Kentuckiana Genealogy: Biographies: Crecilius, Clark H.

By Dee Pavey (Dee) on Wednesday, July 21, 1999 - 07:13 pm:

Biographical and Historical Souvenir for the Counties of Clark, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd,
Jefferson, Jennings, Scott and Washington.
John M. Gresham & Co. 1889


CLARK H. CRECILIUS was born October 7, 1847, in Crawford county, Ind., and is a son
of Philip and Drucilla (Enlow) Crecilius, natives of Tennessee, but who came to this State
among the pioneers. His grandfather came from Germany in an early day. His parents died
when he was but four years of age, and his early life was marked by toil and poverty. For
a few years after the death of his parents he found a home with John Glosson, and was then
bound to Thomas Highhill, of Harrison county, with whom he remained eight years, when his
master died. He then lived with James Highhill until 1862, when he came to Leavenworth, and
was given employment by J. H. Lyon, a merchant of that place. Up to this time he had had
few advantages for receiving an education, but while with Mr. Lyon he studied at odd times and
clerked at $10 per month with "board and washing" included. In June, 1863, he enlisted in
Co. C, Seventy-forth Indiana volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war. On
his discharge from the Army, he returned to the employment of Mr. Lyon, remaining one
year. Afterward he attended Hartsville University for six months. He then entered the
employment of John S. Whitten, remaining with him until 1870, when he was elected Recorder
of the county, and in 1874 was re-elected. At the expiration of his second term, he was elected
County Treasurer, and re-elected in 1882. In 1885 he was elected joint-representative from
the counties of Crawford and Orange, and served in the Fifty-fourth General Assembly. He next
engaged in mercantile business at Marengo, which he followed about two and a half years,
acting postmaster the while, and then located at Leavenworth. In 1889 he was appointed
clerk to the Ways and Means Committee of the National House of Representatives.
In 1869, Mr. Crecilius was married to Miss Katie Wilbur, a daughter of Joseph Wilbur, whose
father, William Wilbur, was the second settler of the town. The latter was from New York,
and was a soldier in the war of 1812, serving through the struggle as drum-major. The Wilburs
removed from New York to Pennsylvania, and to Indiana about the year 1824, settling in Crawford
county, near Leavenworth. Joseph Wilbur, the father of Mrs. Crecilius, was born in New York
in 1814, and was married at the age of twenty years to Sarah Patrick, a daughter of Brice
Patrick, Esq., an early settler of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Crecilius have had six children,
viz: Hallie, Frank, Clyde, Sadie, Florence and Gracie. Hallie is married to Sherman W.
Stewart, and lives at Marengo. The other children are at home.