Austin Archives: Elba Nile Kingman Crow: Sketch of My Life, 1955

Sketch of my life, 1955

by Elba Nile Kingman Crow (1884-1977)

On a hot August day – 27^th 1884 I was ushered into this world by Dr. James in our home in Mount Gilead. In those days there was no special preparations as now, but either some one of the family or a neighbor came in to assist the doctor – no sterilized garments or masks but I guess they did boil the instruments. The usual fee for delivery was ten dollars. I was named Elba Nile Kingman for mother’s sister Elba – later Mrs. W.F. Duncan – whom I always loved and looked upon as a big sister.

My earliest recollections are of my Aunt Elba – who spent a lot of time with us – taking me when she went to picnics or riding with her beaux. Why she & Nellie Henson, a cousin, would want to take me I never knew except that they said I was “awful cute”. I do remember expecting to go every time I saw Aunt Elba dress up to go and was disappointed if left behind.

Viola Shank lived next door and was the idol & envy of my life because she had very long hair. My ambition was to have hair as long as Viola. Each day mother (we always said mamma & papa) would brush & brush & try to stretch it, and I would look n the glass to see if it was as long as Viola’s. I was a very happy child and had lots of attention.

One cold night my father bundled me up, put me on a sled & handed me over to Dr. James’ home where I stayed a night & a day. When I went back home mamma was in a bed, which had been put up in the sitting room where it was warm. There in the bed with her was a cute little blue-eyed girl. This baby was named Hortense Virginia for papa’s sister. She was so cute & I was crazy about her. I recall one cold winter morning mamma was bathing the baby in front of the door (we had no bathroom then). I was playing by the cellar door. All of a sudden I fell through the door & down those steps, which were steep & of stone. Mother cried out, dumped baby Hortense in a basket of clothes & rushed down to pick me up fearing the worse. But for minor cuts & bruises I was all right.

Elba Nile Kingman Crow (1884-1977), age 3

Grandmother Crow remarked that she traveled to college in 1901 by horse

and lived to see a man land on the moon.

Hortense Kingman Duncan (1888-1968)

My Great Aunt Hortense attended the Art Institute of Chicago

as an art student around 1907-1910 and posed for the sculptor Lorado Taft

The first trip on the trains was to Portsmouth, Ohio. Mamma took baby & me to see her sister Caroline Haddox who then had five children. I do not remember too much about it except that we had a long wait in Columbus Station. A lady there took me for a little walk and bought me a lantern filled with red candy. We were gone so long that mamma became worried and came to find us with baby Hortense in her arms. The lady said, “Did you think I had kidnapped her?” and I wondered what she meant. The big event in Portsmouth was that Hortense learned to walk while there. We must have had a big time with all that gang.

One time I ran away downtown looking for papa’s office. I guess I wasn’t very clean as I remember a man asked me my name and I replied “Dirty Ellie Pickle”. I always was fond of pickles and still am.

When I was five years old I suffered a sever sunstroke and for several days they thought I could not live. I still can feel those cold wet sheets they wrapped me in. I wonder if this caused me to suffer so terribly in hot weather later on.

I seemed to be unlucky or awkward. Once I fell on a boardwalk & nearly cut my leg off on a rusty nail. I guess tetanus wasn’t heard of then, at least there were no shots. My knee & leg swelled up & it was a long time before I could walk. Another time I climbed up on our buggy shed after a rain, fell and struck my chin on a fence and cut my tongue in two. It swelled up so many mouth was so full I could scarcely take liquid. But some how I survived despite the lack of penicillin & the wonder drugs of today.

In July 1890 Cunard Maxwell was born, a boy & delightful surprise. He was given the names of his two grandmothers: Mary Maxwell Ireland & Mary Cunard Kingman. He was such a sweet pretty baby. We played with him a lot. We’d haul him around in our doll baby buggy.

The first Thanksgiving after my Aunt Elba was married mamma took us there to visit her in Findlay. Papa came up just for the day but we stayed a week. I now can understand why Uncle Will would go into his study & shut the door.

As we grew up we had to make our own fun and had plenty of room in which to do it, eleven rooms and four acres of ground. In the winter we coasted on the hill in our yard or in the filed below us, also skated on the “creek”. We had almost a mile to walk to school four times a day no matter what the weather. No buses for us.

