John W. Crowley Biography >From "History of Davenport and Scott County" Vol. II by Harry E. Downer-S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1910 Chicago. Surnames: Crowley, Smith, Diehn, Keuhl. Beginning at the lowest round of the ladder, but by his own splendid efforts advancing steadily, with no retrograde movement in the whole course of his career, a glance at the life of J. W. Crowley, president of the People's Construction Company, can not be otherwise than inspiring. He was born July 26, 1865, in Arena, Wisconsin, his parents being Thomas and Bridget (Smith) Crowley. The father was a native of Ireland and upon coming to the United States located in New Jersey. Attracted by the report of opportunity of the west he came to the Mississippi valley and for some time found employment on the construction of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway. He also mad a venture at agricultural work, but eventually took up the railway construction again. His health failed him in his later years and he lived retired at his home until his death. Our subject's mother is still living at the age of eighty-two years. J. W. Crowley received a common-school education and at he age of sixteen entered the arena of life as a wage earner. He had the advantage of at first working under his father's direction and during two winter seasons he clerked in a store. A cousin engaged in railway work next gave him employment, and then for a while he was a traveling salesman for a publishing company. After another season on the pay roll of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company, he secured a position, in 1887, with the Flynn & Williams Construction Company, which was operating a large tract of land near Arena, Wisconsin. When this company changed the scene of its activities to Iowa where laying work and continued in this capacity for two years. In 1889 he assumed a similar position with another railway company operating in Missouri and Illinois. When the work of double tracking the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific was undertaken, Mr. Crowley was offered a responsible position which necessitate! d his removal to Buffalo, Iowa, and in course of time he was transferred to the bridge department. Not impeded by fear of change he next assumed a position in the Eagle Manufacturing Company. In 1896 he was made superintendent of construction in the steel department of a large factory located in Moline, Illinois. Mr. Crowley's association with the city of Davenport began in 1897, when he was employed by the board of local improvements as inspector of construction. HE held this position for two seasons and then removed to Kansas City, Kansas, where for some time he superintended various construction enterprises. He returned to Davenport and the city again secured his services as inspector of construction. His splendid executive ability and sound judgment having become widely recognized, the Davenport, Rock Island & Northwestern Railway offered him the position of superintendent of construction and bridge of work, which he held until 1900. During the following year he filled a similar position with the Flick& Johnson Company and then organized the Crowley & Diehn Construction Company, Mr. Crowley assuming the office of president. This concern was reorganized in April 1902, as the People's Construction Company, with Mr. Crowley still at the head, and taking everything into consideratio! n, it is not astonishing that it has taken its place among Davenport's leading industries. On May 30, 1900, Mr. Crowley was united in marriage to Miss Augusta Keuhl, who is of German parentage. They have a fine family of five children. Helen G., at home; Walter L., who attends St. Ambrose's College, as does Raymond J.; Frances R. in school; and Emmett A., the youngest in the family. Mr. Crowley and his family are communicants of the Catholic church. He is identified with numerous orders, in all of which he enjoys prominence and popularity. These fraternal relations extend to the Elks, the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic Order of Foresters, the Hiberians, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Woodmen of the World, and the Knights of Father Matthew, a temperance society. Not taking into account Mr. Crowley's success in his relations, both social and fraternal, Davenport is to be congratulated upon her possession of a citizen who contributes so materially to her high standing in the industrial world. ~~~~~~*~~~~~~ Elaine Rathmann Assist. CC: Scott Co, IA USGenWeb Project List Adm. for: *IA-CIVIL-WAR *IA-DANES