San Francisco County

Biographies

ANDREW CRAWFORD

A. CRAWFORD, importer and dealer in ship chandlery, naval stores and all the South Sea Island products, was born in Glenarm, Ireland, February 28, 1828. Glenarm is a beautiful valley town on the bay shore, and a favorite resort of the people of the interior, and where was situated the castle residence of Lord Antrim, his parks occupying the larger portion of the fine valley. Mr. Crawford descends from Scotch-Irish parentage, and his life from the age of eight to sixteen years was principally devoted to farming. His education was exceedingly limited, the entire term not exceeding four years, and this only at intervals of farming, it being deemed more important to cultivate the field than the mind. At the age of sixteen years he went to Liverpool, England, and learned the trade of sail making, and in 1849, on board a sailing vessel, he started for Boston, Massachusetts, and after a passage of forty-nine days arrived in that port. The subsequent months were passed at his trade on land and sea, visiting Savannah, New Orleans, St. Louis and Chicago. From the latter point he made several trips upon Lake Michigan, and afterward went to New York and engaged as sail maker on board the Guy Mannering, and made several trips to Liverpool. In the spring of 1852, Mr. Crawford shipped on the Stage Hound around Cape Horn to San Francisco, arriving July 4, of the same year. He then worked as journeyman about one year, and afterward started in business, keeping a sail loft on Front street, the building being erected over the water upon piles, and it was possible to fish from the windows. Being well trained in his profession, he started out with a very fine business, which gradually led into ship-chandlery, and in 1862 he included supplies for that department. He continued sail making until 1869, when he gave up that branch of the business. About 1859 he became interested in sailing vessels, and began developing trade with the islands of the South Pacific, which is now a leading feature of his business. Mr. Crawford has established branch houses at Papeete, on the island of Tahiti, at Tailhoe, Marquesas Islands, at Jalnit, Marshall Island, at Butarritari, Gilbert Island, and has a prominent connection with Apia of the Samoan Island. His supplies are imported from France, Germany, Austria and England, with large invoices from manufacturers of the Eastern and Atlantic coast States. From the islands he brings copra pearl shells, sea-island cotton and fungus (which is again exported to China), and all sea-island products.

Mr. Crawford has been extensively interested in sailing vessels, several of which have become famous, and among the number is the bark Annie Johnson, an iron ship, which was formerly the Lizzie Iredale, of Liverpool. She took fire while loaded with a cargo of coal, was abandoned, and after drifting for eight months she passed through the Pamuta islands and was picked up by a French man-of-war off the Island of Tahiti and towed into port, her cargo still burning. She was subsequently bought by Mr. Crawford and repaired, skilled mechanics being sent from San Francisco to perform the work. The Senate and Congress of the United States unanimously agreed to give the vessel the American flag, which she has carried about twelve years, being for some time the only iron sailing vessel that was sailing under American register. This vessel is a recognized favorite among charterers, because of the good passages she has made and for the manner in which she has always turned out her cargo. Also worthy of mention is the schooner Greyhound, that ran between San Francisco and Tahiti for a period of fourteen years, making an average of four trips per year, which is the fastest sailing record of all crafts afloat. Mr. Crawford has become as familiar with the islands of the Pacific as with the streets of San Francisco. His development of commerce has not been purely of a mercenary nature, but rather to improve the general business of San Francisco, and today a large fleet is running to the islands in the interested of other merchants.

He was married in San Francisco, in 1854, to Miss Frances W. Love, a native of the North of Ireland, and of Scotch-Irish descent. Mr. Crawford is a Republican in politics, and has passed a life of great activity, but never so deeply engrossed in his own affairs that he had not time to engage in any measure which would advance the interests of the port of San Francisco. He has been one of the most active fighters to reduce the extravagant charges for pilotage, and partly through his efforts the towage charges and harbor dues have been greatly modified. Though sixty-two years of age, Mr. Crawford is in perfect physical condition, and says that in seventeen years he has not passed two consecutive days from his business. To this fact and his efforts to make every hour count are elements which he advances as secrets of his success.

Transcribed by Joyce and David Rugeroni.

Source: “The Bay of San Francisco,” Vol. 2, Pages 374-375, Lewis Publishing Co, 1892.

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