Calaveras
County
Biographies
JAMES CRAWFORD
To the brave pioneers California
owes in large measure the prosperity she now enjoys as a state. Among those hardy souls and courageous hearts
who thus believed in her future, and by long years of toil and undaunted
perseverance assisted nobly in the development of her resources, is the subject
of this article, and no one is more worthy of representation in the annals of
the state. He came to California in 1855
and is now one of the esteemed and honored pioneer residents of Vallicita.
Mr. Crawford was born near Milford
in county Donegal, Ireland, in 1819, and is of Scotch-Irish ancestry. His grandfather and his father both bore the
name of James Crawford and were born and reared at the same place. They were identified with the Covenanter
Church, now known as the Presbyterian Church, and the subject of this review
was reared after the strictest manner of that people. His education was acquired in Ireland and in 1847
he crossed the Atlantic to Philadelphia and remained in Pennsylvania for seven
and a half years. He then removed to New
Orleans, where he spent some time, after which he came to California in the
year 1855 by way of the Isthmus route.
Stories of rich gold discoveries were continually circulated in the
central and eastern portion of the country and it was his purpose and desire to get gold.
Accordingly he made his way direct from San Francisco to Vallicita,
where he began placer mining, working for wages. He received eighty dollars per month and, as
he had only been paid a dollar per day for his service in Pennsylvania, he
believed that the change was a very desirable one. After a time he engaged in
mining on his own account and took out considerable gold. He has practiced careful economy and thus has
always had a good bank account for his labor.
He thus engaged in mining until 1892, when he purchased eleven acres of
land in Vallicita, planted it with fruit trees and grapevines and is now
engaged in the cultivation of his orchard and vineyard. He resides upon his land in the enjoyment of
a pleasant cottage, having practically retired from active life, resting in
peace and comfort that his industry and frugality have secured to him. Throughout his business career he has managed
his affairs most commendably, his honesty being proverbial. He has never been sued in all his life, and
paid his debts promptly, has met his obligations fully and is spoken of in the
highest terms by all the old pioneers.
In 1864 Mr. Crawford returned to
Philadelphia and was there married to Mrs. Mary Rogers, also a native of
Milford, Ireland. She came to America in
the same ship in which her future husband crossed the Atlantic, being then the
young wife of Mr. Rogers. Her first husband
died and subsequently Mr. Crawford returned to Pennsylvania, where he made her
his bride. They lived together happily
for a number of years and were then separated by death, Mrs. Crawford being
called to the home beyond. Our subject
exercised his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the
Republican Party but has never sought or held office, nor has he been connected
with social or fraternal organizations.
His attention in former years being given to his business affairs and
the acquirement of a competence that now enables him to enjoy an honorable
retirement from labor.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern
California”, Pages 571-572. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden Nugget Library's Calaveras County Biographies