HOMEPAGE
Descendants of William(2) b. abt 1824 Crumpton
Generation No. 1
1. WILLIAM(2) B. ABT 18243 CRUMPTON (WILLIAM(1) B. 17952, LUKE1) was born Abt. 1824 in Ala., and died December 23, 1897 in Shelby County, Ala.. He married ELIZABETH C. VANDIVER December 16, 1849 in Benton County, AL., daughter of SANFORD VANDIVER and UNKNOWN TAYLOR.
Notes for WILLIAM(2) B. ABT 1824 CRUMPTON:
William CRUMPTON(2) Abt. 1824. We do not know the exact date of his birth. His toomstone at Ebenezer Primitive Baptist Church at Westover, AL. states, "Dates Unknown". He is buried next to his wife Elizabeth VANDIVER CRUMPTON, a great Christian lady.
1830 He is in HH of his father, William(1) in St. Claire Co., AL census (COMPTON)
1840 He is in HH of his father, William(1) in Bibb Co. AL census
1841 His mother and sisters joined Sulphur Springs Bap. Church in Benton Co. William(2) did not become a church member until 11 June 1881 at Ebenezer Primitive Baptist Church.
16 Dec 1849 Married Elizabeth C. VANDIVER, (Benton County marriage, 88)
1850: In Fed. census (COMPTON), he is HH in Benton County. With him are Elizabeth, his mother Nancy and young brother, Andrew.
1850: In State census, Nancy is HH, and with her are William, Elizabeth and Andrew.
11 July 1851 First child, Isaac K. CRUMPTON was born.
1860 HH in Shelby County, AL., living next door to his brother, Andrew and his sister, Mary RAY. He is listed as 25 years old (born abt. 1825), Elizabeth age 24, Isaac 6, Martha J. 5, Rufinia 3 and Infant (Jennie) 1.He was a farmer with real estate valued at $200 and personal estate of $ 150.
2 April 1860 A land grant of 39.57 acres from USA (pat. 17,475, Vol 41, pg 204 and order 227098 (certificate 17475) in Benton County (NW1/4 of NW 1/4 of Sec 26 TW 15, Rg 5), about two and half miles from the Talladega County line, on the east side of the Coosa River, near his brother John and his father in law, Sanford VANDIVER. William applied for this grant on 24 Oct 1854. I do not know if William and Elizabeth ever lived on this land
20 Nov 1863 Enlisted in the Confederancy at Mobile for duration of the war. (see section on Civil War).
1870 I can not located our William in the census. There was a William CRUMPTON living in St. Claire County in 1870, but this was William S.
CRUMPTON, son of Jesse, who married Martha Ann DAVIS. In 1870 in Shelby County, Jesse and sister, Mary RAY, were living next door.
1873: On Shelby County Property Taxes for 1873, William is on Beat 10, Sec 4, Twsp 19, Rg 2E with 320 acres, valued for $300. (Source:; Al. Gen Society, magazine, S/psum 1993, vol 25)
1880 He is head of household in Shelby Conty, listed as 56 (born abt. 1824), Elizabeth 54, Isaac 24, D A 5, S. S. 14, Lampkin 112 and B B 10 years of age.
11 June 1881 Joined Ebenezer Primitive Baptist Church at the request of his wife, Elizabeth.
1890 - ?
23 Sept 1897. Died (Church records).(?)
CIVIL WAR: am quite sure our William CRUMPTON, born abt. 1824 served in the Confederancy. There was a Wm. CRUMPTON on Capt. Selden's Company, Trueheart's Battalion, Light Artillery, Company Muster Roll for 1 Nov to 31 Dec, 1863, and states he enlisted 20 Nov 1863 in Mobile by Capt. Selden and enlisted for period of the war: Last paid by whom, "Never Paid". Present. There is a W. CRUMPTON from same unit as above on Company Muster Roll for 1 Jan to 29 Feb 1864, stating same above enlisting data. Last paid by Capt. Jones on 1 Jan 1864. Present. Was it this same Wm. CRUMPTON that appears on a list of soldiers, found with records of the 10th. Michigan Cavalry, with these remarks: "Record of Events on F and S. Roll of the 10th. Mich. Cav for March and April, 1865, shows the regiment at Newton, N.C. for a few days paroling C.S.A. prisoners. No carded records found showing capture at or about that time. A number of records examined show no capture or parole. It is believed that the men on this list were paroled at Newton, N.C. about 19 Apr 1865. Source: National Archives Trust Fund Board, General Reference Branch,7th. and Penn. Ave., NW, Wash, D C 20408. The last Confederate troops to surrender was on 26 May 1865.
We believe the "Mobile" Confederate soldier to be our William CRUMPTON, in the same unit with his brother Andy. In April, 1862 , the Gid Nelson unit was a Shelby County unit, and our William CRUMPTON is the only one we know of that was in Shelby County in 1860s, and this William CRUMPTON journeyed all the way to Mobile to join this Shelby County outfit. It is interesting that General "Sonewall" Jackson was also born in 1824. This William was about 39 years old when he enlisted, and I believe he was ours. None of his children were born during the Civil War period between Adora Ann CRUMPTON 17 May 1861 and Sam S. CRUMPTON on 19 Nov 1865.
There were at least two (2) William CRUMPTONS from Alabama who served in the Confederancy. Mrs. H. M. CRUMPTON of Cleburn County, AL. filed pension # 27845, as widow of Wm. CRUMPTON. The name of Pensioner, Mrs. H. M. CRUMPTON stated her Wm. CRUMPTON was in Ala. Home Guard, Randolph Co. Reserves, and enlisted in 1863 at Wedowee, and the names of com'nd'r were Capts Sheppard and Smith. Our Wm. and W. CRUMPTON enlised Nov 10, 1863, Mobile by Capt. Selden and was in Battery A. Truhearts Battery, Light Artillery, Selden's Co. He was on muster roll at Mobile on Dec 31, 1863, along with his brother Andrew (Andy). He and Andy were also on same Mobile muster roll on Feb 29, 1864, signed by Lt. C. W. Loveloace. This was the last confederate record I could find on William. I do not know when he was discharged of paroled. There was only one William CRUMPTON in Shelby County 1860 census, our William, living next door to Andy and his sister Mary RAY. In the 1860 Randolph Co. AL. census we find the other William CRUMPTON on page #553. In the 1870 census, we find the "other Wm. CRUMPTON over in Cleburn Co., AL.
