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Jasper County, Iowa
Historical and Genealogical Data Exchange
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W.
J. Crawford Mr.
W. J. Crawford, like many of the leading citizens of central Iowa, hails from
the old Buckeye state, his birth having occurred in Knox County, Ohio, November
2, 1836. He is the son of Lloyd and
Eliza (Culbertson) Crawford, natives of Ohio, the father born in Belleville and
he died in Toulon, Illinois, in 1905, and his wife died about forty years ago.
They were the parents of two children, W. J. of this review, and Mrs.
Martha J. Lawrence, who died in 1871. The
subject of this review was ten years of age when he was taken to Illinois, the
family later moving to Indiana, and in 1884 they all came to Jasper County,
Iowa, locating at Ira, where the father engaged in the general mercantile
business until 1899, becoming widely known over the County and building up an
extensive patronage. He established
a good home here and accumulated a competency, so he retired from active life in
1899. He was a man of fine business
ability, and while living at Leesburg, Indiana, he conducted one of the best
flouring mills in the state, which he owned, being a miller of a superior order
of ability. He was also an
auctioneer of unusual ability. He
was a man of industry and integrity. W.
J. Crawford spent his youth at home and assisted his father in his business,
and, like him, became a man of large affairs.
On June 7, 1871, he was united in marriage with Mary Armsworth, who was
born in Leesburg, Indiana, December 23, 1854, the daughter of Willis and Ann
(Clifton) Armsworth, the father born in Illinois and his death occurred in 1865
at the age of fifty-four years; the mother was born in Ohio and her death
occurred at Ira, Iowa, at the advanced age of eighty-one years, in 1898.
Mrs. Crawford was one of a family of three daughters, the other two being
Mrs. Martha Boggess and Mrs. Ann Rippey, both deceased.
This was a highly honored old family and its members were well known in
their respective communities. Three
daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. Crawford as follows:
Mrs. Mary Hager, born February 18, 1872, is living in Baxter, this
County; Clara, born January 17, 1873' married J. H. Crawford, a resident of
Independence Township; and Mrs. Anna Bossout, born January 11, 1875, is living
at Fraser, Iowa. These children
were born in Indiana, but reared in Jasper County, Iowa. Mr.
Crawford learned various lines of business under his father and his business
history has been a diversified one; however, the lumber business claimed his
special attention for a number of years, and he was adequately rewarded in
whatever he turned his attention to. He
has invested his savings in bank stock and other good securities, and, having
withdrawn from actual business life, is enjoying a well earned respite.
He owns an attractive, modernly equipped and tastily kept home in Ira. In
political matters Mr. Crawford votes independently, as is the custom of so many
of our present-day broad-minded Americans, who have become disgusted with the
appalling large number of grafters and crooks that obtain public office through
all the leading parties. He has
long manifested a lively interest in local affairs, and he ably performed the
duties of postmaster of Ira for a number of years, giving satisfaction to the
department and to the local patrons of the office. Mr.
Crawford in his fraternal relations belongs to the Improved Order of Red Men,
and Unit Lodge No. 519, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at Baxter, having
filled all the chairs of the same. Mrs.
Crawford belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church. The Past and Present of Jasper County, Gen. James B. Weaver, Editor-In-Chief, 1912 B.F. Bowen Co., Indianapolis, IN, p. 1156. |
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