Crew was born at Chesterhill, Morgan County, Ohio, and educated in the public schools and at Westtown College in Pennsylvania, (a college under management of the Society of Friends).

[2] Crew was elected a judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the 1st Subdivision of the 8th judicial district of Ohio in 1891, and re-elected in 1896 and 1901.

At the Republican State Convention in May 1902, he was Nominated for Judge of the Supreme Court.

Governor Nash appointed Crew to fill the vacancy on the court caused by the death of Marshall Jay Williams, effective July 19, 1902.

[3] Judge Crew died January 25, 1912, at a hotel in Marietta, Ohio.