Stanislaus
County
Biographies
EDWIN R. CRAWFORD
Edwin R. Crawford is a prominent
farmer residing in Langworth, two and one-half miles
west of Oakdale, Stanislaus County. Mr.
Crawford is a native of Michigan, his birth having occurred in Macomb County,
April 23, 1834, and the blood of Scotch-Irish ancestors is in his
constitution. The family was founded in
America at an early day, and among its members were those who, at the time of
the Revolution, joined the colonial army and fought for the independence of the
nation. His father’s uncle, John
Crawford, was a soldier with the American forces throughout the long struggle
that gained independence for the republic.
Jacob A. Crawford, the father of our
subject, was born in Ontario County, New York, in 1801, and was united in
marriage to Miss Harriet Bachelor, a native of his own state. In 1832 they removed to Macomb County,
Michigan, and cast their lot with the pioneer settlers of that locality. The paternal grandfather of our subject
settled in Milford, Oakland County, Michigan, in 1838, while Mr. Crawford’s
parents continued to reside in Macomb County for fifty years, or until
1882. The father was a successful farmer
and a man of prominence and influence.
His marked ability led his fellow townsmen to confer upon him public honors
and offices. For twenty years he was one
of the supervisors of the county and was also a postmaster for many years. His wife died in Michigan in 1852, at the age
of fifty-one years. They were the
parents of seven sons and two daughters, but both of the daughters and two of
the sons have passed away, while five of the number yet
survive. William Albert resides
in San Diego, California. In 1896 the
father came to California to live with his sons, Levi and Edwin R., and with
them he spent the last years of his life, passing away at the very ripe old age
of ninety-two years. In early manhood he
had been a member of the Methodist Church, but he afterward joined the
Presbyterian Church and in its work took an active interest, serving as elder
up to the time of his death. He was
blessed with a cheerful and happy disposition, lived an upright, honorable life
and may well be termed one of nature’s noblemen. His son, Levi Crawford, came to California in
1862, locating in Stanislaus County, where he engaged in teaching school for
seven years, subsequently giving his attention to farming. His wife died in April, 1895, and he survived
her less than a year. Their death was
mourned by a large circle of friends for their genuine worth. They were highly respected by all who knew
them. Luman G.
Crawford, another of his sons, was a soldier in the Civil War, enlisting in the
Third Infantry Michigan Volunteers July 29, 1864, with commission of second
lieutenant; on January 8, 1865, was promoted first lieutenant, and on February
25, 1866, was promoted captain. He was
mustered out June 10, 1866. He held the
position of commissary of subsistence under General Thomas and was on his
staff. He is now a resident of Oshkosh,
Wisconsin.
Edwin R. Crawford, whose name begins
this review, was educated in the public schools and in the Plymouth high school
of Michigan, after which he engaged in teaching, with good success. He also devoted his attention to farming
until 1866, which was the year of his emigration to California. On reaching this state he made his way
directly to his present home, purchasing one-half of the Langworth
farm, and today he owns seven hundred and fifty acres, constituting a valuable
property, which is conveniently located near Oakdale and is improved with all
the modern accessories and conveniences.
There is an excellent residence, and good barns and outbuildings which
furnish shelter for grain and stock.
In 1869 Mr. Crawford was united in
marriage to Miss Mary Jane Gregg, a native of Steubenville, Ohio, born April
30, 1850. Their union has been blessed
with five children, of whom four are living, namely: Lucy, now the wife of A. F. Finney, the
county surveyor of Stanislaus County; Gertrude, a graduate of the State Normal
School, and now a teacher in her home district; Henry and Margaret, who are
still with their parents; and Walter, who died when one year old. Mrs. Crawford is a valued member of the Presbyterian
Church. Mr. Crawford has been a
life-long Republican who keeps well informed on the issues of the day, and is
therefore able to support his position by intelligent argument. He is classified among the successful farmers
of his county, operating twelve hundred acres of land which is planted to wheat
and alfalfa. He follows progressive
farming methods, having a thorough understanding of the best methods of
cultivating his fields in order to produce good crops. He is practical and enterprising and above
all is reliable in his transactions with his fellow men.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern
California”, Pages 733-734. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901.
© 2011
Gerald Iaquinta.