John Kennedy CROSSWELL^[1]

- 1929

• Name	John Kennedy CROSSWELL  [2, 3, 4, 5]
  Gender	Male
  HIST	Date Published: August 9, 2009 Cartee-Crosswell lawsuit concludes; Sumter to honor Richardson CROSSWELL By HUBERT OSTEEN Item Editor Hubert@theitem.com 75 YEARS AGO – 1934 Week of Oct. 4-11 The long-awaited decision in the year-long lawsuit brought by a woman claiming to be the common-law wife of the late John K. Crosswell was rendered by Special Master W.M. Shand of Columbia. Shand ruled in favor of the Crosswell estate, estimated at over $500,000, of which Ina Cartee had sought a share as the common-law wife of the prominent Sumter businessman. The bulk of Crosswell's estate was directed in his will to be used for the establishment and maintenance in Sumter of a home for the care and education of orphaned local children. Trustees of Crosswell's estate had already purchased 100 acres of property on North Main Street from Robert J. Bland and begun construction of two cottages that will accommodate about 36 children and resident supervisors of the orphanage when completed before the end of the year, according to the page one story. Cartee's lawsuit first surfaced in May 1933 with a front-page story in The Item. She alleged that she lived with Crosswell for 10 years until his death in May 1929, first becoming his lover while the two were living in a Sumter boarding house after she had begun teaching school in the city. The couple would later meet up at various hotels and apartments in New York state and New York City over the 10 years of their relationship, according to testimony at the special master proceedings in Sumter. Various titillating letters from Cartee to Crosswell were introduced into evidence by estate attorneys R.D. Epps and George D. Levy. Cartee, who testified at length along with other individuals, was represented by Mendel L. Smith of Camden and J.D. Lanford of Greenville. Cartee also testified that she became pregnant by Crosswell in 1920 and suffered a miscarriage the following year. When questioned by the estate's attorneys, she could not produce any letters that Crosswell had written her, claiming they were lost when the trunk in which she had them packed was stolen by a taxicab driver soon after the death of Crosswell. Shand's ruling is final subject to review by the state Supreme Court if an appeal is made by Cartee's attorneys. Not according to plan: Crosswell Home for Children director had planned to teach Posted: Sunday, March 14, 2010 6:00 am | Updated: 4:20 pm, Sun Mar 14, 2010. By GINA VASSELLI gvasselli@theitem.com This is the second in an occasional series about Crosswell Home for Children. These articles will lead up to the home's 75th anniversary celebration on June 5 and 6. When Jerry Allred Jr. graduated from The Citadel in 1991, he had a plan. "I was going to teach. I was going to coach football and wrestling. That's what I wanted to do," Allred said. Immediately after graduating, he got a job at what was then called the Anderson Youth Association, a home in Anderson for children with emotional issues. "My plan was to work a little bit during the summer and look for a teaching job," Allred said. Despite his plan, he's been working in children's homes ever since. "Once I started working with those kids, I realized that's what I was supposed to be doing," he said. Allred became the executive director of the Crosswell Home for Children in October 2008 after spending five years in Anderson, two years at Carolina Children's Home in Columbia and 11 years at Epworth Children's Home in Columbia. He didn't plan on leaving Epworth, where he said his approach to working with children was shaped. But once again, his plans were overruled by God's plan, he said. He was approached by a children's home in the Upstate about becoming its program director, the position he held at Epworth, with the possibility of moving into the executive director's position eventually. "But it didn't happen," he said. A couple of days later, Crosswell called, and Allred said he was "reluctantly interested." He came to Crosswell to visit and interviewed with the board. "You know how you're unsure about something, and then all of a sudden there's like a peace and you go, 'That, that's it,'" he said. "Right after my interview I got in my truck and drove back to Columbia. I called my wife and said, 'I'm not sure if this is supposed to happen or not, but ... this just feels right'." About a year and a half after coming, Allred said he's had to make some changes at Crosswell, but his previous experience prepared him well for the issues he's had to handle. "Everything from how we bought groceries to how we buy gas for the vehicles has changed," he said. He said he's put a greater focus on accountability for the home's roughly $1 million yearly budget. "We have to be good stewards of what we have," he said. "We have to spend wisely and use wisely." Allred said that living on campus with his wife, Suzy, and two daughters, Carly, 8, and Annavee "VeVe," 5, makes it certain that he can't get too far removed from the main focus of Crosswell: raising kids. "Every decision you make has to go back to, ultimately, will this allow us to take better care of children? If it doesn't, then the answer is no," he said. Allred said he's "always on call" because "if anything goes wrong I can get here quicker than anybody else." Working and living in the same place does get tiring, and there are times when he said it's hard for him to organize his time so he can be "Mr. Jerry," "Daddy" and also just "Jerry." But, he said, "To do the job the way it needs to be done, you should be tired." Allred's life may not be what he planned, but he said he had no regrets. "There's no telling what would have happened had I made choices myself," he said. "There are times where I would go, 'Is this exactly what I pictured?' And it's not. It's better." Posted in News, Local news on Sunday, March 14, 2010 Crosswell's philanthropy benefits Sumter's children Posted: Sunday, March 28, 2010 6:00 am | Updated: 5:25 pm, Sun Mar 28, 2010. By SAMMY WAY JOHN KENNEDY CROSSWELL: " A man who had exceptional business ability and at the same time one who had time to be concerned about the welfare of others, especially children." John Kennedy Crosswell was born Oct. 29, 1870, near the town of Cypress in Darlington County and close to the present day Lee State Park. He was educated in the Darlington County schools and at Wofford College, where he paid his own personal expenses. He was the son of John R. and Susan Wright Crosswell, who raised their children in a small rural community. John was a devoted son who cared a great deal for his parents, insisting that their burial plots be maintained and placing a provision in his will that provided continued care and safeguarding of these sites after his death. There are few records that provide insight into his early life growing up in rural Lee County. There is speculation that he and his brother, Henry D. Crosswell, had held jobs in Georgia; however, this has not been substantiated. In 1900 as Crosswell approached his 30th birthday he moved to Sumter and began working as a clerk in his cousin's grocery store. Wentworth Crosswell had started his business on the corner of Main and Liberty streets, a