There was a William W. CRUMPTON , Pvt. D&H, 29th. Al. Inf. (COMPTON).
(William S. CRUMPTON was son of Jesse, and was born 1842).
William H. CRUMPTON, Pvt. served in Co. D. Alabama Infantry.
(William CRUMPTON (1211) son of Manley B. CRUMPTON was born 1830)
William and Elizabeth are buried at Ebenezer Primitive Bapt. Church cemetery, 3 miles north of Westover, AL. on Shelby Co Rd # 55.
Uncle Ezra signed death certificate for his father, Samuel S. and stated that his grandfather, William, was born in Georgia. This has always been a puzzle for me. It's possible William tarried there for awhile, but I thought he was b. in AL as census data shows.
Children of WILLIAM(2) CRUMPTON and ELIZABETH VANDIVER are:
2. i. ISAAC K.4 CRUMPTON, b. July 11, 1851, Calhoun, Ala.; d. June 25, 1893, Shelby Co AL.
3. ii. MARGARET JOSEPHINE CRUMPTON, b. February 19, 1853, CALHOUN, Ala.; d. January 07, 1952.
4. iii. RUFINIA A. CRUMPTON, b. February 12, 1856, Ala.; d. May 19, 1916, Hopkins Co., TX (Como, TX.).
iv. JOSEPHINE "GENNIE" CRUMPTON, b. 1859; m. GEORGE W. DOWNS.
5. v. ADORA ANN CRUMPTON, b. May 17, 1861, Ala.; d. October 30, 1906, Ebenezer Church, Shelby County, Ala..
6. vi. SAMUEL SILAS SAVANNAH SYLVESTER SMITH CRUMPTON, b. November 19, 1865; d. April 26, 1923.
7. vii. ELIJAH LAMPKIN CRUMPTON, b. February 29, 1868; d. December 14, 1955, Bessemer, AL buried Crumpton Cem. Shelby Co. AL..
8. viii. BROWN "BILLY" CRUMPTON, b. March 08, 1870, Ala.; d. May 17, 1947.
Generation No. 2
2. ISAAC K.4 CRUMPTON (WILLIAM(2) B. ABT 18243, WILLIAM(1) B. 17952, LUKE1) was born July 11, 1851 in Calhoun, Ala., and died June 25, 1893 in Shelby Co AL. He married MARGARET ELIZABETH SPRADLEY December 24, 1870 in Shelby Co. Al. mg. book 1869-1885 pg. 142, daughter of JOHN SPRADLEY and NANCY.
Notes for ISAAC K. CRUMPTON:
(4) Isaac K. CRUMPTON(28) was b. 11 July 1851 in Calhoun Co., AL. Isaac was the first child of William(2) and Elizabeth, and was the first of eleven preachers from the William(2)-Elizabeth line (Daddy's book, pg ) He married Margarette SPRADLEY(818) (b. abt. 1851 and d. 9 Nov 1887), the dau. of John W. SPRADLEY(2143), Sr. (b. 24 Oct 1820 d. 3 Oct. 1899) and his wife, Nancy(2144) ( b. Sept 1821 and d 25 June 1825), who lived at Sierrett, AL.
Isaac K. joinded the Ebenezer Primitive Baptist Church of Shelby County, AL on 14 Aug 1869. He was licensed to preach on 19 Nov 1870 at the age of 19, and was called to be a minister of Mt. Carmel Church on 23 Mar 1878. He was ordained to preach on 24 Aug 1878 by a "presbyte" consisting of Elders J. McELROY, J. E. McCALL, and J. W. DYKES. He and his wife, Margarette, served together until her death in abt. 1886. Isaac was called as pastor of Mt.
Olive Church near Columbia, AL. on 18 Jan 1890. He served this church until his death on 25 June 1893. The Four Mile community where he lived suffered a terrible loss in 1893, when he and three of his children died with typhoid fever; Florence died in April, Floyd died in May, Saphonia on 1st of June and Isaac on the 25th. of June. In July of the same year, Marion, another child died. The obituary, in part: "Four dear ones have gone, the voices loved are stilled. They leave a vacant place in our home, which never can be filled. His ordered walk and Godlike conversation gained for him the esteem and respect of all who knew him. Isaac was 43 years old when he died. The minutes of Mt. Olive Primitive Baptist Church made the following tribute to Isaac: "WHEREAS: The church at Mt. Olive at Shelby Co., Alabama deeply feels the loss, by death on 25th. June 1893. We deem it proper as a Church, to say as a tribute of respect to him memory, that he has been our faithful pastor since 14 Dec 1889, wherein it please our Heavenly Father, to take from our midst our beloved pastor. We are in deep submission, give God the honor, for the gift, which in him, it was proven, by his able teaching, walk and worthy example, which was the highest characterize of God's love, and one of God's true and purest gifts that can bestowed upon frail man. Yet in his meek and humble energetic defense of the doctrine, and word of God, and plan of salvation for poor mortal man, he was untiring and unflinching to the last, and may we as a church, give his as our token of love, for our departed pastor. Through his voice was forever hushed and his presence forever sealed from our view, yet this heaching and admonished lived as a example of character for a servant of the most high God. Although his warfare was over, and his race run, the work given him finished, yet may we be able to blessed be the name of the Lord. signed by: J. H. SHIRLEY, Moderator and W. A. TALLANT, Clerk. An article also appeared in "Old School Baptist Ministers", on pg. 79.
THE FAMILY OF (4)Isaac K. CRUMPTON(28):
(5) Florence CRUMPTON (819) b. 2 Oct 1871 and d. 30 Apr 1893 of typhoid fever. the eldest child in the Isaac K. CRUMPTON family died in the prime of her life at the age of 21. She cared for her brothers and sisters after her mother passed away. Typhoid fever snuffed out her life before she married.
