Crumpton was born in Waltenborough, South Carolina (1828), the son of Henry Tally Crumpton and Matilda Smith Bryant. Crumpton lived in Alabama on his father's farm, which was sold and the family moved to Barbersville (Camden), Alabama to run a hotel. The hotel failed and Crumpton worked in a printing office, resolving to attend medical school. After 2 terms Crumpton left for California with about 500 people on April 1st, 1849. The first California points reached were Warner's, then Workman's and William's Ranches. He then went to Los Angeles, San Pedro, then on Bark "Hector" to San Francisco. While in L.A., Crumpton worked with a wealthy merchant, who took him under his wing until getting a job on a cargo ship to S.F. Once in S.F., Crumpton worked at manual labor until a mining outfit was secured. By 1851 he had saved enough money to return home and resume his medical studies. He went back and forth between Ala. and Cal. 3 times while in school, each time returning to Cal. compelled by a "fascination with mining". A member of the American Medical Assn. and the Cal. State Medical Society, he served 4 terms in the Cal. State Legislature and in the municipal government of Sausalito. He served as VP of the Society of California Pioneers and was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
From the description of Autobiography and Reminiscence of Dr. Hezekiah John Crumpton, Sausalito, 1901. (The Society of California Pioneers). WorldCat record id: 55987929
