HOLMES COUNTY OHIO 
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File contributed to the Ohio Biographies Project by
Jeanne Yoakam 
yoak@on-ramp.net 
February 15, 2001
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Biographical Record of Holmes County, 1889.


WILLIAM P. CRITCHFIELD

William P. Critchfield is a representative of one of the leading and
most enterprising families of Holmes County, where he was born April 17,
1841.  His grandfather, John Critchfield, was a soldier in the
Revolutionary War.  His father, Lorenzo D. Critchfield, was born in
Pennsylvania in 1804, and when eleven years old accompanied his parents
to Ohio, remaining with them and working on the farm until he was
twenty-one years old, when he married and began life for himself.  He
was an active, energetic man, and was a successful farmer, which he made
the business of his life.  He was a public-spirited man, taking an
interest in all that was of benefit to his township.  He held every
office in the township, and for twenty-one years was a justice of the
peace.  He was a Democrat in early life, but being a strong anti-slavery
man voted for John C. Fremont for president, and soon after voted the
Republican ticket. He married Julia, daughter of Adam Humberger, and
they had a family of eight children, five of whom are living: Rachel (
Mrs. Corell), Eve (Mrs. D. F. Jones), Lewis, Eliza (Mrs. John Boles) and
William P. Elizabeth died at the age of thirteen years, and two died in
infancy; the mother died June 3, 1869, and the father, May 21, 1877.

William P. Critchfield resides on the homestead farm, where he was
reared. His education was obtained in the schools of the township, and
he has taught twenty-five terms of school, all but two being in the
schools of Ripley Township. He has been very largely connected with the
public affairs of the county. He was justice of the peace three terms,
township clerk, and was a candidate for probate judge and county
auditor, but although he reduced the majority of his opponent, was
defeated, as his party is largely in the minority in this county.  He
has been for a number of years engaged in farming, owning 250 acres of
highly cultivated land, his improvements being among the best in the
township.  Mr. Critchfield married Levina, daughter of Allen and Nancy
(Job) Ross, and they had eight children: Ammon B., Reno H., Schuyler
Colfax, Lois B., Maud, Fred, Jessie and Pearl (twins), the latter of
whom died at the age of two years.  In 1864 Mr. Critchfield enlisted in
Company K, One Hundred and Sixty-sixth Ohio Infantry, and served his
country valiantly. He is now a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.
He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and the International
Progressive Association. He and his wife are members of the Christian
Church.
submitted by Jeanne Yoakam