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The following biography of William M. Crubaugh is excerpted from the book "Crubaugh - the American Story" written by William Leon Crubaugh, Jr., his grandson.

WILLIAM CRUBAUGH

William was the first son of David Crubaugh and his second wife, Elizabeth Jane Dobson. He was born on April 7, 1870, on the family farm at West Point, Ohio. His grandparents were Isaac and Catherine (Altman) Crubaugh, and Joseph and Margaret (Bennington) Dobson.

William, or "Will", as he was known, attended public schools and then he worked on his father's farm until he was in his middle or late twenties. Next, he worked as a road construction laborer for several years, and then as a tenant farmer for several more years. After leaving the farming business, he moved to East Palestine, Ohio, where he went to work for the W.S. George Pottery Company, where he spent the balance of his working life. After 32 years there, he retired. Most of those years, he worked in the "Sliproom", where only the hardiest of men lasted very long. After one summer of retirement, he re­turned to work at the pottery part time as a clean-up man. That job, mostly sweeping floors, lasted for another five or six years. Will was 70 or 71 years old when he quit working at the Pottery.

During all of his active years, after he left the farm, he planted a large garden. He always borrowed or rented a team of horses to plow up the garden area. He never learned to drive a car or a tractor.

Will was the father of six children. He and Lena May Mercer (10 Jun 1878-13 Aug 19849) were married in 1893 and had one daughter and three sons. Annie Elizabeth (born in 1894), Ralph Leroy (born in 1896), Clarence R. (born in 1898), and David Henry (born in 1900). Sometime between the summer of 1913 and the late part of 1914, Will and Lena May parted ways.

William Crubaugh and Nancy Mae White were married on 15 Sep 1914, at New Cumberland, in Hancock County, West Virginia. Nancy Mae was born on October 6, 1886, at Calcutta, in Columbiana County, Ohio. Will and Nancy Mae became parents of two sons. William Leon (born in 1915). amd James Harold (born in 1921).

William "Will" Crubaugh died at his home at 238 East Clark Street, E. Palestine, Ohio, on May 5, 1952. He was 82 years, and 28 days old. He was a kind and gentle man who had many acquaintances, and was well liked and respected by all who knew him. He was a long time member of the Nazarene Church in East Palestine. He was buried in the East Fairfield Township Cemetery, Columbiana County, Ohio. Interviews with many of his grandchildren from his second marriage, indicate him to be a genuine "Hero" among them. Stories tell of his kindly and generous nature, and of the special interest he showed to many of them. He enjoyed taking them on trips, buying them gifts, and generally spending time with them. Memories of his kind gestures are numerous, and he was greatly loved by those older grandchildren who had the pleasure of knowing him.

Will's first wife, Lena May, is buried at the same cemetery in another section. When Lena died in 1949, her surname was Campbell.