Edgar Dean Crumpacker, BiographyPorter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of Edgar Dean Crumpacker
EDGAR DEAN CRUMPACKER. Indiana is becoming as well known for her politicians and statesmen as for her poets and prose writers. High up in the roster of the former class is to be found the name of Edgar Dean Crumpacker, who has sat through eight terms of the Congress of the United States, and who through all these years of service has endeavored to give his best in the service of the people who placed him in this seat of honor and responsibility. As a lawyer he was well and favorably known before he came before the people of the country at large, and he is now recognized as one of the thinking men of our national legislative body. The merits of such a man, continually in the public eye, have long since been weighed and estimated by the public, and his long and continuous service is sufficient proof that he has not been found wanting.
The family of which Edgar Dean Crumpacker is a member was founded in this country before the days of the Revolution, by a hardy Dutch pioneer. This John Crumpacker came from Holland in 1762 and settled in Bedford county, Virginia. Here the family was destined to live for many years. A son of John Crumpacker, Owen Crumpacker, who was born in Botetourt county, Virginia, in 1783, served his country through the War of 1812, as a member of the Seventh Virginia Regiment. His wife was Hannah Woodford, and their third son, Theophilus, was the father of Edgar Dean Crumpacker.
Theophilus Crumpacker was born in Botetourt county on the 17th of January, 1823, and came to Indiana in 1832. Here he received his education in the public schools and, as his forefathers had done, when he grew to manhood, began to play a prominent part in public affairs. He was a Republican in politics and served as a member of the Indiana state legislature for three terms. In his own township he was a trustee and he was one of the influential members of the common council of the city of Valparaiso, Indiana. With the example of such a life as his model it is no wonder that the son should also turn to public life. Theophilus Crumpacker married Harriet Emmons, a daughter of William and Elsie (Kirk) Emmons, who were of Irish birth but members of Protestant creeds. Mrs. Crumpacker was born in Montgomery county, Virginia, on the 23d of December, 1822.
The birth of Edgar Dean Crumpacker occurred on the 27th of May, 1852, in La Porte county, Indiana. Here on his father's farm he grew to manhood. His first education was received in the common schools of Indiana, but later he was sent to the Valparaiso Male and Female College at Valparaiso, Indiana, and thence he went to the Indiana State University. At the latter institution he took up the study of law, and he was admitted to the bar in 1876. Since this time he has been located in Valparaiso, Indiana, and during the time that he has not been in Washington or elsewhere in his duties as a public official he has been engaged in the active practice of his profession in this, his home town.
From 1884 to 1888 Mr. Crumpacker was prosecuting attorney for the Thirty-first judicial circuit of Indiana. From 1891 to 1893 he was a member of the appellate court of Indiana. It was in these offices of public trust that Mr. Crumpacker first showed himself to be worthy of the confidence of the people, and therefore it was no surprise when they elected him as their representative to the Fifty-fifth Congress of the United States. Since that time he has held his seat continuously, because he has in no way violated the confidence of the people, and they re-elect him each year knowing that he will do all in his power to serve them.
In his religious affiliations Mr. Crumpacker is a member of the Christian church, and is an active supporter of the same. Fraternally he is a member of the ancient order of Masons.
On the 20th of April, 1879, at Westville, Indiana, Mr. Crumpacker was married to Charlotte Ann Lucas. His wife was the daughter of Albert Lucas and Caroline (Robertson) Lucas. Albert Lucas was a school teacher and Mrs. Crumpacker received a good education in the public schools and in the academy at Westville, Indiana. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Crumpacker. Owen Lucas Crumpacker was born in Valparaiso, Indiana, March 20, 1880. Frederick Charles Crumpacker was born in the same city on the 16th of September, 1881; and Maurice Edgar Crumpacker, likewise a native of Valparaiso, was born on the 19th of December, 1887. All of these boys were educated in the Valparaiso public schools and were later sent to the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, Michigan. Here they studied law and all followed their father's profession. Frederick was married to Mary Windle of Valparaiso in February, 1909, and is now living in Hammond, Indiana.
Source: Lewis Publishing Company. 1912. History of Porter County, Indiana: A Narrative Account of its Historical Progress, its People and its Principal Interests. Chicago, Illinois: Lewis Publishing Company. 881 p.
Page(s) in Source: 375-377
This biography has been transcribed exactly as it was originally published in the source. Please note that we do not provide photocopies or digital scans of biographies appearing on this website.
Biography transcribed by Steven R. Shook