location that later became the site of the McClellan's five-and-dime store. That experience helped prepare him for a successful career in commerce. Following Wentworth's death, John and Henry purchased the business and continue to operate it for several years. The brothers expanded it into Crosswell & Company, which had its grand opening in 1901. The company quickly became the largest wholesale business in the eastern portion of South Carolina, providing delivery services to many communities surrounding the city of Sumter. Having his own retail company did not diminish Crosswell's interest in the grocery business, as he continued to work and travel for R.C. Williams & Company of New York. The Crosswell Company continued to grow at a rapid pace and soon large trucks were delivering products from the huge warehouses to customers in Camden, Bishopville, Manning, Summerton, Rembert, Mayesville and Sumter. B.R. Compton and W.O. Staley were salesmen during the early stage of the company's development. They recalled having to take the local train to other communities, rent a horse and buggy to call on customers and then return to Sumter late in the evening using the same train. These early salesmen understood the likes and dislikes of the people they did business with and were able to rapidly build an extensive clientele for the Crosswell Company. Crosswell later added three buildings on South Sumter Street, one for use as a warehouse, another to provide office space for the Seaboard Coastline freight depot and the third to serve as the Southern Railroad station. Crosswell proved to be adept at his chosen profession and took frequent trips to New York, Chicago and Atlanta, where he often combined business with pleasure. Following each of these trips, several railroad freight cars would arrive in Sumter laden with the latest merchandise that would be soon be accessible to his many customers. As a result of his continued success, Crosswell was able to purchase the Henry Ligon Home at 5 West Oakland Avenue. The home, like many of the residences constructed for successful businessmen, was constructed near the railroad tracks. Once the Crosswell business concerns were firmly established in Sumter the brothers decided to acquire the rights to the syrup sold to bottlers by the Coca-Cola Company. In 1903 Crosswell began bottling Coca-Cola in Sumter using equipment that was housed in his own facility. This enterprise soon caught the attention of investors from Cartersville, Ga., who were successful in purchasing Crosswell's bottling business, which they later sold to The Carolina Coca-Cola Bottling Company. By 1915 the Crosswell Company was controlled by five men who owned equal shares of stock in the enterprise. John Crosswell was listed as president, J.H. Strong, manager; C.B. Yeadon, office manager; with B.R. Compton and W.O. Staley, serving as salesmen. Each one of these men owned five equal shares of stock in the business. As his business and assets continued to expand, John Crosswell decided to have his will drawn by Judge Robert O. Purdy in 1915, listing his brother and the immediate descendants of his deceased brothers and sisters as those who would receive a portion of his estate. He designated C. B. Yeadon, J. H. Strong and the Sumter Trust Company (a codicil was later added naming R.R. Bruner, the manager of the Coca-Cola Plant in Columbia) as executors of his estate. This change was due to the Sumter Trust Company having been dissolved and no longer conducting business. It is said that Crosswell traveled extensively during his retirement and was "a man of wide knowledge and personal charm." John K. Crosswell died on Thursday, May 30, 1929, in Columbia. It is reported that he left the bulk of his estate valued at more than $500,000 "for the establishment and endowment of the 'John K. Crosswell Home', an institution for orphans in or near the city of Sumter." The will was filed in the office of Judge of Probate T.E. Richardson shortly after his death. Bequests were left to his brother Henry and several of his nieces and nephews. The will also provided for generous gifts to the Epworth Orphanage of Columbia, the Rescue Orphanage in Charleston, and the Sumter Y.M.C.A. At the time of his death Crosswell was serving as president of the H. D. & J. K. Crosswell, Inc. of Columbia; as president of Crosswell & Company Inc. of Sumter; as director of the National Bank of South Carolina. He was also a member of Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church and contributed to a number of charities both locally and across the state. He was a Mason, a Shriner and a member of the Knights of Pythias and was active in each. Crosswell died at the relatively young age of 59, and five years after his death the trustees selected to administer his estate, which had grown to several millions of dollars, made preparations to establish the "home for children" Crosswell had envisioned. THE JOHN K. CROSSWELL HOME: The trustees serving when construction began on Crosswell Home were C.B. Yeadon, R.R. Bruner, J.H. Strong, John J. Riley and C.G. Rowland. They purchased a tract of land on North Main Street measuring approximately 100 acres for the sum of $10,000. Contracts were soon let for the construction of two units (cottages) intended to house 16 children and two house mothers. The buildings were designed and constructed by architect J.B. Urqurt of Columbia. The contractors for the project were W.A. Crary & Son of Columbia, who were the low bidders and had charge of construction. C.M. Berfoot was project supervisor; he chose Airedale brick from Sumter Brick Works for the buildings. The labor used in construction came primarily from Sumter. The plumbing, lighting and electrical work was completed by the J.S. Cormell Company. The buildings were constructed in a manner that made them virtually fireproof. The structures were made of "hollow tiles with brick veneers and had asbestos roofs. They are one story, and their plan embodies the most practical ideas gained from the experience of leading orphanage men throughout the country." Local businesses were allowed to bid on the furnishings for the living quarters. The low bidders were Home Furniture for furniture, Durant Hardware for kitchen utensils, the Sumter Dry Goods Company for lines and the Holman-Hurst Company for refrigerators. The trustees announced that they had secured the services of Dr. Theo Quattlebaum of Columbia to serve as superintendent; he reported to Sumter on March 15, 1935. Quattlebaum had served as superintendent of the Carolina Orphans Home in Columbia and came to this new position with outstanding credentials. He was assisted by his wife, who had extensive work experience in orphanage homes. Quattlebaum served as director of the Crosswell facility until 1947, when he was replaced by W.C. James, who is reported to have managed the 'Home' in an" unselfish and Christian manner." James would retire in 1972 after 25 years of service. Two additional cottages were added in 1936, each designed to accommodate 14 children. Records indicate that the largest enrollment at the home occurred during World War II, when 67 children were provided with accommodations. In 1952 the trustees petitioned the courts for the authority to admit children from broken