William Criswell
William Criswell, farmer and stock-raiser, Section 17, Prairie Township, is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Mifflin County, October 29, 1822, a son of James and Elizabeth Criswell, natives also of the Keystone State, of Scotch-Irish ancestry. In 1824 they moved to Ohio and settled in Wayne County, where the father died in 1860, aged seventy years, and the mother in 1873. They reared a family of nine children, six of whom are living, William being the fourth.
William Criswell was reared a farmer, and has made that occupation his life-work. He has been industrious and thus far successful. When he started in life for himself he bought sixty acres of land, paying for half of it. He was ambitious, and went bravely to work to improve his land and make for himself a home; and how well he has succeeded is evidenced by the fact that he now has a fine farm of 775 acres. His residence was erected in 1858, and in 1882 he built an addition, making it one of the most convenient and comfortable farmhouses in the township. His barn was built in 1863 at a cost of $2,500. Mr. Criswell was married May 6, 1847, to Elizabeth, daughter of John and Margaret (Dizer) Harrison, her father being a distant relative of President Harrison, and is still living at the advanced age of ninety-three years. Mr. and Mrs. Criswell have one child, Isabel, wife of James A. Smith, who has three children: William S., James C. and Ettie H. Mr. Criswell has served his fellow townsmen as trustee nine years, and as justice of the peace six years. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.
From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Wayne and Holmes, Ohio, J. H. Beers & Co., Chicago, 1889