John “Buck” Crews was a Deputy U.S. Marshall who was born in Isagora (Holmes County) on July 12, 1866, after his father, George Washington Crews, completed service in Company K of the 6th Alabama Cavalry. Buck married Annie Laura Ward on January 7, 1889, in Isagora. Annie Laura was born in Red Bay to William Joe “Diamond Joe” Ward and Abseybeth Purvis Ward on July 18, 1867. Buck and Annie Laura had nine children, but one died in infancy.
Buck Crews was shot by accident while crossing St. Andrews Bay (Bay County) in order to participate in a raid on an illegal liquor still. Other Marshalls were with him when a rifle discharged and hit Crews in his side. He was taken to his home in Bonifay where he died several days later.
Buck’s
Annie Laura Crews eventually remarried and died in Jacksonville on January 14, 1945, but she was buried next to Buck in the Dead River Cemetery, which was originally known as the Miller Cemetery.
Burial: Dead River Cemetery, Bruce