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BENNETTE DILLY CROWE

 

HISTORY OF SOUTHEASTERN MISSOURI

Published 1912

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            Bennette Dilley Crowe is as universally respected as he is known in Caruthersville. In these days of specialization it is a relief to find a physician who is a general practitioner. Dr. Crowe is as fully qualified to perform a surgical operation as he is to steer a patient through a lingering case of typhoid fever. His personality is such that his mere presence serves as a tonic, his bearing being just sympathetic enough to give assurance of his sincerity, and yet is sufficiently hearty to elevate the spirits of the sick one.

 

Dr. B. D. Crowe is from Tennessee, his birth having occurred near Newbern, that state, August 18, 1863. He is a son of John Rice Crowe, who was known in his native state (Tennessee) as a prosperous farmer, belonged to the Primitive Baptist church, and in politics was a staunch Democrat, but with no desire for public office for himself. John Rice Crowe was born in Perryville [Perry] County, Tennessee, March 28, 1818, and when a young man moved to Dyer County, where he purchased a tract of land near Newbern and devoted his time to the management of his farm. He there married Miss Betty Lunsford, a young lady born in Raleigh, North Carolina, February 7, 1820; she was a member of an old North Carolina family who were religiously of the Methodist persuasion, as was Miss Betty. In course of time Mr. and Mrs. Crowe became the parents of a family of eleven children, whose names are as follows: William G., James A., Arbezine, John R., Andrew J., Melissa, Jennie, Thomas, Amanda, Bennette, and Aquilla. The three eldest sons were all soldiers and John R. was killed in battle, and of the entire family of eleven the only two living today are Andrew J., the well-known justice of the peace in Caruthersville, and Dr. Bennette Crowe. Father and Mother Crowe lived together for many years, the husband’s demise occurring March 9, 1890. His widow survived him almost seven years, she being summoned to her last rest on the 2nd day of March, 1897; both died at Newbern, Tennessee, and lie side by side in the Poplar Grove cemetery at Newbern.

 

Dr. Bennette D. Crowe, the tenth childe in order of birth, was brought up on his father’s farm. As soon as he was of the proper age he entered the public school at Newbern and after completing the grammar school course he became a student at Newbern high school. Immediately upon his graduation, at the age of eighteen, he began to read medicine, in preparation for the vocation he had chosen, but he was not able to continue his professional training at that time and in order to earn money he worked on the farm and conducted the management of a sawmill which his father owned, postponing his medical education, but not abandoning the determination to become a physician. In 1892 he entered the medical college in connection with the Memphis Hospital, at Memphis, Tennessee, and was graduated from that institution after a three years’ course. During the ensuing four years he practiced medicine in Tennessee, then, in 1899, he came to Caruthersville and commenced to practice. He speedily was awarded the recognition which his abilities merit, gradually built up an extensive general practice, and is today to be found at certain hours at his office on Ward Street.

 

Two days after obtaining his majority the Doctor was united in marriage to Miss Emma Kirkpatrick (August 20, 1884). Mrs. Crowe is a daughter of James and Minerva (Meadows) Kirkpatrick, of Newbern, Tennessee, where their daughter Emma was born on the first day of the year 1865. Dr. and Mrs. Crowe reared a family of four children, but one little one died in infancy. The names of those living are as follows: Myrtle, born July 17, 1885, the wife of J. E. Duncan, of Caruthersville; Robert L., whose birth occurred November 27, 1887, a graduate from the Jackson Military School and from Ohio State University (1911), now a druggist living in Ohio; Madge, born March 28, 1890, married to Leslie Prohaska, of Caruthersville; Roger, the date of whose nativity is April 11, 1895, is a student in the public school. Mrs. Crowe, a devoted member of the Baptist church, constantly encouraged her husband in his efforts to obtain his medical education and has aided him in every possible way.

 

The Doctor is affiliated with the Masonic fraternal order, with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, with the Knights of Pythias and with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.  He has remained true to his father’s political beliefs, and has served the Democratic Party in various responsible capacities. During the past four years he has been the coroner of Pemiscot County; for a term of two years he served the city of Caruthersville as mayor and for a period of six years he was a member of the board of aldermen.

 

In the estimation of Dr. Crowe his profession takes precedence over all else, but if he were a less able practitioner he would still be a man of prominence, in relation to the public offices which he has so acceptably filled.

 

 

 

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