homes. The youngest child to be admitted to Crosswell Home in the early stages of operation was 13 months old. This individual remain at the facility until high school graduation. The children who live at Crosswell Home attend city schools and are free to attend the religious institution of their choice, as it was the wish of John Crosswell that the home be nondenominational. The Crosswell Home began as a vision of one man, who committed his assets to fulfill that dream. The end product was the creation of a safe and nourishing environment that provided children with the opportunity to grow and prosper. Cassie Nicholes offers this summary; "the work of making a worthwhile home envisioned and provided by John K. Crosswell goes on. Surely he was a great man. He is gratefully remembered by men in Sumter today who often played around his warehouse as children and were given fruit and candy from his generous hand. And that love of children was shown by his provision of a place for those deprived of a place; for those deprived of the joys of a home. His thoughtfulness and generosity have brought comfort and enrichment to hundreds of children." The authors of Reflections obtained information from the writings of Cassie Nicholes and the Item Archives in the preparation of this article. Posted in Reflections, Reflections, Looking back on Sunday, March 28, 2010 Early Residents shaped Sumter in all areas Posted: Sunday, November 23, 2014 6:00 am BY SAMMY WAY WAYSAMMY@YAHOO.COM Reflections continues to highlight the achievements and contributions of Sumter citizens who helped make our community successful and productive. The group highlighted in this issue comprises individuals selected at random and are not the only candidates worthy of mention. Reflections will continue to prepare additional biographical sketches of those who have worked to improve the economic and cultural life of the Sumter community and feature them in future articles. Information used in preparing this presentation was obtained from The Sumter Item archives and the writings of Cassie Nicholes. Neil O'Donnell (1859-1937) was born in Ardora Parrish, County of Donegal, Ireland, and came to America where he settled in Pennsylvania. He came to Sumter and took employment with William Bogin, later taking over this successful mercantile business. O'Donnell and Company was incorporated in 1906, and O'Donnell became active in a number of civic and commercial concerns. He was a principal benefactor of Tuomey Hospital, serving as president of its Board of Trustees, president of the First National Bank (later South Carolina National 1930), and board member of the City Schools for 43 years, served one term on city council and served on numerous boards of several local industries and business concerns. Dr. Samuel H. Edmunds (1870-1935) was born at Millgrove Plantation, Richland County, and moved in 1877 to Sumter, where he spent the bulk of his life. He attended Davidson College, graduating in 1890, and was later selected as assistant principal of the Sumter graded school, serving two years in that position. He became the headmaster of the Presbyterian High School in Rock Hill for two years prior to accepting the superintendence of the Sumter City Schools, where he remained for almost 40 years. He pursued postgraduate work at Columbia University, the University of Chicago, Presbyterian, Wofford and the University of South Carolina. He was a member of numerous civic and fraternal organizations. He was instrumental in founding the local YMCA; it was noted that "his interest was not limited or restricted to the schools but any and every movement for the good of Sumter received his active support." Dr. Julius Mood (1854-1936) "He was the oldest physician of Sumter in years and length of active service in his profession; besides being an outstanding citizen, he was honored and beloved by the entire community to which he gave a lifetime of devoted service." He served on the City Schools Board for more than four decades and possessed acute literary abilities. He was a charter member of the Fortnightly Literary Club organized in 1916; he was a charter member and president of the Sumter Rotary Club in addition to serving in numerous other civic, social and fraternal organizations. He established and conducted a private hospital for nearly 20 years prior to its merging with the Sumter Hospital (now Tuomey Regional Medical Center). James D. Blanding was born in Columbia in 1821 and studied at the Academy there. Following graduation from South Carolina College in 1841, he read law with his uncle, William DeSaussure. Blanding moved to Sumter in 1843 to practice law, only to have his career interrupted by the Mexican War in 1848. He became one of Sumter's leading lawyers and practiced the profession for 35 years. He also served in the Legislature on the Education and Judiciary Committees and as mayor of Sumter. Before the signing of the Ordinance of Succession he raised the first company of volunteers in the Sumter District. He was a devoted church member and participated in a number of civic and fraternal activities. His home once stood on the current site of Memorial Park. Mary McLeod Bethune (1875-1955) was born on July 10, 1875, near Raccoon Road, which at one time served as the main highway between Camden and Georgetown. She was the 15th of 17 children and received the majority of her early education in Mayesville under the tutelage of Emma Wilson. Her obsession with education led her to become a schoolteacher and eventually found Bethune-Cookman College in Florida. She later became friend and confidant of Eleanor Roosevelt, leading to her appointment to several advisory boards. Bethune became a member of the "Black Cabinet," where she advised President Roosevelt on the status of African-Americans in America. She became a member of the National Youth Administration and helped draft the United Nations Charter, an act she considered to be her highest national honor. Mary McLeod Bethune died on May 18, 1955, near her school, a place that had remained dearest to her heart. Noah Graham Osteen (1843-1936) "One of the pioneers in the history of Sumter's Press was born on Jan. 25, 1843. He entered the newspaper business in 1855 at the age of 12 when he took a job with The Sumter Watchman. When he finished his five-year apprenticeship, he was given the task of publishing a Conway paper his company owned. He entered the military when the paper ceased publication and Sherman's army was approaching Columbia; following the conflict, he returned home to Sumter with his new wife. He later purchased half interest in The Sumter News (which became The True Southron)." In 1881 He purchased from Darr his interest in the True Southron and purchased at the same time The Sumter Watchman, later consolidating the two papers into the Watchman and Southron. In 1894 he began publishing a daily paper, The Sumter Item, and the Watchman and Southron became a semi-weekly newspaper and continued until 1933. He remained active in the newspaper business until he died as a result of an accident in 1936. Thomas Sumter (1734-1832) Sumter County's namesake was born in Hanover County, Virginia, Aug. 14, 1734, and came to South Carolina in 1762, married Mary (Cantey) Jameson in 1767, became