Part of an old map of the San Jacinto area from the Texas Revolution

Veteran Bio

Texian Location:  Harrisburg

The Kemp Sketch

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CROWNOVER, ARTER - Born in Buncombe County, North Carolina, July 22, 1810, a son of John and Elizabeth (Chesney) Crownover. The eleven children of John and Elizabeth Crownover in order of birth were Benjamin, Robert, John, Matchell, Polly, Snelson, Franklin, Arter, Joseph, Elizabeth and Melissa Corwnover. The Crownovers were living in Little Rock, Arkansas, May 29, 1819 when their last child, Melissa, was born. She is said to have been the first child born in Little Rock. The Crownovers came to Texas among the first colonists but the parents, with their children Arter, Benjamin, John and Melissa went back to Arkansas. A daughter, Polly, who had married John Rabb, remained in Texas and in 1830 the others returned.

Mr. Arter Crownover joined Captain Gibson Kuykendall’s company in 1836 and on October 6, 1845 he was issued Donation Certificate No. 1214 for 640 acres of land for having been detailed to guard the baggage at the camp opposite Harrisburg, April 21, 1836. On December 11, 1841 he received Bounty Certificate No. 9913 for 320 acres of land for his services in the army from March 1 to May 30, 1836.

Mr. Crownover was married to Lavina Castleman, daughter of Sylvenus Castleman. Mr. Crownover died February 8, 1876, while a member of the Texas Veterans Association. Mrs. Corwnover died in 1880. The two are buried in marked graves in Comanche Springs cemetery in Blanco County, just across the Burnet County Line. Mr. Crownover was a Methodist and on October 5, 1872 he was licensed to preach in the Lampasas circuit. He lost his life getting material together to build a church in the Backbone Valley, Burnitt County, when he fell from a wagon while hauling lumber from a mill several miles distant.

Children of Mr. and Mrs. Crownover were Aaron, who married Hastletine Hardin; Levi, who married Mary Hudson; Jasper, who died single while serving in the Confederate army; John, who married Lydia Harrington; Melissa, who married Wash Morrow; Rufinia, who married Butler Hardin; Fannie, who married Sam Luckey; Anna, who married Wash Hardin; Kate, who married Ewing Lacy and Alexander Crownover, who was married twice. His first wife was Irene Francis and after her death he married Mary Anderson.

Melissa Crownover, sister of Arter Crownover, was married to Benjamin Philips. A granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Phillips is Mrs. Mattie Phillips Hallford of Llano, Texas.

CROWNOVER, ASTER – Received title to 4,428 acres of land in Colony________ situated in the present counties of Grimes.

Written by Louis W. Kemp, between 1930 and 1952. Please note that typographical and factual errors have not been corrected from the original sketches. The biographies have been scanned from the original typescripts, a process that sometimes allows for mistakes in the new text. Researchers should verify the accuracy of the texts' contents through other sources before quoting in publications. Additional information on the veteran may be available in the Herzstein Library.


Battle Statistics

  • Died in Battle: No
  • Rank: Private
  • Company: Capt. Gibson Kuykendall

Personal Statistics

  • Date of Birth: 1810 Jul 22
  • Birthplace: North Carolina, Buncombe County
  • Origin: Arkansas
  • Came to Texas: 1830
  • Date of Death: 1876 Feb 8
  • Burial Place: Comanche Springs Cemetery, Blanco Co., Texas
  • Bounty Certificate: 9913
  • Donation Certificate: 1214
  • Wife: Lavinia Castleman
  • Children: Aaron Crownover; Levi Crownover; Jasper Crownover; John Crownover; Melissa Crownover Morrow; Rufinia Crownover Hardin; Kate Crownover Lacy; Alexander Crownover