| Birth: | 1 JAN 1818 in Grayson County, VA |
| Death: | 16 DEC 1897 in Corvallis, Benton County, OR 7 |
| Sex: | M |
| Father: | Robert Crawford b. ABT 1790 in Virginia |
| Mother: | |
| | |
Arrival: 1841 in Warren County, IL from Grayson County, VA
Occupation: ABT 1843 in M.D.; studied medicine in Warren County, IL and became a physician
Resided: 1845 in La Harpe, Hancock County, IL
Census: 1850 in Hancock County, IL
Arrival: 1852 in Wagon Train to the Oregon Territory from Hancock County, IL
Census: 1860 in Lebanon, Linn County, OR
Census: 1870 in Albany, Linn County, OR
Census: 1880 in Center Precinct, Linn County, OR
Burial: ABT 17 DEC 1897 in Sand Ridge Cemetery, Lebanon, Linn County, Oregon
Attribute: Elected in Linn County & served 2 terms in the Oregon House of Representatives
- Title: Historical Sketch of the Late Dr. G.F. Crawford by Mrs. M.Crawford
Page: 1897
Source Text: This original Newspaper article was written by MARY ELLEN GILMOUR CRAWFORD, wife of Dr. GEORGE FISHER CRAWFORD and published in Albany, Linn County, Oregon in the ALBANY NEWS DEMOCRAT newspaper shortly after Dr. CRAWFORD's death in December 1897. It identifies his birth place and date of birth, his death date and place and marriage to MARY ELLEN GILMOUR in Illinois, their journey across the plains by covered wagon to Oregon in 1852 and their life there. The news artcile follows:
"HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE LATE DR. G. F. CRAWFORD"
"GEORGE FISHER CRAWFORD was born in Grayson County, Virginia on January 1, 1818; died in Corvalis, December 16, 1897. His ancestors were of Scotch-Irish extraction and were of the landed nobility of the "Old Dominion", having settled there long before the Revolutionary war. The subject of this sketch was the eldest child of a family of seven children. His boyhood was not diffrerent from that of other boys of his time, whose parents were fairly well to do, and he received a good, ordinary education as he was growing up. When he became old enough to be of service, his father employed him in assisting to do the work of a tanyard of which the elder CRAWFORD was proprietor, and by the time GEORGE was 18 years of age, he had become possessed of a fair understanding of the tanners trade. Owing to no less than three attacks of lung fever to which he became subjected at various times, his health had become precarious and on which account it was deemed advisable that he should take a western trip, with the hope that different scenes and climate might cause him to grow more robust. So during the year 1841, he journeyed [from Virginia] to the state of Illinois, Warren County. In this county lived JOHN HUSTON and family, relatives of the HUSTONs of Linn County, Oregon. Young CRAWFORD became an inmate of the Hustons family for a short time; to whom he stated that he was travelling for a purpose, if possible, of overcoming lung trouble. Not a great distance from the HUSTONs resided Dr. JAMES GILMOUR, who practiced medicine throughout that locality, the HUSTONs being among his patrons, and who urged a young CRAWFORD to go to the doctor for treatment. He did so and for the purpose of receiving mefdical treatment, became an inmate of Dr. GILMOUR's family. A strong friendship soon was formed between the doctor, his family and the patient. Being of a sympathic nature, GEORGE very quickly embraced the opportunity which was afforded him, of studying medicine with Drs GILMOUR and STOCKTON. To secure the necessary funds to prosecute his medical studies, he engaged in school teaching. He also went to Missouri upon a pedling expedition with a young man by the name of Fuqua as a companion. Returning to Warren County and the GILMOURs, an intimacy sprang up between Miss MARY E., the youngest daughter of the GILMOUR family which, later on, culminated in marriage. By this time, Mr. CRAWFORD became so proficient in the science of medicine, that he began and practiced with the same success, locating in La Harp, Hancock county. The marriage having occured on December 18, 1845. he continued in the practice of medicine until the spring of 1852, when, in company with others, he started for Oregon. His outfit (two wagons) was drawn by six yoke of oxen and five yoke of cows. The emigration was so large that year that the train with which Dr. CRAWFORD and family was travelling had but little if any difficulty with the Indians, and arrived safely at the Dalles late in September 1852. Here it was decided to send the family down the Columbia river by flat boat, while two yoke of cattle were driven over the mountains to the valley, the rest of the stock, being left to be wintered at this point. The winter proving an unusually severe one ever hoof of stock that was so left, perished, including a valuable brood mare.