a planter and engaged in the mercantile business. He served in the Provincial Congress in 1776 and was made a lieutenant colonel in the 6th S.C. Regulars. He was appointed brigadier general of the South Carolina militia Oct. 6, 1780, and was in command of all militia in South Carolina during the Revolution. He was elected to serve as a member of the Continental Congress, 1783-1784, and the House of Representatives from 1789-1793 and 1797-1801. Sumter served as a United States Senator from Dec. 18, 1801 to Dec. 19, 1810. Sumter lived in Stateburg, which he helped found in 1793, until he died at age 98 on June 1, 1832. John K. Crosswell was a native of Lee County north of Bishopville reared near what is now Lee State Park. He was the son of John R. and Susan Wright Crosswell; however, little is known about him prior to his coming to Sumter to work for a relative. He started Crosswell and Company in Sumter in 1901 which became the "largest wholesale business in eastern South Carolina." The business was initially located on the southwest corner of Main and Liberty streets; later he had three buildings constructed on South Sumter Street. He and his brother gained control of the Coca-Cola rights on syrup, which was sold to bottlers in many cities. His business interests continued to grow until his death in 1929. One of the conditions of his will was the establishment of an orphanage to be constructed for the children of Sumter. This organization continues to exist in the city, and due to Crosswell's planning, the facility continues to fulfill its mission. John Blount Miller (1782-1851) Anne King Gregorie describes John B. Miller as "One of the most useful and influential citizens of Sumter." Born in Charleston on Oct. 16, 1782, he moved to Sumter in December of 1805, the same year he was admitted to the Bar. Records indicate that he was probably the first lawyer to reside in the Sumter community and became its initial Notary Public. He was later admitted as Commissioner and Registrar of the First Court of Equity in the Sumter District. He helped organize the Sumterville Library Society, became a noted orator, veteran of the War of 1812, writer and strong advocate of public education. Evidence of this was his conveying one acre of land for "the improvement of the children of said village and its vicinity," leading to the eventual building of three separate schools. He was an advocate of building a branch of the High Hills Baptist Church in Sumterville, which later became First Baptist. "He would devise a system of filing and labeling important papers relevant to the countless number of legal cases he handled." In addition to his numerous accomplishments he still found time to publish two books. Reach Item Archivist Sammy Way at waysammy@yahoo.com or (803) 774-1294. Former residents reflect on Crosswell Home for Children's 90 years of changing lives Averie, left, walks around the long-standing tree at Crosswell Home for Children. ABIGAIL PITTMAN / THE SUMTER ITEM Posted Saturday, November 1, 2025 6:00 am By ALAYSHA MAPLE alaysha@theitem.com Since 1935 on the estate of John K. Crosswell, Crosswell Home for Children has served as a safe haven for more than 1,000 children. That number alone is remarkable, even more so when many of those children return as adults, smiling, hugging and reminiscing about a place that changed their lives. Crosswell marked its 90th anniversary with an alumni barbecue on Saturday, Oct. 25, to bring together former residents, staff and families to celebrate nine decades of community and compassion. When Franklin Gainey walked back onto the Crosswell campus that Saturday, it felt like opening a time capsule. A high-schooler when he first arrived, he is now based in North Carolina, where he embarked on a career in hospitality. The trip back down South was worth it as he came to see the familiar faces of Executive Director Jerry Allred and his wife, Suzy, feel the warm hugs of staff members who doubled as family and be surrounded by the unconditional love he came to cherish. "I was here during a time where I didn't feel as loved as I should have been from my own family. The people who weren't my family, they really cared about me," Gainey expressed, overcome with emotion and gratitude. "They really do care about the kids here, and when people say they don't have good experience, everybody can experience something different, but my experience is great because I wouldn't be who I am today without them. I don't know what I would be doing, but I don't think I would be who I am right now." The same sense of family stayed with Anaiah Crosby, who arrived at Crosswell in 2008. Her first day and the days that followed were filled with open arms and warm hugs. Crosby graduated in 2020, the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even when milestones were canceled, Crosswell made sure she didn't miss out. "I remember Suzy taking my senior pictures. We took my senior pictures here; she took me downtown, she bought my dress and everything," Crosby reminisced. Now 22, a mother and phlebotomy student, Crosby said she still leans on lessons she learned there. "Since being here, it showed me a lot [about] communication, and it opened my eyes to the world and letting go of grudges," Crosby shared. To attend the alumni event with her daughter is a meaningful experience for the mother, as it shows the true power of perseverance and patience. "It shows her how it was for me and tries to show her that being here, it's not a sentence like a prison. It's a game changer, and it's wonderful," Crosby expressed. "Sometimes, it's better here than being in a bad and negative environment." Ninety years, nearly a century, of being a second home for youth in need of a second chance, a fresh start. For Claude Cumbee, Crosswell's 90th anniversary stirred up memories of summer camps, grocery runs and the experiences that still guide him today. "I remember the hard times where I had to be dedicated. Also, I remember [how] the house parents guided me, showing me good ways and then showing me that manners are always going to take me further," Cumbee shared. "I live by that, and ever since I left here, I've always had manners." Now, Cumbee works as a specialist with Pilgrim's Pride and owns his own photography business, A Production. He's also working toward earning his barber's license. And, to him, it feels good to share the good news on the very grounds that made it possible for him to achieve them. "Being here, it's bringing back memories. It brings back the opportunities I created for myself, the opportunities that were created for me, the guidance to help me," he shared. "Coming back here is like coming back home."  [1, 3, 4, 5, 6]
