Butler County, Alabama - Chapter 24, 1885

The name of Crenshaw is a familiar one in this county, and has always been associated with public affairs. The subject of this sketch was born in Newberry District, South Carolina, in 1786, and spent the earlier part of his life in this good old State that has furnished Alabama with so many useful and influential men. His kind and thoughtful father paid particular attention to his education, and, at the proper time, placed him at South Carolina College, where he received his diploma in 1806. Choosing the legal profession, he studied in the office of the distinguished Judge Nott, under whose instruction he succeeded in mastering the subject and was licensed to practice in 1809.

In 1 81 2, we find him a member of the Legislature of his native State. With the great ti'de of emigration in 1820, he came to the new State of Alabama, and located at Cahaba, then the Capital. The following year, he was elected one of the Associate Judges of the Supreme Court, a position that was occupied by him for twelve successive years. Shortly after his election in 1 821, he removed his family to this county, and settled on the Ridge below Manningham, where he resided the remainder of his life.

When the Supreme Court was separated from the Circuit Court, Judge Crenshaw was retained on the Circuit Bench. He discharged the duties of this office until he was elected Chancellor of the Southern Division in 1839. -^^ ^^^ filling. this position when he died in 1847, ^^ the age of sixty-one, after having served in the capacity of Judge for over a quarter of a century. One of his contemporaries has well said that "His mind was stored with a vast amount of knowledge of the principles of jurisprudence, and he strove to make his court the forum of the reason and spirit of the law."

Judge Crenshaw was honest, just, and hospitable, and his moral character was without blemish. Our State Legislature showed their high appreciation of his noble character by naming a county in honor of him in 1865. He married a Miss Chiles, of Abbeville, South Carolina, and reared a large family, giving each one of his children a liberal education, and a good start in life. His eldest son was the only one that chose the law as a profession. A sketch of him will be found in another part of this book.