(5) Saphronia CRUMPTON (820) b. 2 Jan 1874 and d. 1 Jun 1893 also stricken with typhoid fever and died at the age of 19.
(5) Marion CRUMPTON (821) b. abt. 1876 and d. Jul 1893 was the third child to die of typhoid fever at the age of 17.
A letter written by Dora in 1893 to her sister, Rufinia, was found in an old Ray family Bible, relating the sad news of these deaths: "Dear Sister, I once more seat my self to write to you. sis I got your letter the other day. Was glad to hear from you but sorry to hear your health was bad. sis the sad sad times we have seen this year. Brother Isaac and 4 of his children is dead and Nonnie is sick. bunny is getting well, but nania has been down 4 months and she can't walk a step yet. I don't know that she ever will, she is out of hart poor little things. I am so sorry for them. Isaac died the 25 June. Marion has died since, I forget the date. I will send their obituarys to you it was wrote before Marion died. We sent mail to you if you have not got it I will send it again. sis send Ma's picture to me as soon as you can. I want them all. Dear sis I would go to see you if I had the mone. pa is hear now he sends his love you you. Dora "
(5) Nancy Ann Elizabeth CRUMPTON (822) b. 22 Jul 1880 in Shelby Co. AL. and d. 1 Mar 1953 Birmingham, AL. md. Isaac Wilson JONES (826) 1 Mar 1899 in Birmingham, AL, and they had at least 3 children.
(6) Marion Houston JONES (828) b. 22 Dec 1901 and md Ollie (830).
(6) Myrtle Daphne JONES (829) b. 30 Jun 1908 in Harpersville, Shelby Co.
AL and md.James Ollie JOHNSON (2094) on 12 Feb 1926 in
Birmingham, AL
(6) Lester Bryant JONES (827) b. 15 Jan 1911 and md. Gertrude AUSTON
(832)
(5) William Bryant CRUMPTON (823). b. 28 Apr 1878 and d. 9 Dec 1959 md Era Susan JACKSON (833) b. 21 Jan 1886 and d. 9 Jan 1938 md. on 25 Nov 1902. They had 10 children, and much information in this volume has been learned from these descendents.
(6) Infant CRUMPTON, died young.
(6) Leland Winnie CRUMPTON (835) b. 5 Mar 1904 and md William Lee GARDNER on 18 Apr 1881.
(5) John Floyd CRUMPTON (824) b. 10 Feb. 1883 and d. 20 May 1893.
(5) Deolia Cora CRUMPTON (825) b. 28 Apr 1886 and d. 12 Oct 1926.
(5) William Bryant CRUMPTON (823)
(6) Infant CRUMPTON
(6) Leland Winnie CRUMPTON (835) b. 5 Mar 1904 md. Claiborne LEE(843); md. William Lee GARDNER(849) 2nd. marriage b. 18 Apr 1881
Children of ISAAC CRUMPTON and MARGARET SPRADLEY are:
i. FLORENCE5 CRUMPTON, b. October 02, 1871; d. April 30, 1893.
ii. SAPHRONIA CRUMPTON, b. January 02, 1874; d. June 01, 1893.
iii. MARION CRUMPTON, b. 1876; d. July 1893.
iv. WILLIAM BRYANT "BUN" CRUMPTON, b. April 28, 1878; d. December 09, 1959, AL; m. EVA SUSAN JACKSON, November 25, 1902, Shelby Co. Al.marriage book 1900-1905 pg 391.
Notes for WILLIAM BRYANT "BUN" CRUMPTON:
Grandpa Sam Crumpton married W.B. and Eva in 1902.
v. NANCY ANN ELIZABETH CRUMPTON, b. July 22, 1880, Shelby County, AL; d. March 01, 1953, Birmingham, AL; m. ISSAC WILSON JONES, March 01, 1899, Birmingham, AL.
vi. JOHN FLOYD B.1883 S/O ISAAC CRUMPTON, b. February 10, 1883; d. May 20, 1893, Shelby Co., AL.
vii. DELIA CORA "LIELA" CRUMPTON, b. April 28, 1886; d. October 12, 1926; m. CHARLIE MCDANIEL FARRIS.
3. MARGARET JOSEPHINE4 CRUMPTON (WILLIAM(2) B. ABT 18243, WILLIAM(1) B. 17952, LUKE1) was born February 19, 1853 in CALHOUN, Ala., and died January 07, 1952. She married WILLIAM WILSON "BUDDY" ELLIOTT 1876.
Children of MARGARET CRUMPTON and WILLIAM ELLIOTT are:
i. DAISY5 ELLIOTT, m. MILLER.
ii. ADA LOU ELLIOTT, b. August 11, 1877; d. April 17, 1921; m. ALLEN MCCLINTON.
iii. GEORGE GILBERT ELLIOTT, b. October 26, 1878; d. November 11, 1964; m. IDA ELIZABETH BUSH, 1900.
iv. WILLIAM S. ELLIOTT, b. August 22, 1887; d. May 21, 1973; m. ADDIE MCCLINTON.
v. DOVIE LEE ELLIOTT, b. July 01, 1891; d. March 11, 1917.
vi. FRED HUSTON ELLIOTT, b. June 18, 1893; d. May 02, 1901.
vii. CLAUDE S. ELLIOTT, b. April 01, 1895; d. September 28, 1932.
4. RUFINIA A.4 CRUMPTON (WILLIAM(2) B. ABT 18243, WILLIAM(1) B. 17952, LUKE1) was born February 12, 1856 in Ala., and died May 19, 1916 in Hopkins Co., TX (Como, TX.). She married WILLIAM M. "BILLY" RAY January 14, 1877 in Shelby Co., AL. marriage book 1869-85 pg377, son of LUKE RAY and MARY CRUMPTON.
