Mary but who were known as "Jenny", a derivative of their middle names. In order to separate them, relatives referred to the women as Aunt-Jenny-Jim and Aunt-Jenny-Will.11 
ChildDeath  James and Jenny's son Asa died in a roller coaster accident in Long Beach, California in 1915. He had been enumerated in 1910 living in New York city with his wife and mother-in-law. At that time he was employed as a ship caulker. 
Cens-19201920  In 1920 the location of the family home was described as "Crenshaw and Foster Rd." [the family had not moved - rather a "formal" road name had come into use]. James, at age 65, owned his farm; Mary [Jenny] was 60. Although 6 children were again listed with the couple, the make up of the household had changed somewhat. Son George (39) was enumerated with the family; he was employed as a machinist at a shipyard. Son "Batte" [Beattie Alexander] was also included in the household; he was employed as a machinist pipe fitter. Son Elbert (32) was a shoe drummer. Three daughters were living at home and teaching school: Mary (28), Grace (22) and Jamie (19).12 
  It is difficult to know if George and Beattie were living in Washington County at the time of the 1920 enumeration or just visiting; obviously George was not working at a shipyard in landlocked Washington County. His 1918 World War I draft registration recorded his place of residence as Jersey City, New Jersey, where he was employed by the Federal Ship Building Company. Beattie's 1910 census entry found him working as a pipe fitter at a shipyard in Lorain, Ohio. 
Cens-19304 Apr 1930  James and Mary [Jenny]were enumerated again in 1930. Daughters Grace and Mary were the only children recorded living at home. Other relatives lived in the neighborhood, including son Beattie.13 
 James and Jenny appear to have instilled a sense of exploration in their children. At some point in their lives almost all of their 10 children pursued an educational or employment opportunity that took them some distance beyond the region in which they grew up. Four of their 5 daughters became teachers. In fact the 1930 census may be somewhat misleading in it's suggestion that Grace and Mary were living at home. In reality Grace taught math at Averett College in Danville, Virginia, and Mary taught art at Louisiana College in Pinevllle, Louisiana. 
Death11 Nov 1934 James died on 11 Nov 1934 at age 80. Mary had died 6 months earlier.4 
Burial He was buried at Mountain View Baptist Church Cemetery in Washington County, Virginia.4 

Related Links and Images:

James and Jenny Crenshaw with their grandchildren circa 1932-33: Margaret, James and Virginia (children of son Beattie). Click on camera icon for larger image.14

Family

Mary Elizabeth Virginia Thompson b. 18 Jun 1859, d. 12 May 1934
Children
ChartsDescendants of John Buchanan and Ann Ryburn
Descendants of William Ryburn and Mary (?)
Last Edited2 Dec 2009