In the summer we made corn furniture, mud pies, cooked on a little furnace, climbed trees & had tree houses. We sure had plenty of trees – cherry, peach, apple, pears, plum, quince, crab apples – grapes & berries beside a big garden. It seems a crime now when I recall the bushels & bushels of fruit that went to waste. Mamma canned all summer & papa was busy in the garden whenever he could get away. We kids had to weed in the garden & knock bugs off the potatoes. We got five cents a row & they were long rows. We had horses, chickens & a cow part of the time. Two horses I remember were Charlie – a steady little red horse whom we all loved & Trilling - a short tailed speckled horse that we would ride sometimes although she was very temperamental. Almost as long as I can remember papa owned a farm from which we got meat, potatoes & feed for chickens & horses. Each fall papa would fill the cellar with squash, onions, cabbage, beans, potatoes, pumpkins & apples. With our beef & pork & the canned fruit & pickles mamma made we were pretty well supplied.

No one made much money. One hundred dollars a month was a good income. Papa was a lawyer with average income and we lived very well. He used to take us on business trips until we had to pay full fare. Also I had to sit “inside the bar” sometimes when he was in lawsuit. We had to be quiet throughout so for that reason Hortense did not get to go very often, as she was a wiggler.

Almost every Sunday weather permitting, we would hitch up the horse to the surrey & drive down to one or other grandparents. Grandmother Ireland lived six miles & Grandmother Kingman nine miles away. We kids sat in the back seat & we had to sit, not stand. To make the trip to Gran Kingman’s in one hour was good traveling.

On our way to Gran Ireland’s we had a drive of about a mile parallel with the railroad. That was always a nerve wracking stretch as our horse was so afraid of a train. We would heave a sigh of relief when that ordeal was over. We loved to go to both places but maybe to Grandmother Kingman’s more because she wasn’t as strict as Gran Ireland. However, Gran Ireland didn’t believe in children waiting for the second table, which we often had to do at Gran Kingman’s. She had a colored cook though who’d try to save us some rare pieces of food or meat. Gran Kingman [Mary Charlotte Cunard Kingman 1827-1902] always had so much food on her table, no one could possibly eat it all anyway. Gran Ireland [Mary Melvina Maxwell Ireland 1828-1907] was more modern & a little better cook I think.

Elba identified these people for me c. 1968: (Rear L-R):

Mortimer Ireland b. 8Aug1834 - 1913; Catharine Ireland b. 19Oct1826-1922;

Susan Ireland b.8July1828-1921; George M. Ireland b.2Jan1839-1920;

Mary E. "Law" Ireland b.15Dec1841; Thos W. Ireland b.30June1840-1913.

(Front L-R Lowther cousins): Mandane? Lowther Wilson b. 22March1824;

Edward J. Lowther b. 2Sept1829; Harriet "The Kindly" Lowther b.26Sept1833;

Jas R. Lowther b.15June1832.

(center front): Elba's maternal Grandfather Alexander Ireland (1824-1918)

with six of his thirteen brothers and sisters.

The blue arrow points to Elba's maternal Grandfather Alexander Ireland (1824-1918).

He was born in this homestead in Harrison, Virgina before the family settled in Ohio.

There was a mill course back of our house where all the kids in the neighborhood came to swim. We put on old dresses & played in the water a long time. We would get leaches on our legs & have to take a stone & scrape them off. We used to spend hours playing around the “crick” turning up stones to see the little snakes scamper out or to hunt crabs. In the wildflower season we wandered over the woods picking flowers. It wouldn’t be safe for children to go back there now. It never occurred to us then to be afraid nor did our parents worry about us. The world is more wicked now I guess.

When at six I started to school I didn’t like it. When mamma would get me ready I guess I would cry & act pretty naughty so much so that the teacher advised my parents to keep me out until after Christmas. By then I was ashamed I guess for I went back, loved it, and continued going to school and college for sixteen years. My school days were happy.

We had a nice crowd of boys & girls & started to go to parties early. We girls had a club called Ruby Seal and the boys called their club Yellow Hammers. We went buggy riding, bob-sled riding, coasting, & skating. When very young I had an admirer who gave me his best marbles when in third grade and continued so devoted up through High School. I think though I wasn’t very nice to him for he finally gave up.

There were ten in our graduating class in High School, five boys and five girls. Nell Bennett was my pal & we sure had lots of fun. Instead of going to college she married Chas Carlisle & had five daughters.

There were no movies, no cars, no radios or TV – we made our own fun. I was not allowed to dance & card playing was frowned upon although we did play 500 & Pedro some. The church was a social center. Our Methodist Episcopal church was not far from our home. We went to Sunday school, Church, Junior League or later Senior League, then Church at night. For many years I sang in the choir. I was president of Junior league, Secretary of Sunday School and after college taught a class of boys. Sunday night was date night. We girls would walk out of church & there would be a line of boys. If you didn’t already have a date some one would step up & say “See you home” and we’d go to some one’s house & have a chafing dish party. Taffy pulls were quite popular but a little messy.