Children of RUFINIA CRUMPTON and WILLIAM RAY are:
i. "BABY"5 RAY, b. October 12, 1877; d. January 10, 1878.
ii. DOVIE OPHELIA RAY, b. March 17, 1879, Hopkins Co., TX.; d. December 07, 1911, Hopkins Co., TX.; m. NOAH T. MORGAN, February 04, 1897.
iii. WILLIAM PAUL RAY, b. July 23, 1880; d. August 12, 1965; m. ANNA LENORA ARMSTRONG, November 09, 1903.
iv. CHARLIE BANKS RAY, b. January 13, 1882.
v. SAMMIE BERRY RAY, b. September 18, 1883; d. October 01, 1884.
vi. ROBIE ELIZABETH RAY, b. February 04, 1886; d. February 12, 1969; m. (1) KYLE YOUNG, October 29, 1911; m. (2) GEORGE ENNIS TITTLE, 1948.
vii. SALLY LOU RAY, b. April 26, 1888; d. January 18, 1889.
viii. JESSIE THOMAS RAY, b. November 15, 1889; d. July 01, 1975.
ix. FRONIE IRENE RAY, b. March 11, 1892; d. March 06, 1892.
x. MARY LEONA RAY, b. January 08, 1895; d. May 05, 1908.
5. ADORA ANN4 CRUMPTON (WILLIAM(2) B. ABT 18243, WILLIAM(1) B. 17952, LUKE1) was born May 17, 1861 in Ala., and died October 30, 1906 in Ebenezer Church, Shelby County, Ala.. She married WARREN JACKSON "JAY" HARTSVILLE March 01, 1894 in Shelby Co. Al.marriage book 1891-96 pg. 262.
Notes for ADORA ANN CRUMPTON:
There were no living male children by Adora and her husband,
Hartsfield, so I am not kin to any Hartsfields by Crumpton
blood. Adora was his first wife, and W. J. Hartsfield had other children by
2nd. wife.
Sam. S. Crumpton md. Adora and W. J., 1 Mar 1894.
Children of ADORA CRUMPTON and WARREN HARTSVILLE are:
i. STELLA DAISY5 HARTSVILLE, b. February 25, 1895; m. GENERAL J. PATMON, April 07, 1912.
ii. AMANDA ADORA HARTSVILLE, b. March 28, 1897; m. (1) CLYDE J. JARRETT, May 09, 1919; m. (2) JAMES J. HUBBARD, August 21, 1959.
iii. HOMER LLOYD HARTSVILLE, b. August 1901; d. February 20, 1902.
iv. R. F. HARTSVILLE, b. February 21, 1905; d. April 20, 1905.
6. SAMUEL SILAS SAVANNAH SYLVESTER SMITH4 CRUMPTON (WILLIAM(2) B. ABT 18243, WILLIAM(1) B. 17952, LUKE1) was born November 19, 1865, and died April 26, 1923. He married JEFSONNAH VIVANA ROBERTSON, daughter of JAMES ROBERTSON and REBECCA SMITH.
Notes for SAMUEL SILAS SAVANNAH SYLVESTER SMITH CRUMPTON:
Samuel Silas Savannah Sylvester Smith CRUMPTON
I never knew Grandpa Sam CRUMPTON. He died before I was born. He had six brothers and two sisters. Nearly all of my data on S.S.S.S.S., my grandfather, comes from Daddy's book, "The Days of Our Years". He had a crippled right shoulder and hand. He was thrown from a "go cart" (a two wheeled vehicle) when he was a young man, and was unable to perform manual labor. He also cut the tendons in this hand with a scythe blade, and he had to hold his pencil and chalk between his thumb and little finger. His brothers agreed to do the farming while "Sam" went to public school to get an education. He never attended a day in high school or college. He finally became one of the outstanding teachers in Shelby County for about forty years. His average on the State School Teachers' Examination was from 94% to 100%, and he taught in a number of schools while he preached.
Elizabeth VANDIVER CRUMPTON, his mother, had a profound influence on his life. Grandfather Sam wrote her obituary in the "Gospel Messenger - 1892". "Mother was very faithful to train me in that way that would enable me to have had nothing charged against me as a gentleman. She was my law-giver; hence she taught me to be honest, truthful and industrious. My mother has been a Primitaive Baptist ever since before I can remember. My father is no professor at all."
He and his sister, Dora, joined the Ebenezer Primitive Baptist Church on 14 August 1886, and was baptized by his brother, I. K. CRUMPTON.
His father, William(2) CRUMPTON purchased land in Shelby County, AL in _____ (plotted on Shelby County map), and Grandfather Sam was probably born there on 19 Nov 1865, as the Civil War ended. Grandfather Sam purchased sixty acres in ______ (plotted on Shelby County map) and this land had to be cleared for farming, as Daddy describes. This one-horse farm had a four-room house with a hall and back porch. " Mother made a "fly swing" out of newspapers or whatever papers we had, with fringes on the edge. She would use this while we were eating to keep the flies away from the food and from our plates."
Grandfather CRUMPTON was a Primtive Baptist Minister, school teacher and farmer. He was ordained in March, 1891, and pastored a number of churches. On page 27 of Daddy's book, he describes Grandfather Sam CRUMPTON's preaching. "Father was a great preacher from God's nature. He would take the things in nature and parallel them with thaings in the spiritual realm. One morning he was driving to his appointment and everything was still and calm. No leaves on the trees were moving, but as he glanced upon one tree, he saw one leaf that was shaking very rapidly. This one shaking leaf drew his attention. When he went into the pulpit that morning to preach, he took some text of Scripture and paralleled its meaning with the shaking leaf." He was a very humble man, and asked the prayers of his people.
Daddy wrote his father's obituary, which was published in "The Peoples Advocate", in Columbiana, AL on 8 May 1923:
Notes for JEFSONNAH VIVANA ROBERTSON:
I don't remember seeing Grandma Vanna alive. I remember her lying in her coffin, at Aunt Lois' house in 1939 (I was 6 yrs old). Daddy describes his mother well in his book, and I shall not repeat it here. She was a Robertson,
and Larose Adams Wynn traced the Robertson line, and this is on file in
"Ezra Crumpton" file and also "Robertson" file.
