Untitled Document

John W. Crawford

John W. Crawford, of the township of Munson , has resided in Henry County since he came hither in 1850. He at that time located on section 31, of what was then town 16, and is now Munson. He is therefore justly entitled to the cognomen of a pioneer of the county.

He was bon in Bowling Green, Warren Co., Ky. , Sept. 18, 1828 , and is the son of John and Elizabeth (Howard) Crawford. His father was a native of Virginia , and was a preacher in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. When he was still a young man he left his native State to settle in Kentucky , where he remained until 1833, the year in which he came to Illinois . He set out with his wife and four children, and with two pair of oxen and a wagon, in company with a party of pilgrims with the same object in view as led the great army of pioneers to the Prairie State . The entire party led the lives of gipsies while they were on the journey; and, when it is remembered that it is a fast growing custom for the delicate and refined in higher social circles, to make such trips for the sake of their novelty and adventure, as well as for health, it may well be conjectured that the travelers in search of homes found something to make their travel pleasant and profitable. They located in Knox County . The father of Mr. Crawford bought land of the United States Government, on which the city of Abingdon is now built. He erected a log house, which had a puncheon floor and was roofed with clapboards. He was occupied with his farming and preaching at that place until his death. His widow still owns a farm in the vicinity of Abingdon, where she makes her home.

Mr. Crawford remained on the farm of his father until 1850, when he came, as has been stated, to Henry County . The place where he bought this tract of land was all wild prairie, and cut logs and had them sawed into material suitable for a frame house, which he built for the accommodation of his family, and which was 16 x 18feet in dimensions. He broke first 40 acres and fenced it. He was the owner and occupant of that place until he exchanged it for land on section 19 in the same township, which transaction took place in 1852. In the spring of 1855, he commenced the work of breaking the acres of his new farm, and in the fall he erected a house and removed thither. He still holds the place and has added to its dimensions until it comprises 240 acres. It has all been improved and good and suitable buildings erected. Mr. Crawford has set out a considerable variety of trees.

He was married Aug. 14, 1851 , to Mary E. Snyder. Mrs. Crawford was born in Warren Co., Ohio , was the daughter of Frederick and Hannah (High) Snyder. She became the mother of three children; Libbie H. is the wife of William Sheaffer, Farragut , Iowa ; Ida J. married Byron Markham, who lives in Washington , Kan. ; Clara A. is the wife of George Howard, and they reside near Shenandoah , Iowa . The mother died Nov. 3, 1863 . Julia Morrow became her successor June 14, 1864 , and of the second marriage there are six children: Nory Ella, who died Aug. 5, 1883 ; Minnie M., Arthur J., John W., Jay Edson and Jessie Martin.

Mr. Crawford is an Elder in the Presbyterian Church, and his wife is a member of the same organization.

1885 Portrait & Biographical Album of Henry Co., Illinois page 556

Transcribed by Jan Roggy

Illinois Ancestors