The Johnson Family of Derbyshire

John was in US by 1852 when he bigamously married Maria Hodkin. Surname: The surname was spelt "Crowther" in England and "Crother" when John Philip came to America. Ruth Fielden lived until 1899 in Todmorden, Lancs with her three children. She never divorced nor remarried.
Interesting, both wives died the same year--1899.

John Crowther 1822-1890

... John became a shoemaker. On 14 April 1843 at St. Chad's in Rochdale [UK] he married Ruth Fielden, daughter of Joshua and Hannah. They settled at Dobroyd and by 1848 had two children, Philip and George. On 2nd April 1848, with his wife pregnant for a third time, John left home for America. He said he was going to find a better life for the family, and promised he would either send for them or return within a year. Their daughter Hannah was born during this year.

John did write for a while, and at one time he sent some money to Ruth and asked her to join him. he then wrote again telling her not to go. That was the last time she heard from him.

Meanwhile, John changed his name to John Philip Crother, went through a bigamous marriage to Maria Hodkin from Derbyshire in 1852 and lived first in Michigan, then New York, and then settled in Nemaha, Nebraska. He worked as a boot, shoe and harness maker and raised five more children. A sixth child, Emma, died in 1860 aged 4. John was clearly successful in business judging by the value of his real and personal estate as declared on the 1870 census return - a total of $5,500. His children were William Henry (1852), Priscilla Jane (1859), John Edwin (1861), Anna Bertha (1863) and Oliver Charles (1873).
John's granddaughter Elizabeth recalls that he was so homesick that he would play "Rule Britannia" on his flute with tears streaming down his face. He threw himself in to local politics, becoming a J.P. in 1859. A gazetteer of the time records:

"When he came to Nemaha City, not one hundred acres of land were broken in the precinct, it being a sort of a bubble town, populated by claim-holders who were soon after compelled to move their frail shanties, then composing Nemaha City, out upon their claims, which operation laid the foundation for the present prosperity of Nemaha. Mr. C. has been Justice of the Peace most of the time since 1859; was in the Territorial House of 1861-62-63. He has been a Republican ever since the party was organized. He and his family are members of the Episcopal Church. No pioneer of Nemaha County is more familiar with its history, or has taken more pride in its progress, than has Squire Crother".

MARIA HODKIN, b England 9 Jun 1833, d Nevada City, CA 6 Aug 1899 According to data given by Keith Fielden of Richmond, VA, John Philip Crother must have come to Nebraska in about 1850, dropping the “W” in his name and leaving wife Ruth and three children in England. “Uncle Philip”, born 1843, came to Nebraska sometime as he was married there in 1873. John Philip Crother made a bigamous marriage to Maria Hodkin, as Ruth didn‘t die until 1899 and there is no record of a divorce.
Last Will and Testament, Dated, April 3 1890, six days before death
In the name of God, amen, I John P. Crother of Nemaha City in the County of Nemaha, State of Nebraska, ..., do make and publish this my last will and testament in ...First - I direct my funeral charges, the expenses of administering my estate and all my debts be paid out of my personal peoperty - If that be insufficient I authorize my executor hereinafter named to sell so much
of my real extate as may be necessary for that purpose.
Second - I do give devise and bequest unto my wife Maria H. Crother with
whom I am now living in Nemaha City, all my property both real and personal, and all my estate of any kind whatsoever...at her death the same to belong to and be owned by the following named children of myself and my said wife, Maria H. Crother, that is to say; my daughters Priscilla Jane, wife of James L. Melvin, Annie B., wife of
George Sanders, and my sons Oliver C Crother and John E. Crother. Said property to go to my said children above named in equal proportions share and share alike, and to be held by them in fee simple. My wife
Maria H. Crother to have the right to use during her natural life and as she may deem proper such of the said personal property for the supportof herself and the children
Third - All the rest or residue of any property I may own... I devise and bequeath to my said wife Maria H. Crother to be held and enjoyed by her during her natural life only and on her death to go to the children of myself and
said Maria H. whose names are above given, then to be held by them absolutly.
Fourth - I do appoint James L. Melvin my son-in-law above named the excutor of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all former wills by me made.
In testimony whereof I have hereby set my hand at Nemaha City, Nebraska on this April 3rd 1890.
The above will was signed and subcribed by the above named John P. Crother on April 3rd 1890 in the presence of the undersigned... done at Nemaha City Nebraska April 3rd 1890

His 1st wife was Ruth Fielden of Todmorden, Lancashire, England. They were married 14 Apr 1843 in Rochdale, Lancashire England. They had 3 children: Philip, George, and Hannah. Philip is the only one who came to live in the United States. The rest lived and died in England.