Children of SAMUEL CRUMPTON and JEFSONNAH ROBERTSON are:
i. WILLIAM DOUGLAS(WILLIE)5 CRUMPTON, b. January 05, 1890, Shelby Co., AL; d. July 05, 1909, Shelby Co. Al. (Crumpton Cemertery).
ii. JEFSONNAH ELIZABETH "JEFFIE" CRUMPTON, b. March 11, 1892; d. August 04, 1928, Ensley, AL.; m. CLIFTON HAND.
iii. IVY SYLVESTER CRUMPTON, b. January 31, 1894, Shelby County, Ala.; d. August 19, 1969; m. CLEVIE OPHELIA CARLTON, 1914.
Notes for IVY SYLVESTER CRUMPTON:
Uncle Ivy, Daddy's brother, was silvered haired in photos, but I don't remember him. He was pastor at Sumiton Church of God and Empire Church of God for many years. Another Crumpton preacher. In his early adulthood he ran a barber shop, a shoe shop and a dry cleaning business. He and Aunt Cleavie had 5 children.
Syrell and Carroline Crumpton,
3565 58th. Ave. N # 119, St. Petersburg, FL 33714
Daddy speaks of his brother, Ivy, in his book.
iv. ALVA RISKA CRUMPTON, b. February 28, 1896, Four Mile Commun, Shelby County, Ala.; d. January 02, 1979, Claxton, GA.; m. ALMA JANE MOONEY, December 20, 1914, Shelby County, Ala..
Notes for ALVA RISKA CRUMPTON:
Dan.AlvaRisk
ALVA RISKA CRUMPTON
My father, Elder Alva Riska CRUMPTON (1896-1979), completed his memoirs in "The Days of Our Years" in 1977. He was a great man, and I am so honored to be one of his nine children. Mama stood by his side, and he dedicated his book to her:
DEDICATED
"To my own dear wife and companion at whose heart's door I knocked for courtship and love, she so graciously and tenderly opened unto me, became the sweetest and dearest, when at last we stood at the altar before the "Man of God," and said to him and to the witnesses present and to Almighty God, "I do". For these sixty two years as husband and wife we have journeyed together hand in hand, heart to heart, sharing life's joys and sorrows, prosperities and adversities. The next thing dearest to us aside from the blessed relationship that we have with our Heavenly Father and the cause of truth and righteousness are our dear children who have so radiantly brightened our lives and who are the deepest expression and manifestation of our joy and gladness.
And to you, precious children, as you survey the pages of this book, may they supply great joy to your heart and satisfaction to your mind. If the fundamentals of truth as taught in God's word are your convictions and you love them, then I am most happy indeed. I pray that you may never be swayed nor moved away from the "faith wihich was once delivered unto the saints".
Daddy was a great writer. On the opposite, unnumbered page of this dedication, is a photograph,
not dated, of Mama and Daddy. It appears the photograph was made around 1970.
I quote from Daddy's book, as this magnificent volume is the only available source of many events pertaining to CRUMPTONS that occcured in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. There are no copies available and my brothers and sisters do not plan for a second edition. The University fo Tennesse Library indexed his book, and I can now readily turn to exact pages for specific individuals.
Daddy's earliest recollection or historical documentation of his ancestry was has grandfather William(2) "Bill" CRUMPTON, and grandmother Mary Elizabeth VANDIVER CRUMPTON.
(pg 3). His father, S.S. CRUMPTON , also a school teacher and preacher, did not relate to him or give to him any genealogical information. Daddy vividly describes his father, mother, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, children, grandchildren, church members and others. His experiences were hard and remarkable. I now reach into these precious pages to make this volume as complete as possible.
CRUMPTON, Alva Riska
He was born 28 February 1896 in a small two-room house near a small brook, in the Four Mile Community of Shelby County, AL, between Wilsonville and Columbiana. As a small lad, he would ride to chuch in a one-horse or two-horse wagon. "Father and Mother would sit on the 'spring seat' with Mother holding the baby. We other children rode on a pallet in the wagon bed. Some of the roads were rough and rocky and by the time we had arrived at the church, we were very much 'shaken up'. The day before church, Mother would cook some ginger bread and we would eat that as we rode along the dusty or muddy road. When we arrived at the church, Mother would take us all down to the spring and fill us up with water. We could have not more gingerbread nor water until after church, which sometimes lasted from two to four hours. It was very common to have two, four or more preachers present and they all had to preach. When we finally got out of church, the rest of Mother's gingerbread filled some very empty stomachs. A bucket of water and dipper were kept on the table in front of the pulpit, and it was no unusual sight for a mother to carry her baby on her hip to the water bucket during the services."
"The main entertainment in our community on Saturday night was the 'frolic' or 'square dance'. It was not the 'hugging' sort we see on television today. The girls would hold the boys at arms' length. Many daughters were chaperoned to the dance by their fathers or by a brother."
"About all the money we boys had during the year was one dollar for Christmas and fifty cents for the Fourth of July, but the money bought a lot of Christmas and a lot of lemonade. Sometimes Father would give us a little money to buy stamps. Christmas Eve night we hung our black stockings on the mantle piece. And how we did look for old Saint Nick! We could hardly wait on Christmas morning to run to our stockings to see what Santy had brought. We usually had an orange, an apple, a bunch of raisins, some "nigger toes" (Brazil nuts), and two sticks of candy. There were no such things as toys for us children nor any firecrackers."
Back then, there was no market for timber. Being a forester, this was of special interest to me. "Father bought a forty-acre tract of land, the most of which was in the woods. We cleared enough land for a one-horse farm. I can well remember the 'log rollings'. The neighbors would gather on a certain day, clear the ground, and at the end of the day they would pile the logs into great heaps and burn them. There was no sale for the logs. My parents finished rearing me on this farm (plotted on Shelby County map). The land was rolling, and we had to build terraces."
"All the schooling I had was Grammar School under my father's teaching. It required about ten years for me to finish through the seventh grade. School lasted about seven months in the year. I would go for about five months in the winter and then leave school in the spring to begin farming. It was about three miles to school. The only transportation we had was walking. Father rode in his buggy." Daddy attended a one-room school, consisting of seven grades.
