From History of Walworth County Wisconsin by Albert Clayton Beckwith, Vol. II, 
publ. 1912, Page 1457-1458
 
J. L. CRITES.  The methods of making money by the farmer are not confined, 
necessarily, to the mere cultivation of the soil, nor to the rearing of 
superior grades of live stock, although both of these are of the first 
importance.  Very often an excellent opportunity is offered to make a few 
hundred dollars or even several thousand dollars in one transaction by the 
judicious buying and selling of other farms.  But in order that the farmer may 
do this it is necessary for him to keep a good bank account, so as to be able 
to buy on short notice valuable property that is offered at a sacrifice, which 
quite often occurs.  The farmer of large means can do this without much 
trouble, but it is best for those of limited surplus cash to keep back near 
the shore.  Many a man has made a fortune in this way while many  another has 
been bankrupt.  A safer plan is to work constantly and carefully from month to 
month, from year to year, earning gradually, for the result will be more 
satisfactory in the long run.  This is the method followed by J. L. CRITES, 
one of the conservative yet progressive farmers of East Troy township, 
Walworth county, where he has spent his life and where his ancestors lived and 
labored for their own and the county's welfare, the name CRITES having been a 
well known one here since the pioneer days.
 
Mr. CRITES, of this sketch, was born in East Troy township, March 23, 1873.  
He is the son of George W. and Sarah (LANGMADE) CRITES, the father born in New 
York state and the mother in Pennsylvania.  George W. CRITES was young when, 
in 1842, he accompanied his parents, John and Elizabeth (GEIGER) CRITES, and 
here they spent the rest of their lives, having worked hard to establish a 
good home in the wilderness, and here the father of the subject devoted 
himself to farming, becoming the owner of two hundred and forty acres of land 
and was one of the substantial farmers of the community.  Politically, he was 
a Republican.  Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. George CRITES, all of 
whom are living at this writing.  The death of the father occurred in 1881, 
when comparatively young, but his widow survives.
 
J. L. CRITES, of this sketch, was reared on the home farm where he made 
himself useful in his boyhood, and during the wintertime he attended the life 
work, and he and his brother, William A., have become owners of the home 
place, consisting of two hundred acres, which they have kept well tilled and 
well improved, and they carry on general farming and stock raising 
successfully.  They have kept the old home well improved and not permitted the 
land to deteriorate, in fact, have carefully rotated their crops and 
judiciously employed natural and artificial fertilizers until the land has not 
only retained its original strength, but has increased in value.
 
Politically, J. L. CRITES is a Republican, but he has never been active in 
public affairs, nor sought office.
 
Mr. CRITES was married on August 16, 1899, to Minerva BEERS, who was born in 
Spring Prairie township, this county, on October 31, 1879.  She is the 
daughter of John and Mary (GARFIELD) BEERS, the father born in East Troy and 
the mother in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.  He is the son of John BEERS, a sketch of 
whom appears elsewhere in this volume and to which the reader is referred for 
a fuller history of the BEERS family.  The parents of Mrs. BEERS are now 
living in Spring Prairie township, and they have three children.  The father 
is a Prohibitionist and active in the movement.
 
Two children, twins, have been born to Mr. and Mrs. J. L. CRITES, Dean and 
Dale, born January 21, 1907.
 
Submitted by Carol