One of the boys & I tied for first place in our class at High School. I was given a scholarship to Bechtel College (now Akron U.) but since I didn’t want to go there I gave it to him & he graduated there. After a year at home (we only had a 3-year course in High School) & studying German & advanced Latin I went to Ohio Wesleyan in 1903. Those were four happy years. I found a local sorority – Sigma Delta Pi – and had many good friends. While I had a good time I didn’t neglect my work. I didn’t come out at the top of scholarship but what would now amount to a B average.

I was president of a Literary Society, Vice President of my class, played basketball (girls rules), was on the Senior Lecture Course Committee, sang in a Girls’ Octets and was Senior Advisor one year. All of which made up for my B average. My roommates were Francis Willard and Fanny Hagerman. Our rules were strict – no dates except on Saturday and doors closed every day at 5:30 P.M. No dancing, no cards, no smoking, and no Sunday paper.

But we survived.

It was here I met a young sophomore called Jim Crow. Bill McLaughlin, hero of the Iroquois Theater fire and burned to death, introduced us by request. It seems that this Mr. Crow had seen me in Chemistry class and thought he’d like to have a date. I wasn’t particularly impressed by him. He was so quiet & rather bashful, but he certainly was persistent. I dated him & a Beta all that year & finally May 30, 1904 I accepted his Delta pin & later a bracelet, which I still wear.

He graduated the year before I did & then went to Western Reserve Law School. Things didn’t run too smoothly for us in the following years. We were engaged too long. Those times girls were supposed to wait until the man could support her, and the girl was not supposed to work after they were married. So sometimes it took a long time and I can say now I do not recommend it. Absence didn’t make the heart grow fonder so far as I was concerned. He was so long getting established. He went to Idaho for a while but did not earn enough income for two.

In the meantime I taught in Lisbon & Mount Gilead (Ohio) High School. Those were busy & happy years. I took trips – as I was earning my own money – and had lots of fun. And had two or three whom I considered seriously as rivals to Mr. Crow.

In the meantime he was called back to Cleveland as Assistant Attorney of Aetna Life Insurance. Being nearer the home we were together more often & realized that after all he was my first & only real love.

On June 30^th, 1915 we were married in my home in Mt Gilead. Hortense was my bridesmaid of honor & Chet Ireland best man. It was a nice simple wedding at “high noon”. We came to Cleveland, had our dinner at the Athletic Club then went to our furnished apartment on Ford Drive for the night. Next morning G.B. Chapman came for us & took us out to his home for breakfast & then to our boat, The Octorana. We had a wonderful ten-day trip through the Lakes up to Duluth & back. It wasn’t until many years later that I learned Howard didn’t care for water but chose this trip because I loved the water. I’m glad he did for as we grew older I do not think I could have persuaded him to go on such a trip.

In the Fall we moved to & furnished our own home at 1821 Roxford Rd East Cleveland where we lived for sixteen years. While Howard was not in the service he did some type of war work (World War I) & I did a great deal of Red Cross sewing & making bandages etc. also knitting. In 1918 we purchased a Model T Ford – had to be cranked & there was no door on the driver’s side. If the car stalled I had to get out & crank the car. I think that was the first time I ever heard him swear and it certainly was enough to provoke a saint. We had some funny experiences with that Ford.

This safety pin was mailed to Elba from the Front Lines of France in the fall of 1918.
It was an "impending baby gift" from her brother, Cunard Kingman (1890-1978),
then serving in WWI as an ambulance driver. Mary Alice Crow was born in April 1919.

I was president of Monnett Club in 1919 & Mary Alice was born in April of that year in the St. Ann’s maternity hospital on Woodland Ave. There was a time when they despaired of saving either one of us but we pulled through & lived to tell the tale. Kate, father Crowe’s housekeeper, stayed with us six weeks after we came home from a four-week stay at the hospital. Mary Alice was a lovely sweet child & adored by all the neighborhood. She started to kindergarten & on to school at Prospect. For several years I substituted at Shaw High just across the street & could come home with her.

Elba Nile Kingman Crow (1884-1977)
with baby Mary Alice Crow (b. 1919).