CRUMPTON, Alva Riska Daddy describes meeting Mama as the 'Girl of my Dreams'. I would like to quote his entire memoirs on this, but space does not permit. Their homes were about three and half miles apart, and Daddy would borrow Granpa Sam's mule to ride to see Mama, with the understanding that the mule had to be back home by sundown. Granpa Sam did not seem to mind Daddy being late, but that mule had to get back for his rest for following day's work. The day before they married, Daddy sold a bale of cotton for six cents a pound and the cotton seed for nine dollars a ton. After paying his debts, he had two dollars left. They married 20 Dec 1914, and Daddy gave the preacher one dollar, leaving them one dollar. Daddy was 18 years old and Mama was 14 years old when they married. The following day, Daddy passed the State Teacher's Examination at Columbiana. He farmed with Grandpa Sam that first year. Their first child, William Douglas, was born on 21 Sep 1915 in Papa Mooney's home. That fall, Daddy began teaching school for $50.00/month. Later he worked at a sawmill for $ 1.25/day.
Daddy was ordained to preach as a Primitive Baptist minister on 30 March 1918, at the age of 22. Great Grandfather, William(2) was not a religious man, but his wife, Great Grandmother Elizabeth VANDIVER CRUMPTON had a profound religious influence on her children.
From this family there were eleven preachers:
Sons of William(2) CRUMPTON: Isaac K. CRUMPTON, S.Sam CRUMPTON, E. L. CRUMPTON and all were Primitive Baptist preachers.
Sons of S. Sam CRUMPTON: Alva Riska CRUMPTON and Tilmon L. CRUMPTON were Primitive Baptist and Ivy CRUMPTON and Millard B. CRUMPTON were Church of God preachers.
Grandsons of Isaac CRUMPTON: Lehman FARRIS and Elwin FARRIS were Primitive Baptist preachers.
Son of E. L. CRUMPTON: Grady CRUMPTON was a Missionary Baptist preacher.
Son of Alva Riska CRUMPTON: Waymond A. CRUMPTON was a Primitive Baptist preacher.
CRUMPTON, Alva Riska: Daddy had so many interesting and funny true stories to tell: "Some young preachers are like young wasp; they are bigger when they hatch out than at any other time". On one occasion he married a young couple. The groom asked how much he owed the preacher. Daddy replied that he did not set a fee, but would appreciate it if he cared to give him something. The groom replied, "Well, you will have to mail the license and it will take postage." He gave Daddy a nickel. It cost two cents to mail the license and Daddy had three cents left for travel expense to the marriage ceremony.
Daddy tells about my sister, Eva, when she was two years old. Our communion service was held about once a year, and it was symbolic of the Last Supper when Jesus broke bread with his disciples and shared in the humility of washing each other's feet. Eva was in attendance with Mama, and she began taking her shoes off like everyone else. Eva would not let Mama put her shoes back on. One kind sister gently took her, washed her feet, and then she put her shoes back on.
"A preacher in the old days had to ride a ferryboat across the river to go to this preaching station. The fare was fifty cents a round trip to cross the river. The preacher did not have any money and asked the ferryman if he could pay on his way back across. The deal was agreed upon and the preacher just knew the Lord would provide when he finished preaching that day. However, he did not receive anything at the church. As the preacher made his way toward the river, he wondered what he could do about the fare he had promised to pay. Just then a fat possum ran across the road. The preacher was very fond of possum and ran after it, caught it, tied its feet and put it in his buggy. As he crossed on the ferry, the ferryman noticed the possum and asked how much he would take for it. He said he could have it for the price of his passage on the ferry. The man took him up on it. The Lord did provide!".
He and Mama secured jobs in a cotton mill in Sylacauga in the spring of 1921, while he continued to preach and teach school. They moved from Sylacauga to Calcis, AL in 1922. When his school term ended in spring of 1923, they moved to Leeds. AL. where he worked for Atlas Portland Cement Company. He relates the "sweet liberty" he had when he conducted the prayer at his father's funeral. He firmly believed that a man had to be "called by God" before he could adequately preach, regardless of the man's education. All the education in the world would not make a good preacher; he had to be "choosen".
By 1924 they had moved back to Shelby County, AL, and Daddy was working with Shelby County Iron Works. In September, 1924 to attended nine church "association" meetings in Georgia, and was gone for about six (6) weeks. In 1925, he and Mama moved with their five children to the community of Kent, AL. where Daddy did some "share cropping". The move to Manchester, GA was made in late 1925 to pastor Ebenezer Church. They had no horse or mule. They walked or "hitched" a ride wherever they went. Often times he received no money for preaching, but members gave them food.
They moved to Woodland, GA in 1926, and this was where my brother Sam was born. The family kept growing! They got their first cow, a Holstein, and they sold milk and butter to make ends meet. Mama had a milk cow until I finished highschool, and when I was came along, she did all the milking. In 1928 Daddy purchased a Model-T Ford, but had to let it go back, because he could keep up the payments on it. Statesboro Church called Daddy, and the family of eight moved there in 1926 where my sister Alice Deal was born.
In 1930, the family of nine moved to Claxton in the house across the road from Mr. Cleve Durrence, and this is where Majo and I were born. This completed the family of Elder and Mrs. Alva Riska CRUMPTON; five boys and four girls. His memoirs show him preaching from Indiana to all parts of Georgia. He usually had four (4) churches, and preached at one church each month. In 1932 he left all his family in Claxton for schooling at Walker Park, near Monroe, GA. He received his highschool diploma from G.V.T.S. (Georgia Vocational Training School) at the age of 36, and was elected valedictorian by his class. His first teaching assignment in Georgia was at Fair Haven School in Tattnall County in 1933 for $ 42.00 per month, and of course he preached on the week-ends. He finally purchased a car he could keep, a Model A..
In 1934 we moved to Hagan, about the time President F. D. Roosevelt started the W.P.A. These were hard times for everyone, during the depression. Daddy attended a training school in Adult Education at South Georgia Teachers College in Statesboro (now Georgia Southern University).
He qualified to teach for the W.P.A. to illiterate adults. He would go from house to house in the afternoons and night, teaching men and women. He made $ 9.25 per week.