  HIST	Date Published: August 9, 2009 Cartee-Crosswell lawsuit concludes; Sumter to honor Richardson CROSSWELL By HUBERT OSTEEN Item Editor Hubert@theitem.com 75 YEARS AGO – 1934 Week of Oct. 4-11 The long-awaited decision in the year-long lawsuit brought by a woman claiming to be the common-law wife of the late John K. Crosswell was rendered by Special Master W.M. Shand of Columbia. Shand ruled in favor of the Crosswell estate, estimated at over $500,000, of which Ina Cartee had sought a share as the common-law wife of the prominent Sumter businessman. The bulk of Crosswell's estate was directed in his will to be used for the establishment and maintenance in Sumter of a home for the care and education of orphaned local children. Trustees of Crosswell's estate had already purchased 100 acres of property on North Main Street from Robert J. Bland and begun construction of two cottages that will accommodate about 36 children and resident supervisors of the orphanage when completed before the end of the year, according to the page one story. Cartee's lawsuit first surfaced in May 1933 with a front-page story in The Item. She alleged that she lived with Crosswell for 10 years until his death in May 1929, first becoming his lover while the two were living in a Sumter boarding house after she had begun teaching school in the city. The couple would later meet up at various hotels and apartments in New York state and New York City over the 10 years of their relationship, according to testimony at the special master proceedings in Sumter. Various titillating letters from Cartee to Crosswell were introduced into evidence by estate attorneys R.D. Epps and George D. Levy. Cartee, who testified at length along with other individuals, was represented by Mendel L. Smith of Camden and J.D. Lanford of Greenville. Cartee also testified that she became pregnant by Crosswell in 1920 and suffered a miscarriage the following year. When questioned by the estate's attorneys, she could not produce any letters that Crosswell had written her, claiming they were lost when the trunk in which she had them packed was stolen by a taxicab driver soon after the death of Crosswell. Shand's ruling is final subject to review by the state Supreme Court if an appeal is made by Cartee's attorneys. Not according to plan: Crosswell Home for Children director had planned to teach Posted: Sunday, March 14, 2010 6:00 am | Updated: 4:20 pm, Sun Mar 14, 2010. By GINA VASSELLI gvasselli@theitem.com This is the second in an occasional series about Crosswell Home for Children. These articles will lead up to the home's 75th anniversary celebration on June 5 and 6. When Jerry Allred Jr. graduated from The Citadel in 1991, he had a plan. "I was going to teach. I was going to coach football and wrestling. That's what I wanted to do," Allred said. Immediately after graduating, he got a job at what was then called the Anderson Youth Association, a home in Anderson for children with emotional issues. "My plan was to work a little bit during the summer and look for a teaching job," Allred said. Despite his plan, he's been working in children's homes ever since. "Once I started working with those kids, I realized that's what I was supposed to be doing," he said. Allred became the executive director of the Crosswell Home for Children in October 2008 after spending five years in Anderson, two years at Carolina Children's Home in Columbia and 11 years at Epworth Children's Home in Columbia. He didn't plan on leaving Epworth, where he said his approach to working with children was shaped. But once again, his plans were overruled by God's plan, he said. He was approached by a children's home in the Upstate about becoming its program director, the position he held at Epworth, with the possibility of moving into the executive director's position eventually. "But it didn't happen," he said. A couple of days later, Crosswell called, and Allred said he was "reluctantly interested." He came to Crosswell to visit and interviewed with the board. "You know how you're unsure about something, and then all of a sudden there's like a peace and you go, 'That, that's it,'" he said. "Right after my interview I got in my truck and drove back to Columbia. I called my wife and said, 'I'm not sure if this is supposed to happen or not, but ... this just feels right'." About a year and a half after coming, Allred said he's had to make some changes at Crosswell, but his previous experience prepared him well for the issues he's had to handle. "Everything from how we bought groceries to how we buy gas for the vehicles has changed," he said. He said he's put a greater focus on accountability for the home's roughly $1 million yearly budget. "We have to be good stewards of what we have," he said. "We have to spend wisely and use wisely." Allred said that living on campus with his wife, Suzy, and two daughters, Carly, 8, and Annavee "VeVe," 5, makes it certain that he can't get too far removed from the main focus of Crosswell: raising kids. "Every decision you make has to go back to, ultimately, will this allow us to take better care of children? If it doesn't, then the answer is no," he said. Allred said he's "always on call" because "if anything goes wrong I can get here quicker than anybody else." Working and living in the same place does get tiring, and there are times when he said it's hard for him to organize his time so he can be "Mr. Jerry," "Daddy" and also just "Jerry." But, he said, "To do the job the way it needs to be done, you should be tired." Allred's life may not be what he planned, but he said he had no regrets. "There's no telling what would have happened had I made choices myself," he said. "There are times where I would go, 'Is this exactly what I pictured?' And it's not. It's better." Posted in News, Local news on Sunday, March 14, 2010 Crosswell's philanthropy benefits Sumter's children Posted: Sunday, March 28, 2010 6:00 am | Updated: 5:25 pm, Sun Mar 28, 2010. By SAMMY WAY JOHN KENNEDY CROSSWELL: " A man who had exceptional business ability and at the same time one who had time to be concerned about the welfare of others, especially children." John Kennedy Crosswell was born Oct. 29, 1870, near the town of Cypress in Darlington County and close to the present day Lee State Park. He was educated in the Darlington County schools and at Wofford College, where he paid his own personal expenses. He was the son of John R. and Susan Wright Crosswell, who raised their children in a small rural community. John was a devoted son who cared a great deal for his parents, insisting that their burial plots be maintained and placing a provision in his will that provided continued care and safeguarding of these sites after his death. There are few records that provide insight into his early life growing up in rural Lee County. There is speculation that he and his brother, Henry D. Crosswell, had held jobs in Georgia; however, this has not been substantiated. In 1900 as Crosswell approached his 30th birthday he moved to Sumter and began working as a clerk in his cousin's grocery store. Wentworth Crosswell had started his business on the corner of Main and Liberty streets, a location that later became the site of the McClellan's five-and-dime store. That experience helped prepare him for a successful career in commerce. Following Wentworth's death, John and Henry purchased the business and continue to operate it for several years. The brothers expanded it into Crosswell & Company, which had its grand opening in 1901. The company quickly became the largest wholesale business in the eastern portion of South Carolina, providing delivery services to many communities surrounding the city of Sumter. Having his own retail company did not diminish Crosswell's interest in the grocery business, as he continued to work and travel for R.C. Williams & Company of New York. The Crosswell Company continued to grow at a rapid pace and soon large trucks were delivering products from the huge warehouses to customers in Camden, Bishopville, Manning, Summerton, Rembert, Mayesville and Sumter. B.R. Compton and W.O. Staley were salesmen during the early stage of the company's development. They recalled having to take the local train to other communities, rent a horse and buggy to call on customers and then return to Sumter late in the evening using the same train. These early salesmen understood the likes and dislikes of the people they did business with and were able to rapidly build an extensive clientele for the Crosswell Company. Crosswell later added three buildings on South Sumter Street, one for use as a warehouse, another to provide office space for the Seaboard Coastline freight depot and the third to serve as the Southern Railroad station. Crosswell proved to be adept at his chosen profession and took frequent trips to New York, Chicago and Atlanta, where he often combined business with pleasure. Following each of these trips, several railroad freight cars would arrive in Sumter laden with the latest merchandise that would be soon be accessible to his many customers. As a result of his continued success, Crosswell was able to purchase the Henry Ligon Home at 5 West Oakland Avenue. The home, like many of the residences constructed for successful businessmen, was constructed near the railroad tracks. Once the Crosswell business concerns were firmly established in Sumter the brothers decided to acquire the rights to the syrup sold to bottlers by the Coca-Cola Company. In 1903 Crosswell began bottling Coca-Cola in Sumter using equipment that was housed in his own facility. This enterprise soon caught the attention of investors from Cartersville, Ga., who were successful in purchasing Crosswell's bottling business, which they later sold to The Carolina Coca-Cola Bottling Company. By 1915 the Crosswell Company was controlled by five men who owned equal shares of stock in the enterprise. John Crosswell was listed as president, J.H. Strong, manager; C.B. Yeadon, office manager; with B.R. Compton and W.O. Staley, serving as salesmen. Each one of these men owned five equal shares of stock in the business. As his business and assets continued to expand, John Crosswell decided to have his will drawn by Judge Robert O. Purdy in 1915, listing his brother and the immediate descendants of his deceased brothers and sisters as those who would receive a portion of his estate. He designated C. B. Yeadon, J. H. Strong and the Sumter Trust Company (a codicil was later added naming R.R. Bruner, the manager of the Coca-Cola Plant in Columbia) as executors of his estate. This change was due to the Sumter Trust Company having been dissolved and no longer conducting business. It is said that Crosswell traveled extensively during his retirement and was "a man of wide knowledge and personal charm." John K. Crosswell died on Thursday, May 30, 1929, in Columbia. It is reported that he left the bulk of his estate valued at more than $500,000 "for the establishment and endowment of the 'John K. Crosswell Home', an institution for orphans in or near the city of Sumter." The will was filed in the office of Judge of Probate T.E. Richardson shortly after his death. Bequests were left to his brother Henry and several of his nieces and nephews. The will also provided for generous gifts to the Epworth Orphanage of Columbia, the Rescue Orphanage in Charleston, and the Sumter Y.M.C.A. At the time of his death Crosswell was serving as president of the H. D. & J. K. Crosswell, Inc. of Columbia; as president of Crosswell & Company Inc. of Sumter; as director of the National Bank of South Carolina. He was also a member of Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church and contributed to a number of charities both locally and across the state. He was a Mason, a Shriner and a member of the Knights of Pythias and was active in each. Crosswell died at the relatively young age of 59, and five years after his death the trustees selected to administer his estate, which had grown to several millions of dollars, made preparations to establish the "home for children" Crosswell had envisioned. THE JOHN K. CROSSWELL HOME: The trustees serving when construction began on Crosswell Home were C.B. Yeadon, R.R. Bruner, J.H. Strong, John J. Riley and C.G. Rowland. They purchased a tract of land on North Main Street measuring approximately 100 acres for the sum of $10,000. Contracts were soon let for the construction of two units (cottages) intended to house 16 children and two house mothers. The buildings were designed and constructed by architect J.B. Urqurt of Columbia. The contractors for the project were W.A. Crary & Son of Columbia, who were the low bidders and had charge of construction. C.M. Berfoot was project supervisor; he chose Airedale brick from Sumter Brick Works for the buildings. The labor used in construction came primarily from Sumter. The plumbing, lighting and electrical work was completed by the J.S. Cormell Company. The buildings were constructed in a manner that made them virtually fireproof. The structures were made of "hollow tiles with brick veneers and had asbestos roofs. They are one story, and their plan embodies the most practical ideas gained from the experience of leading orphanage men throughout the country." Local businesses were allowed to bid on the furnishings for the living quarters. The low bidders were Home Furniture for furniture, Durant Hardware for kitchen utensils, the Sumter Dry Goods Company for lines and the Holman-Hurst Company for refrigerators. The trustees announced that they had secured the services of Dr. Theo Quattlebaum of Columbia to serve as superintendent; he reported to Sumter on March 15, 1935. Quattlebaum had served as superintendent of the Carolina Orphans Home in Columbia and came to this new position with outstanding credentials. He was assisted by his wife, who had extensive work experience in orphanage homes. Quattlebaum served as director of the Crosswell facility until 1947, when he was replaced by W.C. James, who is reported to have managed the 'Home' in an" unselfish and Christian manner." James would retire in 1972 after 25 years of service. Two additional cottages were added in 1936, each designed to accommodate 14 children. Records indicate that the largest enrollment at the home occurred during World War II, when 67 children were provided with accommodations. In 1952 the trustees petitioned the courts for the authority to admit children from broken homes. The youngest child to be admitted to Crosswell Home in the early stages of operation was 13 months old. This individual remain at the facility until high school graduation. The children who live at Crosswell Home attend city schools and are free to attend the religious institution of their choice, as it was the wish of John Crosswell that the home be nondenominational. The Crosswell Home began as a vision of one man, who committed his assets to fulfill that dream. The end product was the creation of a safe and nourishing environment that provided children with the opportunity to grow and prosper. Cassie Nicholes offers this summary; "the work of making a