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James William Henry "Jim" Crow was born December 8, 1846, in Guilford County, North Carolina, the son of John Henry Crow and Sarah Jane Rollins.
Jim, age 4, appears on the 1850 Guilford County census. Jim's family moved to Independence County, Arkansas, in 1853. Jim was about seven years old at the time. He grew up near Cave City in Barren Township of Independence County.
Elizabeth J. Lawrence was born March 25, 1840, in Arkansas. She married Olen Mobley, who died leaving her a son, Farris Mobley, born in 1858. Elizabeth then married Eldridge Ball, who was hung by Jayhawkers. He is buried in the Ball Cemetery near Cave City, in Independence County. Elizabeth was left with two sons from that marriage: Warren Ball, born in 1862, and John Ball, born in 1864.
Jim Crow married Mrs. Elizabeth J. Lawrence Mobley Ball on February 21, 1867, in Independence County.
Jim and Elizabeth appear on the 1870 Independence County census with their three year old son, William Jefferson, and Elizabeth's three sons from her former marriages. They were living next door to Jim's parents, John and Sarah Crow. Jim Crow was a farmer.
Twins were born to Jim and Elizabeth in 1873, but one of the twins died the following year.
Jim's family appears on the 1880 Sharp County, Arkansas, census living in Cave Township. Cave City is on the line between Sharp and Independence counties. The census shows Jim and Elizabeth with their sons William J., age 13, and Andy, age 7.
Between 1881 and 1889, Jim left his family, and moved to Searcy County, Arkansas. He settled in Mt. Pleasant Township of Searcy County, near Tilly. Jim assessed property in Searcy County in 1890. Descendants of his first family say he just mounted up and rode off one day without telling anyone where he was going or why he was leaving. Descendants say it was some time before the family knew where he had gone.
We are unsure if Jim's son Andy left home with his father, or if he followed him to Searcy County later. Andy married in Searcy County in 1894.
Jim married Nancy Mildred "Nannie" Patterson on April 21, 1895, in Searcy County. Nannie Patterson was born January 18, 1868, in Elgin, Illinois. Nannie was two months younger than Jim's oldest son, William, who was born in November 1867.
Jim and Nannie purchased property in Mt. Pleasant Township of Searcy County, which Jim farmed.
At least eight children were born to Jim and Nannie in the Tilly area of Searcy and Pope counties.
Jim died October 1, 1912, at Tilly, and is buried in Union Hill Cemetery, which is located in the extreme northeastern corner of Pope County, near Tilly. The Union Hill Cemetery was at one time called the Wade West Cemetery.
Elizabeth Lawrence Crow died November 21, 1922, and is buried in the Cave City Cemetery, at Cave City, in Independence County.
Nannie Patterson Crow died September 26, 1947, and is buried beside her husband, Jim, in the Union Hill Cemetery, near Tilly.
Children of Jim Crow and Elizabeth Lawrence
1. William Jefferson Crow, b. 1867, Independence Co, AR
2. Andy Crow, b. Mar 20, 1873, Independence Co, AR
3. Andrew Crow, b. Mar 20, 1873, Cave City, Independence Co, AR; d. July 9, 1874, Cave City; bur. Cave City Cem.
Children of Jim Crow and Nannie Patterson
4. Henry Crow, b. 1896, Searcy Co, AR
5. Louis Crow, b. Jan 10, 1898, Searcy Co, AR; d. Feb 1935, in TX; m. Pearl Casto on Dec 4, 1917, Searcy Co.
6. Sarah Crow, b. Sept 28, 1899, Searcy Co, AR; m. James West, son of William Phillip West, on May 16, 1917, Searcy Co, AR
7. James "Jimmy" Crow, b. May 26, 1901, Searcy Co, AR; m. Rachel Brown on Nov 4, 1918, Searcy Co.
8. Albert Crow, b. Oct 13, 1903, Searcy Co, AR; m. Nannie Brown on June 12, 1922, Searcy Co; Albert was a preacher
9. Nora Crow, b. July 29, 1905, Searcy Co, AR; m. Louis Andrews
10. Ruben "Ruby" Crow, b. Feb 3, 1907, Searcy Co, AR; shot and killed May 30, 1935, Searcy Co; bur. Union Hill Cem; m. unknown
11. Martha Jane Crow, b. June 12, 1909, Searcy Co, AR; d. Oct 27, 1984; bur. Union Hill Cem; m. Thurman W. Drewery on Dec 25, 1925, Searcy Co. Thurman Drewery was b. Dec 22, 1906; d. Jan 8, 1989; bur. Union Hill Cem.