The Bellville years started in late 1934, and this is where I grew up as a young boy. There were about five acres of open land and pecan trees that Daddy rented for $ 10.00 per month, and half the pecans. Some years Daddy sold enough pecans to pay the rent. He continued his education in Atlanta, at Teachers Training School, but his first love was the pulpit. He knew no geographical boundaries, as he traveled as far as Miana, FL. in his ministry, where one fine brother stood up and said, "Let us take another collection to feed nine mouths, clothe nine bodies and shoe eighteen feet". Daddy tells of Grandmother Crumpton staying with us then; I don't remember this.
Mama and Daddy saw their four (4) oldest sons volunteer for the service in WW II. W. D., Pruet, and Sam in the U.S. Navy and Waymond in the U. S. Air Force were all over seas at the same time, along with Doris' husband, Louis Smith. I have always been real proud of this, and there was great joy and celebration when they returned from the war. Before leaving Bellville,
Daddy was elected the first male president of the Parent Teacher Association.
Daddy was a great record keeper. The following was his net income for the following years: Year 1936 was $ 934.78; Year 1937 was $ 951.84; Year 1938 was $ 897.06; Year 1939 was $ 983.83; Year 1940 was $ 1,017.86; Year 1941 was $ 1,211.42 Year 1942 was $ 1,423.04; Year 1943 was $ 1,698.49; Year 1944 was $ 2,113.13 Year 1945 was $ 2,774.24.
He purchased his first and only house in Claxton, Ga in 1945 for $ 2,200.00, and it took him twenty years to pay off the mortgage. He and Mama lived the remainder of their lives in this house on South Ralph Street, and this is where I lived until I finished highschool in 1950.
In 1947 he started writing literature for Bible Study, and he would work many hours into the night , pecking on his typewriter. He used only his two index fingers when typeing, but he was fast. I can see him now, using 3 or 4 sheets of carbon paper. No one had a copy machine back then. He wrote lessons for children and adults for about 30 years.
He wrote The Church In The Wilderness , a volume on Primitive Baptist Doctrine that was copyrighted in 1962. He gave one of these books to my son, Hank, on 10 April 1971, when Hank was 14 years old, and inscribed in front of book:
" This book dedicated to Hank Crumpton, one of the four grandsons who will bear the family name. May you carry it high and bear it honorably, as your predecessors have done. I wish and pray for you the very best in life. You are now growing into young manhood, and as your grow into the things that are essential to a successful career in life, may your growth also be in the spiritual things of our Lord. May you have many happy days, months and years, and whatever they hold for you, make the best of them."
In Much Love
Grandaddy
Hank is now thirty-nine years old. His Granddaddy would have been very pleased with his life.
During his sixty years of pastorial work, he served 37 churches and preached 8,140 sermons, and seventeen of these were highschool or college baccalaureate sermons. He baptized 385 individuals into the Primitive Baptist Faith, including all of his nine (9) children. He expected his children to be Primitive Baptist, and everyone of us joined. He perfomred 119 wedding ceremonies, and I lose count of the number of funerals he conducted.
He enjoyed his Beechnut chewing tobacco and garden. He loved to fish for "trout" (bass) in the streams and ponds of Southeast Georgia. He always had a place to preach and fish. I never heard him curse, swear or lose his temper. He was the kindest man I have ever known, and he was a man of God. He continued to preach almost until his death, at the age of 83.
v. SILAS BUNYAN CRUMPTON, b. June 14, 1898, Shelby Co. Al.; d. September 22, 1917, Shelby Co. Al (Crumpton Cemetery)..
vi. LOIS VIVANNA CRUMPTON, b. August 06, 1900, Sterrett, AL, Shelby Co.; m. (1) CARY CARLOS DYKES, September 13, 1925; m. (2) ROY LUTHER COOK, October 03, 1953.
vii. MILLARD BROWN CRUMPTON, b. October 24, 1902, Shelby County, AL; d. December 03, 1992, Tate County, MS; m. EVELYN DOWNEY.
viii. EZRA LAMPKIN CRUMPTON, b. 1905, Shelby Co., AL; d. July 06, 1945, Memphis, TN.; m. LUCILLE HARRELSON ADAMS.
Notes for EZRA LAMPKIN CRUMPTON:
Uncle Ezra died a young man in 1945. His life and death are well documented in my father's book, and need not be repeated here. His son,
David, visited us in Warrenton, and presently lives in Atlanta. His stepdau.,
Larose Wynn, is a very special person, and has been a genealogy "buddy"
of mine since the mid 1980s. She has contributed much. She was the one
who located William Compton in 1850 Benton Co census, with Nany in HH,
and this was first we had hear of Nancy Crumpton, mother to our William.
David and Larose had same mother, Lucille. Uncle Ezra married Lucille when Larose and her sister, Dee were children.
Uncle Ezra signed death certificate of Grandpa Sam. (Samuel S. Crumpton),
and stated Sam's father, William, was b. in Ga. This had always concerned me, and in a letter from Madine Evans, Shelby Co. AL Historian, dated
26 July, 1986, " William probably stopped for a time in Georgia and Ezra thought he was born there".
Larose, his step daughter, said he went by the name "E.L."
Refer to Daddy's book on Uncle Ezra.
Notes for LUCILLE HARRELSON ADAMS:
Lucille was mother of Larose Wynn Adams Wynn, and Larose has been of
tremendous help to me. Refer notes on Ezra Crumpton.
ix. TILMON LUTHER CRUMPTON, b. February 13, 1907, Shelby Co., AL.; d. June 29, 1986; m. ELLOWISE OTWELL.
7. ELIJAH LAMPKIN4 CRUMPTON (WILLIAM(2) B. ABT 18243, WILLIAM(1) B. 17952, LUKE1) was born February 29, 1868, and died December 14, 1955 in Bessemer, AL buried Crumpton Cem. Shelby Co. AL.. He married MARY ALBERTINE WESSON November 04, 1888, daughter of JOHN WESSON and MARY PATTON.