Citations

  1. [S1584] Peggy Lester, "Descendants of George Sanders Crenshaw and Margaret Wilson Buchanan", report dated 10 Oct. 2006. Peggy is the great niece of James Campbell Crenshaw.
  2. [S1584] Peggy Lester, "Descendants of George Sanders Crenshaw and Margaret Wilson Buchanan", report dated 10 Oct. 2006. Peggy is the great granddaughter of George and Margaret (Buchanan) Crenshaw.
  3. [S1886] Jack Hockett, "Washington County, Virginia Death Records", New River Notes (http://www.newrivernotes.com/hockett/wcvdeaths.htm : accessed Dec. 2007). Data for James Campbell Crenshaw.
  4. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 127. Transcription reads: James Campbell Crenshaw, 3 Nov. 1854 - 11 Nov. 1934.
  5. [S1584] Peggy Lester, "Descendants of George Sanders Crenshaw and Margaret Wilson Buchanan", report dated 10 Oct. 2006. Peggy is the great niece of James Campbell Crenshaw; she states he was born at Quarry, VA.
  6. [S576] George S. Cranshaw household, 1860 U.S. cens, Smyth Co., Virginia, pop. sched., 7 Mile Ford post office, p. 878 (following 877 script), dwelling 100, family 100, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jul 2004, image 18 of 191. Enumeration reads: George S. Cranshaw, 43, farmer, personal real estate of $500; Margaret W., 47; Mary E., 15; Sally R., 13; America V., 11; John B., 10; Wellington [sic] J., 8; James C., 6; all b. VA.
  7. [S1006] Geo S. Crenshaw household, 1870 U.S. cens, Smyth Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Rich Valley township, p. 82b (stamped), dwelling 448, family 448, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jul 2004, image 68 of 90. Enumeration reads: Geo S. Crenshaw, 51, farmer, owns $750 real estate; Margaret, 57; Mary E.A.R., 25; Sarah E.O.S., 24; America _.O.S., 22; John B., 20; Joseph W., 18; James C., 16; all born VA.
  8. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 76. Transcription reads: James Crenshaw 25y sgl, b. Smyth Co. res WCV, farmer, s/o George & Mgt Crenshaw AND Mary E. Thompson, 20y, sgl, b. & resid WCV, d/o Wm & Mary A. Thompson; marr 30 Sept 1879 by H.C. Butt.
  9. [S165] George Crenshaw household, 1880 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Saltville District, ED 99, page 38B, dwelling 338, family 348, viewed online at www.Ancestry.com, October 2004, image 38 of 63. Enumeration includes: George Crenshaw, 62, marr, no occup; Margaret, 67, wife; Sallie, 32, dau, sgl; James, 26, son, marr 1 yr; Mary, 21, dau-in-law, marr 1 yr; all persons b. VA; all parents b. VA.
  10. [S237] James C. Crenshaw household, 1910 U.S. cens., Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Saltville district, ED 115, sheet 5B, dwelling 71, family 71, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Oct. 2006, image 10 of 37. Enumeration includes: James C. Crenshaw, 55, marr #1, marr 30 yrs, farmer, owns farm, no mortgage; Mary E., wife, 50, marr #1, marr 3 [sic] yrs, mother 10 children, all living; Ada W., dau, 25, teacher in free school; John B., son, 22, bookkeeper at hardware store; Elbert W., son, 20, clerk at wholesale house; Mary E., dau; Grace V., dau, 12; Jamie L., dau, 9; all b. VA; all parents b. VA; resid on Chestnut Ridge Rd.
  11. [S928] Peggy Lester, "Questions," e-mail to D. Powell, 11 Nov. 2006.
  12. [S238] James C. Crenshaw household, 1920 U.S. cens., Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Saltville district, ED 168, sheet 4A (p. 333 stamped), dwelling 51, family 52, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Oct. 2006, image 7 of 25. Enumeration includes: James C. Crenshaw, 65, farmer, owns farm; Mary E., wife, 60, house work; George W., son, 39, machinist at shipyard; Batte E., son, 39, machinist, pipe fitter; Elbert W., son, 32, shoe drummer; Mary E., dau, 28, teaching high school; Grace V., dau, 22, teaching high school; Jamie, dau, 19, teaching high school; all b. VA; all parents b. VA; all children single; resid on Crenshaw & Foster Rd.
  13. [S639] James Crenshaw household, 1930 U.S. cens., Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Saltville District, ED 96-21, sheet 2A (p. 261), dwelling 4, family 29, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Nov. 2006, image 3 of 43. Enumeration includes: James Crenshaw, 75, marr at 26, farmer, owns farm; Mary, wife, 70, marr at 21; Mary, dau, 37, sgl, teacher art school; Grace, dau, 32, sgl, teacher art college; all b. VA; all parents b. VA.
  14. [S1376] Image courtesy of Peggy (Stringer) Lester.
  15. [S574] James C. Crenshaw household, 1900 U.S. cens., Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Saltville District, ED 122, sheet 11B, dwelling 136, family 136, viewed online at Genealogy.com, Oct. 2004, image 60 of 92. Enumeration includes: James C. Crenshaw, 45, b. Nov. 1854, marr 20 yrs, farmer; Mary E.V., wife, 40, b. June 1859, mother 9 children, all living; George W., son, 19, b. Jul 1880; Batie, H., son, 18, b. May 1882; Ada W., dau, 16, b. May 1884; Asa C., dau, 14, b. Feb. 1886; John B., son, 12, b. Nov. 1887; Elbert, son, 10, b. Jul 1889; Beulah M., dau, 9, b. Apr 1891; Mary E. E., dau, 7, Feb. 1893; Dollie, dau, 1, b. Dec. 1898; all b. VA; all parents b. VA.
  16. [S1859] Sarah Finch Maiden Rollins, The Maiden Family of Virginia and Allied Families 1623-1991, p. 637-645. Mrs. Rollins cites Dr. Joanna (Maiden) Owens for her information on the descendants of Eliza (Maiden) Butt Caldwell (with the exception of son Addison).