Biographical Sketch of John L. Criswell, Franklin County, Missouri

>From "History of Franklin, Jefferson, Washington, Crawford and 
Gasconade Counties", Biographical Appendix, Goodspeed Publishing 
Company, 1888.

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John L. Criswell, a farmer of Franklin County, Mo., is a native of St.
Louis County, Mo., and was born in 1817.  He is the third of ten child-
ren of James and Elizabeth (Jump) Criswell, and was reared on the farm,
receiving his education in the subscription schools of the county.  He
kept the ferry at Liletown, on the Osage River, farmed and worked at
various occupations in different parts of Missouri until 1846.  In the
latter year he married Elizabeth, daughter of James Roack, and then 
settled on the Mackey claim, in a small log house surrounded by about
twenty acres of land; here they lived about seven years, and accumula-
ted considerable stock and personal property.  In 1853 Mr. Criswell
sold the farm, and entered eighty acres in Polk County, where he en-
gaged in agricultural pursuits for a short time, but was unsuccessful.
He then returned to Crawford County, and in 1856 moved to Franklin
County, where, for about five years, he was employed in the Spring 
Creek Mills, his wife keeping boarders.  They were successful finan-
cially, and in 1859 Mr. Criswell bought eighty acres of land, to which 
he has since added eighty more.  To Mr. and Mrs. Criswell there were 
born six children, three of whom are deceased.  Those living are James 
K. P., John, William and Kittie (the wife of E. D. Bray, a farmer of
Crawford County).  James is also married and away from home.  William
has never married, but owns a good farm, some stock, and some mining
land near Stanton, and lives with his parents in Stanton; he has ser-
ved as justice of the peace, and, like his father, is a Republican in
politics.  Mrs. Criswell is a consistent member of the Christian 
Church, and is one of the original members of the organization in
Stanton.  This worthy old couple are much honored and respected by 
all who know them and their home is a favorite resort of the young
people.

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