Rev. William Oscar Crumbley

From "History of Bethel Association Including
Centennial Meeting", by Alexander Lee Miller

 
The subject of this sketch was born in 185-- within the bounds of
the Bethel Association.  His parents were A. A. and Mary A. Crumbley.
He was reared three miles West of Cuthbert and remained there
until he reached the age of twenty one.  Due to the lack of schools
at that time in that section he received only a limited common
school education.  When he was a young man he went West and for
a while lived in Louisiana, finally returning home.

Later he married Miss Clifford West of Ft. Gaines.  From this
marriage there were three sons born, all of whom preceded him to
the grave. His wife died and he then married Miss Lizzie Barrow
of Americus, Georgia.  To them one daughter was born and soon
thereafter Mrs. Crumbley died.  Later he married Miss Fannie
Harrell of Quitman County, who survived him.  At the time of his
marriage to Miss Harrell he was living on a farm near Mt. Vernon 
Church in Clay County. It was here he began to preach.

In 1891 he was called to serve a church in Alabama and by request
of this church the Mt. Vernon Church ordained him in 1891. The
presbytery consisted of Rev. J. H. Corley, Rev. J. G. Corley and
perhaps Rev. J. S. Knowles.  After his ordination he entered
actively into pastoral work.  He moved from Clay County and located
at Damascus where he bought a home.

He served as Pastor, Hilton Church, Notchaway, Bethany, Hillside,
Sylvester, Damascus, Early County, Pine View, Mt. Hebron, Benevolence,
Elim, and several other churches.  

He was punctual in his attendance upon his churches and successful
in his pastorates.  He baptized many into the membership of his
churches and preached at some of them for long periods at a time.  
He was courteous and well liked.  In the latter years of his life,
he operated successfully a mercantile business in Damascus and
prospered to such an extent that after the war when merchandise 
became cheap he was still able to make and to loan money.

Everybody, both white and black, old and young, called him
"Brother Crumbley", and manifested the highest regard for him at
all times. Even after he became too feeble to carry on his regular
pastoral work, he preached almost every Sunday to some church near
by which was without a pastor.  He performed many marriages and
officiated at many funerals and was useful to his denomination
until a few weeks before his death.  At the time of his death he
was the outstanding citizen of his town and his community.
He was firm in his Baptist beliefs and would not make a positive
statement on any matter unless he personally knew it to be true.

It was said of him that he never at any time made any remark that
would reflect on any person whether he knew the matter to be true
or not.  He was also known as a "Peacemaker" among the brethren of
his church or any others who might have had differences, and often
by his advice and leadership he prevented law suits and
difficulties.

He delighted in taking charge of weak churches and building them
up to where they were able to take care and support their own
pastors.  He was of great benefit to the churches in the southern
part of the Bethel Association, for it was in that part of the
Association he spent most of his ministerial life. Like his
brother, Larkin Crumbley, he was well beloved by all who knew him.

This file contributed by: 
Charlene Parker" <laurel43@bellsouth.net> Sep 2002 

The following notes added by Debra Crosby
1920 Federal Census Early Co.
Ga Kestler Town page 88 ed 66 sheet 1 district 854
7/7 Crumly, William O. 65 Ga Ga Ga Grocery, Owner
            Fannie     54 Ga Ga Ga
            Ruth       17 Ga Ga Ga
            Ruby       17 Ga Ga Ga



1870 Federal Census Randolph Co. Ga Cuthbert page 233b
32 Crumbly         Alexander       48 M W  Farmer      5000 1000  Ga 
                   Mary            45 F W  Keeps House Ga        
                   Rosetta         17 F W  at school   Ga 
                   Fannie          15 F W  at school   Ga
                   Oscar           13 M W  at school   Ga 
                   Ella            11 F W  at school   Ga
                   Locholin        10 M W  at school   Ga
                   Abiah            8 M W              Ga 

1850 Federal Census Randolph Co. 9th District page 418
9/9 Alex Crumly   29 farmer 400 Ga
    Mary E.       21 Ga


Georgia Marriages Stewart County
Beard, Mary R. - Crumley, Alexander A  19 May 1850 

Old Damascus Cemetery, Early County GA
Crumbley, Mary Frances
7 Dec 1860
27 Mar 1937
Wife of W. O. Crumbley

Crumbley, W.O.  Rev.
25 Jan 1855
15 June  1923
Hus of Mary Frances Crumbley. Lewis & Crumbley Lot. 1 inf grave
 in lot