We had many a breezy ride in our Ford even though sometimes we had to abandon it because it balked. Our next car was a Nash – open of course – often when threatening rain we had to stop & put up the curtains, which didn’t always fit too well. In a sudden shower we either put up umbrellas or just took the rain. We always wore veils & dusters, as the roads were very dirty. We had such poor roads that when going to Mount Gilead we had to go such a roundabout route that I always fixed a lunch to eat in some shady spot. We always had to consult the weather before starting out for fear we might get stuck in the mud some place.

In 1925 our Sigma Delta chapter was granted a charter to National Sorority. Pi Beta Phi & a number went down to OWU from here to be initiated. My association with Pi Phi has been very valuable. I have made many good & lasting friendships.

In 1932 we moved to 2909 Southington Rd, Shaker Heights, a very lovely place with a large lot. We hoped to buy it but Howard had his second attack of ulcer (he had a very severe attack in 1925) and went to St. Luke’s for treatment. Not knowing what was before us we did nothing about the house and found out some one had bought it right from under us while he was in the hospital. I think Howard & Mary Alice felt worse that I did as the house was big and so much to care of outside. We had a gardener at 85 cents per hour – now in 1955 they want $1.50/hr. I had these three different schoolgirls who helped me for their room & board. They weren’t very much help but was someone home if we went out. We had a fire while there. I left the iron on – I discovered it before it got upstairs but a great deal of damage was done in the basement and many clothes were burned. From there we moved to 2990 Warrington Rd, but never cared too much for it. However, it was roomy and had a good lot not too large. [Crossed out: This was a trying time.] We lived there while Mary Alice was in High School & College. This in part was a trying time as the depression hit us pretty hard & then came World War II. We never could do for Mary Alice during her college days what we hoped to do. She never complained though and certainly made the best of it. She graduated in 1941 and later had a nice position with Sherwin Williams. I used to feel so sorry for the girls who would gather at our house & bemoan the fact that all of the boys were away & they were fearful that they would never return.

The summer of 1945 was an eventful one. Arthur Duncan died suddenly and Hortense had a nervous breakdown. She was ill all summer & I spent a lot of time down there with her. Then we moved in August to 14410 South Woodlawn – a place we have loved. Mac was to return from Okinawa in September so Mary Alice was preparing her trousseau and planned to go out to California to meet him & be married. I remember I gave a dinner party for her before our stove was installed, as she was to leave on Sept first for California to be with Florence Crow until Mac came. It was very hard for us to put her on the train & see her leave for California to be married – for two reasons: our Mary Alice was gone & we could not witness her marriage. I’ll never forget how tearful we were as she left the station. Still we were happy for her. From then on we were alone. Mac didn’t get back as soon as he had expected but they were married October fifteenth. They returned here in November & we held Open House for about ninety people – very hurriedly gotten up however. We realized then what a fine son-in-law we had.

Jason McVay Austin, Jr (1915-1996) & Mary Alice Crow Austin (b. 1919)

Married Oct 15, 1945 at the end of WWII, in Laguna Beach, CA.

Nov. 1945 reception in Shaker Heights: Mary Alice and her parents, Elba and Howard Malley Crow

I was with them at the time of arrival of Howard and Marshall both born in Charleston, West Virginia. When Marshall was seven months old again we shed a tear when we put Mary Alice & the boys on the plane for California. Mac was caught in the Korean “Police Action” and was stationed in Camp Pendleton, California. Everything came out all right for them there. We went out for a visit the following summer & had a wonderful time. From there they went to Quantico – living in Fredericksburg, a most interesting place historically. We visited them there too. We have always spent Christmas with them – except our first, which I think, was spent in Cleveland.

In July 1954 we welcomed little Nancy Alice – born in Pittsburgh. We feel we have much to be thankful for. On October 1955 we are both alive & well & have a lovely family in Pittsburgh.

Mary Alice and baby Nancy in 1955

Mary Alice Crow Austin holding baby Nancy with

Grandmother Elba Nile Kingman Crow

In 1955: the brothers R. Marshall Austin and Howard McVay Austin

My father died very suddenly in his office in 1926 and my mother was ill for a long time and passed away December 1950. I have always been active in various clubs & church work holding offices in all at one time or other. Monnett Club, of which I was President; D.A.R., Vice President, served on advisory board & delegate to Continental Congress; College Club – Chairwoman of several groups – served on many committees; active in Players & sang in chorus. For several years I sang in these choruses – College Club, W.S.C.S. and Fortnightly Musical Club. I was on the College Club Board for three years and have been Circle Chairman five different times at the church.

I have always had pretty good health – save for a twinge or two and one operation.

This sounds egotistical but since it is about me [underlined] it had to be that way.

Elba K. Crow October 1955 [age 71]