Reaching the valley they started southward and landed in Linn County about the middle of October and being possessed of the munificent sum of $25 with which to commence building a home in Oregon. Deciding to locate on the site of the present homestead, he purchased some improvements from a man by the name of Brock who had squatted upon the claim paying $20 of $25 for it. The first year of residence of the CRAWFORDs in Oregon were years of hardship and toil. Having no cows when they arrived here, the first two cows were purchased at $125 and $150 each. The wheat kernels used for flour the first winter, cost $6 per bushel, and, it was so smutty that it had to be washed before it could be converted into flour, by means of a coffee mill. By the strictest of economy and frugality, nevertheless the drawbacks were great and by indomitable pluck and industry, Dr. CRAWFORD improved his farm and surrounded his family with comforts and plenty.
To obtain money with which to support his family and improve the farm, Dr. CRAWFORD taught school, plowed sod for his neighbors etc. Nearly all the nails were made by his own hands during the winter. As his family grew up he gave them fairly liberal opportunties to obtain educations. Dr. CRAWFORD has been a leading citizen of Linn County since he first settled here. He has served two terms as a member of the House of Representatives with credit to himself and the Democratic Party which elected him. With the formation of the Albany Farmers Co., he became identified, from its inception, and was elected its first president which position he held for many years, and in which he became a large stockholder at the time of his death. He has ever been an active participant in all enterprises that tend to better the condition of the farmers. he was an active, enthusiastic granger and served as president of the county grange and business council for many years.
Dr. CRAWFORD was a strictly temperate man and of such regular and methodical habits in life, that he was able to extend what promised to be a short weekly existence in the beginning of life, to nearly four score years. His religion was to good to all men and to endeavor to make the world better by virtue of an example of perfect citizienship and honorable dealing among men. In belief he was a spirtualist. Believing that death does not end at all and that it is but the gateway to greater oppotunities and to a broader and better existence, he greeted the coming of the pale messenger with gladness.
Friends in Corvallis performed the last acts of respect and kindness for the departed and for the afflicted family, in a way that will case them to be remembered as long as life shall last. When the train arrived in nAlbany which bore the family and the remains, they were received at an early hour (7:30) by his old friends and neighbors. Martin Payne, P.B. Marshall, L.E. Blain, H.C. Marshall, E.W. Langdon and C.H. Stewart, all of whom were close intimate friends of the doctor in life time, serving as pall bearers. The casket was conveyed to the residence of J. G. CRAWFORD, the eldest son, and which was the family residence for more than 20 years, to await the hour of the funeral service. At 6 A.M. as many as could obtain standing room had assembled at the residence, when Annie B. Reed, of Lebanon, taking charge, delivered a very appropriate address in line with the belief of the deceased. Mrs. E.W. Langdon, Mrs. Althouse, Pres. Lee of Albany College, and Wm. Fortmiller supplying the music. At 10 A.M. the last stage of the sad journey was begun...to the family burial plot at Sand Ridge... Beside the aged wife, the following members of the family are living and engaged in active business pursuits: Mrs. GEORGIA A., wife of T. L. DUGGER, editor of the PEOPLES PRESS, J. G. CRAWFORD of the firm Crawford & Harnish, photographers of this city, W. W. and O. A. CRAWFORD, who live upon and operate the home farm, and Miss Helen Crawford, professor of elocution at O.A.C. of Corvallis.