Children of ELIJAH CRUMPTON and MARY WESSON are:
i. CECIL GENEVA5 CRUMPTON, b. December 02, 1889, Four Mile, Wilsonville, AL.; d. December 12, 1973, Nursing Home, Columbiana, AL; m. JOHN BRODIS TEMPLIN, November 04, 1906, Columbiana, AL.
ii. BUFORD FLOY CRUMPTON, b. March 15, 1891, Four Mile, Wilsonville, AL.; d. February 16, 1961, Doctor Hosp., Bessemer, AL; m. LENA TEMPLIN, November 06, 1910, Columbiana, AL by. Sam S. Crumpton.
Notes for BUFORD FLOY CRUMPTON:
Buford and Lena were married by Grandpa Sam as Grandpa's residence.
iii. JOHN C B.1892 MANNING S/O LAMPKIN CRUMPTON, b. July 15, 1892, Four Mile, Wilsonville, AL.; d. December 29, 1929, Woodlawn Hosp., Birmingham, AL.; m. LULA HARWELL, March 13, 1914, Columbiana, AL..
Notes for JOHN C B.1892 MANNING S/O LAMPKIN CRUMPTON:
George W. Crumpton married John Manning and Lula 13 Mar 1914
iv. RUDI LAMPKIN CRUMPTON, b. August 16, 1895, Four Mile, Wilsonville, AL.; d. May 13, 1964; m. BEULAH ELIZABETH JOHNSON, July 03, 1914, Columbiana, AL. by Sam S. Crumpton.
Notes for RUDI LAMPKIN CRUMPTON:
Grandpa Sam married Rudi and Beulah 3 July 1914.
v. LALLAGE BERNARD SR. CRUMPTON, b. February 18, 1898, Four Mile, Wilsonville, AL.; d. April 12, 1937, Lloyd Nolan Hosp, Fair Field, AL.; m. FLORENCE HORTON, Columbiana, AL..
vi. ISAAC DANIEL CRUMPTON, b. January 16, 1900, Four Mile, Wilsonville, AL.; d. October 30, 1937, HARLAN, KY. (?) Buried Crumpton Cemetery, Shelby Co.; m. EVA PEARL STONE, Columbiana, AL..
vii. BLANCHE C. CRUMPTON, b. January 12, 1903, Kingdom, Shelby Co., AL.; m. GEORGE FRANK INGRAM, September 11, 1921, Home, Kingdom, Shelby Co., AL..
viii. BURMIA ANNA ALBERTINE CRUMPTON, b. April 10, 1905, Kingdom, Shelby Co., AL.; d. May 18, 1906, Home, Kingdom, Shelby Co., AL..
ix. BLENNA OLANDA CRUMPTON, b. March 02, 1912, Home, Kingdom, Shelby Co., AL; d. July 02, 1972, Shelby Mem. Hosp, Alabaster, AL.( Crumpton Cem.); m. MILDRED SMITHERMAN, January 30, 1949, Mississippi.
Notes for BLENNA OLANDA CRUMPTON:
Blenna Crumpton was Pvt. in Company A, 176 Eng., WWII
x. GRADY WESSON CRUMPTON, b. September 16, 1907, Four Mile, Al, Shelby Co; d. August 07, 1984, Bessemer, AL, Jefferson Co; m. ALVIE DUTTON, Columbiana, AL..
8. BROWN "BILLY"4 CRUMPTON (WILLIAM(2) B. ABT 18243, WILLIAM(1) B. 17952, LUKE1) was born March 08, 1870 in Ala., and died May 17, 1947. He married OLLIE ALBRIGHT January 07, 1893 in Shelby Co. Al. mg. book 1891-96 pg 22.
Notes for BROWN "BILLY" CRUMPTON:
see notes from Vida Stone Crumpton: Vida mailed photos (filed under
photos). also of Ollie Albright Crumpton.
Vida Stone Crumpton letter of 27 Aug 1988. "Brown Crumpton did not ever join the Primitive Baptist but he has a believer. I used to get the bible to read to him trying to prove the missionary was right and when I read it to him it seem to have a different meaning. He said he had made me Primitive Baptist believer. So he did. Vida"
Brown Crumpton was married by Sam. S. Crumpton.
Children of BROWN CRUMPTON and OLLIE ALBRIGHT are:
i. LETTIE BELLE5 CRUMPTON, b. November 11, 1893; d. May 08, 1969; m. JOHN MOORE, January 21, 1912.
ii. MYRTIE LILLIAN CRUMPTON, b. January 29, 1896; d. October 23, 1970; m. WILLIAM H. MERRELL, October 27, 1925.
iii. SAMUEL WILLIAM GUTHERIE CRUMPTON, b. May 11, 1898; d. July 23, 1941.
iv. ALMA LUDIE CRUMPTON, b. February 23, 1900; d. May 25, 1949; m. WILLIAM N. THACKER, March 31, 1918.
v. OCIE CHANDLER CRUMPTON, b. May 18, 1902; d. March 31, 1984; m. KATE BLOCKER, October 26, 1929.
vi. LONNIE CLYDE CRUMPTON, b. January 10, 1905; d. July 09, 1976; m. HAZEL SANDERS, September 30, 1928.
vii. DOTTIE LEONA CRUMPTON, b. November 08, 1908; d. April 10, 1974; m. AUBRY E. ELKINS, June 29, 1929.
viii. LEO MILLER CRUMPTON, b. October 02, 1911; d. November 18, 1974; m. VIDA STONE, February 21, 1935.
Notes for VIDA STONE:
Received a letter, 12 Aug 1988 from Vida Stone Crumpton.
"My name is Vida Crumpton. My husband was Leo Miller Crumpton, s/o
Billy Brown Crumpton. Leo and I knew Brother Riska Crumpton. He lived in
Georgia and used to come to Leeds to visit Leo's sister, Lettie Moore. They would call us and we would go down to listen to Brother Riska preach and talk. We were Primitive Baptist also. I knew Elijah Lampkin Crumpton and his family. We all called him Uncle Lank and his wife Aunt Tiny." She gave me
the Billy Brown Crumpton family sheet.
ix. EARL BROWN CRUMPTON, b. July 22, 1913; d. June 06, 1944.