worthwhile home envisioned and provided by John K. Crosswell goes on. Surely he was a great man. He is gratefully remembered by men in Sumter today who often played around his warehouse as children and were given fruit and candy from his generous hand. And that love of children was shown by his provision of a place for those deprived of a place; for those deprived of the joys of a home. His thoughtfulness and generosity have brought comfort and enrichment to hundreds of children." The authors of Reflections obtained information from the writings of Cassie Nicholes and the Item Archives in the preparation of this article. Posted in Reflections, Reflections, Looking back on Sunday, March 28, 2010 Early Residents shaped Sumter in all areas Posted: Sunday, November 23, 2014 6:00 am BY SAMMY WAY WAYSAMMY@YAHOO.COM Reflections continues to highlight the achievements and contributions of Sumter citizens who helped make our community successful and productive. The group highlighted in this issue comprises individuals selected at random and are not the only candidates worthy of mention. Reflections will continue to prepare additional biographical sketches of those who have worked to improve the economic and cultural life of the Sumter community and feature them in future articles. Information used in preparing this presentation was obtained from The Sumter Item archives and the writings of Cassie Nicholes. Neil O'Donnell (1859-1937) was born in Ardora Parrish, County of Donegal, Ireland, and came to America where he settled in Pennsylvania. He came to Sumter and took employment with William Bogin, later taking over this successful mercantile business. O'Donnell and Company was incorporated in 1906, and O'Donnell became active in a number of civic and commercial concerns. He was a principal benefactor of Tuomey Hospital, serving as president of its Board of Trustees, president of the First National Bank (later South Carolina National 1930), and board member of the City Schools for 43 years, served one term on city council and served on numerous boards of several local industries and business concerns. Dr. Samuel H. Edmunds (1870-1935) was born at Millgrove Plantation, Richland County, and moved in 1877 to Sumter, where he spent the bulk of his life. He attended Davidson College, graduating in 1890, and was later selected as assistant principal of the Sumter graded school, serving two years in that position. He became the headmaster of the Presbyterian High School in Rock Hill for two years prior to accepting the superintendence of the Sumter City Schools, where he remained for almost 40 years. He pursued postgraduate work at Columbia University, the University of Chicago, Presbyterian, Wofford and the University of South Carolina. He was a member of numerous civic and fraternal organizations. He was instrumental in founding the local YMCA; it was noted that "his interest was not limited or restricted to the schools but any and every movement for the good of Sumter received his active support." Dr. Julius Mood (1854-1936) "He was the oldest physician of Sumter in years and length of active service in his profession; besides being an outstanding citizen, he was honored and beloved by the entire community to which he gave a lifetime of devoted service." He served on the City Schools Board for more than four decades and possessed acute literary abilities. He was a charter member of the Fortnightly Literary Club organized in 1916; he was a charter member and president of the Sumter Rotary Club in addition to serving in numerous other civic, social and fraternal organizations. He established and conducted a private hospital for nearly 20 years prior to its merging with the Sumter Hospital (now Tuomey Regional Medical Center). James D. Blanding was born in Columbia in 1821 and studied at the Academy there. Following graduation from South Carolina College in 1841, he read law with his uncle, William DeSaussure. Blanding moved to Sumter in 1843 to practice law, only to have his career interrupted by the Mexican War in 1848. He became one of Sumter's leading lawyers and practiced the profession for 35 years. He also served in the Legislature on the Education and Judiciary Committees and as mayor of Sumter. Before the signing of the Ordinance of Succession he raised the first company of volunteers in the Sumter District. He was a devoted church member and participated in a number of civic and fraternal activities. His home once stood on the current site of Memorial Park. Mary McLeod Bethune (1875-1955) was born on July 10, 1875, near Raccoon Road, which at one time served as the main highway between Camden and Georgetown. She was the 15th of 17 children and received the majority of her early education in Mayesville under the tutelage of Emma Wilson. Her obsession with education led her to become a schoolteacher and eventually found Bethune-Cookman College in Florida. She later became friend and confidant of Eleanor Roosevelt, leading to her appointment to several advisory boards. Bethune became a member of the "Black Cabinet," where she advised President Roosevelt on the status of African-Americans in America. She became a member of the National Youth Administration and helped draft the United Nations Charter, an act she considered to be her highest national honor. Mary McLeod Bethune died on May 18, 1955, near her school, a place that had remained dearest to her heart. Noah Graham Osteen (1843-1936) "One of the pioneers in the history of Sumter's Press was born on Jan. 25, 1843. He entered the newspaper business in 1855 at the age of 12 when he took a job with The Sumter Watchman. When he finished his five-year apprenticeship, he was given the task of publishing a Conway paper his company owned. He entered the military when the paper ceased publication and Sherman's army was approaching Columbia; following the conflict, he returned home to Sumter with his new wife. He later purchased half interest in The Sumter News (which became The True Southron)." In 1881 He purchased from Darr his interest in the True Southron and purchased at the same time The Sumter Watchman, later consolidating the two papers into the Watchman and Southron. In 1894 he began publishing a daily paper, The Sumter Item, and the Watchman and Southron became a semi-weekly newspaper and continued until 1933. He remained active in the newspaper business until he died as a result of an accident in 1936. Thomas Sumter (1734-1832) Sumter County's namesake was born in Hanover County, Virginia, Aug. 14, 1734, and came to South Carolina in 1762, married Mary (Cantey) Jameson in 1767, became a planter and engaged in the mercantile business. He served in the Provincial Congress in 1776 and was made a lieutenant colonel in the 6th S.C. Regulars. He was appointed brigadier general of the South Carolina militia Oct. 6, 1780, and was in command of all militia in South Carolina during the Revolution. He was elected to serve as a member of the Continental Congress, 1783-1784, and the House of Representatives from 1789-1793 and 1797-1801. Sumter served as a United States Senator from Dec. 18, 1801 to Dec. 19, 1810. Sumter lived in Stateburg, which he helped found in 1793, until he died at age 98 on June 1, 1832. John K. Crosswell was a native of Lee County