
BENNETTE DILLY CROWE
HISTORY OF SOUTHEASTERN MISSOURI
Published 1912
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.
Return
to Biographies Index
Return to Pages & Links Index
Return to Southern Roots Home Page
© Deborah Lunsford Yates, 2000 - 2004
Last Updated Wednesday, August 04, 2004 8:13:37 PM CST