Dr. CRAWFORD was a scrupulously honest man, his word being as good as his bond, a kind husband and father and an accommodating neighbor. His memory will long be treasured by a very large circle of friends. A good man has passed to the Great Beyond to take up, let us believe, a life work of greater possibilities, of greater usefulness and of greater happiness ________________________________CARD OF THANKS________________________________
In our sorrow connected with the last act of kindness and affection to an aged husband and father, we do not forget to express our heartfelt thanks in Corvallis who assisted us so kindly in starting upon the sad journey, to the old friends who assisted in the short funeral services in Albany and to the old neighbors at Sand Ridge who performed the kind acts. To you one and all we are deeply grateful. May you when called upon to undergo a similar bereavement meet with like kindness and affection. M.E. CRAWFORD and family".
Confidence: 3
- Title: Warren County, Illinois Marriages
Source Text: GEORGE F. CRAWFORD married MARY ELLEN GILMORE {should be GILMOUR} on 18 December 1845 in Warren County, Illinois
Confidence: 3
- Title: 1860 US Census Lebanon, Linn County, OR
Source Text: G. F. CRAWFORD [age 42, born in Virginia] was listed with spouse, MARY CRAWFORD [age 34, born in Kentucky], and their children: GEORGIA CRAWFORD [age 13, born in Illinois], JAMES CRAWFORD [age 10, born in Oregon], WILLIAM CRAWFORD [age 3, born in Oregon] and ORVILL CRAWFORD [age 1, born in Oregon] in the vicinity of Lebanon, Oregon at the time of the 1860 U.S. Census. Source: Linn County, Oregon Roll: M653_1055; Page 343; Image 687.
Confidence: 3
- Title: 1880 US Census Center Precinct, Linn County, OR
Source Text: GEO. F. CRAWFORD [age 62, born in Virginia] resided with his spouse, MARY ELLEN CRAWFORD [age 54, born in Kentucky] and their children: WILLIAM W. CRAWFORD [age 23, born in Oregon], ORIL {should be ORVILLE} CRAWFORD [age 21, born in Oregon] and HELEN CRAWFORD [age 13, born in Oregon] in Center Precinct, Linn County, Oregon at the time of the 1880 U.S. Census. Source: Center, Linn County, Oregon Roll: T9_1082; Family History Film: 1255082; Page 410.1000; Enumeration District 75; Image 0261.
Confidence: 3
- Title: 1870 US Census Albany, Linn County, OR
Source Text: GEORGE F. CRAWFORD [age 50, b orn in Virginia] resided with his spouse, MARY E. CRAWFORD [age 43, born in Kentucky], and their children. WILLIAM W.CRAWFORD [age 13, born in Oregon], ORVILLE CRAWFORD [age 12, born in Oregon] and ELLEN {should be HELEN} CRAWFORD [age 3, born in Oregon] in Albany, Linn County, Oregon at the time of the 1870 U.S. Census. Source: Albany, Linn County, Oregon Roll: M593_1286; Page 571; Image 473.
Confidence: 3
- Title: 1850 US Census Hancock County, IL
Source Text: GEORGE F. CRAWFORD [ age 33, "Physician", born in Virginia] resided with his spouse, MARY E. CRAWFORD [age 24, born in Kentucky] and their children, GEORGIA ANN CRAWFORD [age 4, born in Illinois] and JAMES G. CRAWFORD [age 8/12 mos., born in Illinois] in dwelling 2268 in Hancock County, Illinois at the time of the 1850 U.S. Census which was taken on 18 November 1850. Source: Hancocki County, Illinois Roll: M432_109; Page 428; Image. 320.
Confidence: 3
- Title: Sand Ridge Cemetery, Lebanon, Linn County, Oregon
Source Text: The ALBANY NEWS DEMOCRAT article by his spouse indicates that DR. GEORGE FISHER CRAWFORD was buried in the Sand Ridge Cemetery. He is also included in the roster of burials provided by Jane A. Hutchings on 12 August 2000 along with his wife MARY. E. CRAWFORD.
Confidence: 3
|