north of Bishopville reared near what is now Lee State Park. He was the son of John R. and Susan Wright Crosswell; however, little is known about him prior to his coming to Sumter to work for a relative. He started Crosswell and Company in Sumter in 1901 which became the "largest wholesale business in eastern South Carolina." The business was initially located on the southwest corner of Main and Liberty streets; later he had three buildings constructed on South Sumter Street. He and his brother gained control of the Coca-Cola rights on syrup, which was sold to bottlers in many cities. His business interests continued to grow until his death in 1929. One of the conditions of his will was the establishment of an orphanage to be constructed for the children of Sumter. This organization continues to exist in the city, and due to Crosswell's planning, the facility continues to fulfill its mission. John Blount Miller (1782-1851) Anne King Gregorie describes John B. Miller as "One of the most useful and influential citizens of Sumter." Born in Charleston on Oct. 16, 1782, he moved to Sumter in December of 1805, the same year he was admitted to the Bar. Records indicate that he was probably the first lawyer to reside in the Sumter community and became its initial Notary Public. He was later admitted as Commissioner and Registrar of the First Court of Equity in the Sumter District. He helped organize the Sumterville Library Society, became a noted orator, veteran of the War of 1812, writer and strong advocate of public education. Evidence of this was his conveying one acre of land for "the improvement of the children of said village and its vicinity," leading to the eventual building of three separate schools. He was an advocate of building a branch of the High Hills Baptist Church in Sumterville, which later became First Baptist. "He would devise a system of filing and labeling important papers relevant to the countless number of legal cases he handled." In addition to his numerous accomplishments he still found time to publish two books. Reach Item Archivist Sammy Way at waysammy@yahoo.com or (803) 774-1294. Former residents reflect on Crosswell Home for Children's 90 years of changing lives Averie, left, walks around the long-standing tree at Crosswell Home for Children. ABIGAIL PITTMAN / THE SUMTER ITEM Posted Saturday, November 1, 2025 6:00 am By ALAYSHA MAPLE alaysha@theitem.com Since 1935 on the estate of John K. Crosswell, Crosswell Home for Children has served as a safe haven for more than 1,000 children. That number alone is remarkable, even more so when many of those children return as adults, smiling, hugging and reminiscing about a place that changed their lives. Crosswell marked its 90th anniversary with an alumni barbecue on Saturday, Oct. 25, to bring together former residents, staff and families to celebrate nine decades of community and compassion. When Franklin Gainey walked back onto the Crosswell campus that Saturday, it felt like opening a time capsule. A high-schooler when he first arrived, he is now based in North Carolina, where he embarked on a career in hospitality. The trip back down South was worth it as he came to see the familiar faces of Executive Director Jerry Allred and his wife, Suzy, feel the warm hugs of staff members who doubled as family and be surrounded by the unconditional love he came to cherish. "I was here during a time where I didn't feel as loved as I should have been from my own family. The people who weren't my family, they really cared about me," Gainey expressed, overcome with emotion and gratitude. "They really do care about the kids here, and when people say they don't have good experience, everybody can experience something different, but my experience is great because I wouldn't be who I am today without them. I don't know what I would be doing, but I don't think I would be who I am right now." The same sense of family stayed with Anaiah Crosby, who arrived at Crosswell in 2008. Her first day and the days that followed were filled with open arms and warm hugs. Crosby graduated in 2020, the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even when milestones were canceled, Crosswell made sure she didn't miss out. "I remember Suzy taking my senior pictures. We took my senior pictures here; she took me downtown, she bought my dress and everything," Crosby reminisced. Now 22, a mother and phlebotomy student, Crosby said she still leans on lessons she learned there. "Since being here, it showed me a lot [about] communication, and it opened my eyes to the world and letting go of grudges," Crosby shared. To attend the alumni event with her daughter is a meaningful experience for the mother, as it shows the true power of perseverance and patience. "It shows her how it was for me and tries to show her that being here, it's not a sentence like a prison. It's a game changer, and it's wonderful," Crosby expressed. "Sometimes, it's better here than being in a bad and negative environment." Ninety years, nearly a century, of being a second home for youth in need of a second chance, a fresh start. For Claude Cumbee, Crosswell's 90th anniversary stirred up memories of summer camps, grocery runs and the experiences that still guide him today. "I remember the hard times where I had to be dedicated. Also, I remember [how] the house parents guided me, showing me good ways and then showing me that manners are always going to take me further," Cumbee shared. "I live by that, and ever since I left here, I've always had manners." Now, Cumbee works as a specialist with Pilgrim's Pride and owns his own photography business, A Production. He's also working toward earning his barber's license. And, to him, it feels good to share the good news on the very grounds that made it possible for him to achieve them. "Being here, it's bringing back memories. It brings back the opportunities I created for myself, the opportunities that were created for me, the guidance to help me," he shared. "Coming back here is like coming back home."
  Occupation	the bulk of his estate, estimated at $600,000 (May of 1934) was given for the founding of an orphanage in or near Sumter, South Caarolina  [2]
  Occupation	the bulk of his estate, estimated at $600,000 (May of 1934) was given for the founding of an orphanage in or near Sumter, South Caarolina  [2]
  _UID	404BDE9022D74247A665BEED4448FF3AF6E9
  _UID	404BDE9022D74247A665BEED4448FF3AF6E9
  Death	30 May 1929  [2]
  Person ID	I237703	Singleton and Related Families
  Last Modified	14 Dec 2025

  
  

  Father	John R. CROSSWELL
  Mother	Susan WRIGHT
  _UID	D39A321CC41A4B64BFECFBC24926B0D1A0FD
  _UID	D39A321CC41A4B64BFECFBC24926B0D1A0FD
  Family ID	F199486	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Living
  Family ID	F160436	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	23 Mar 2026

  
  

• Sources

  [S33065] Former residents reflect on Crosswell Home for Children’s 90 years of changing lives. [S11932] Sensational Crosswell suit continues; Chamber wins top award. [S12548] Cartee-Crosswell lawsuit concludes; Sumter to honor Richardson. [S14035] Crosswell’s philanthropy benefits Sumter’s children. [S21835] Early Residents - shaped Sumter in all areas. [S13990] Crosswell Home for Children director had planned to teach.