John came to the U.S. in search of land opportunities and was supposed to send for his wife and children once he got settled. For some reason that never happened, and he ended up with another wife and children in the United States.

Nemaha, Nebraska Newspaper - Obituary

SQUIRE CROTHER DEAD
Died--At his residence in Nemaha City, Wednesday, April 9th, 1890, at 9 o'clock p.m., John P. Crother, aged 68 years, 2 months and 11 days.
Squire Crother has been sick for several weeks but it was hoped he would recover, but such was not the decree of the Almighty, and at nine o'clock Wednesday night he breathed his last, passing away as quietly as though going to sleep. He was conscious until within two or three hours of his death. Mr. Crother was one of the oldest settlers of Nemaha City, having been in business here for over thirty two years. He was known and respected by every one. He was justice of the peace nearly all the time for the past thirty years, a man of unquestioned ability and learning, and his advice has been sought and counsel heeded by old and young. He will be as greatly missed as any man in the community, having always been one of our leading citizens.
John P. Crother was born in England January 29th, 1822. He came to the United States in early manhood, stopping several years in New York and other eastern cities. In the fall of 1857 he came to Nemaha City, and has lived here since that time.
The funeral services, conducted by Rev. R. C. Talbott, were held at the Episcopal church on Friday, at 10 o'clock a. m. All business houses were closed, and the schools dismissed. The church was crowded with friends and neighbors of the deceased, and then less than half were able to get in.
We join with the entire community in extending sympathy to the bereaved wife and children.

Another Obituary

Esquire Crother was born in England in the year 1822, came to America while yet a young man, and thirty three years ago settled in Nemaha, where he has ever since resided. He was a man of culture, candor, and withal a gentleman in its true sense. He was sick but for a short time, but was conscious to almost the last moment. The day but one before he died he remarked to a friend: "Day after tomorrow will decide the battle, and it is highly probably that death will conquer." A few hours before dissolution he was visited by a stranger who, while conversing with him about death, remarked that he hoped that the Squire's whole life had been spent in preparing for the life beyond. To this he made answer: "No, sir, I hope you do not consider me so selfish as that. I have tried to do what good I could to my fellows, and now I feel ready to take my chances in the world to come;" and when the hour glass of his life had run he sank as into a soft repose, as though willing to go.
As a citizen and one ever ready to give good advise and kindly admonition, Mr. Crother had many friends, and now that he has gone he will be missed by all.

Andreas' History of the State of Nebraska - Nemaha Co. Part 14

JOHN P. CROTHER, Nemaha City, located at that point in 1857, coming from Michigan. Mr. C. is an Englishman by birth, and a boot, shoe and harness maker by trade. When he came to Nemaha City, not one hundred acres of land were broken in the precinct, it being a sort of a bubble town, populated by claim-holders who were soon after compelled to move their frail shanties, then composing Nemaha City, out upon their claims, which operation laid the foundation for the present prosperity of Nemaha. Mr. C. has been Justice of the Peace most of the time since 1859; was in the Territorial House of 1861-62-63. He has been a Republican ever since the party was organized. He and his family are members of the Episcopal Church. No pioneer of Nemaha County is more familiar with its history, or has taken more pride in its progress, than has Squire Crother.

1870 USA census Nemaha City, Nemaha, Nebraska

J P CROTHER Head M 46 Male White Shoemaker England
Mariah H CROTHER Wife M 37 Female White Keep up House England
Priscilla J CROTHER Daur 11 Female White At School Nebraska
John E CROTHER Son 9 Male White At School Nebraska
Annie B CROTHER Daur 7 Female White At School Nebraska
Hannah HODKIN Mother in law Widow 82 Female White Out of Work England
John ? Boarder Widower 37 Male White Shoemaker Pennsylvania

1880 USA census Nemaha City, Nemaha, Nebraska

J P CROTHER Head M 59 Male White Shoemaker England
M H CROTHER Wife M 46 Female White Keeping House England
Bertha CROTHER Daur S 16 Female White Helping Mother Nebraska
John CROTHER Son S 19 Male White Learning Trade Nebraska
O C CROTHER Son 5 Male White Nebraska
Philip Crother was the census Enumerator for the area

1885 USA census Nemaha City, Nemaha, Nebraska

J P CROTHER Head M 63 Male White Boot & Shoe Dealer England
Maria H CROTHER Wife M 53 Female White Keeping House England
Oliver C CROTHER Son 10 Male White Nebraska
John P Crother was the census Enumerator for the area