Crawford, W. J.

CRAWFORD, CULBERTSON, LAWRENCE, CLIFTON, ARMSWORTH, BOGGESS, RIPPEY, HAGER, BOSSOUT

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/28/2009 at 10:02:05

Crawford, W. J.

It is by no means an easy task to describe within the limits of this review a man who has led an active and eminently useful life and by his own exertions reached a position of honor and trust in the line of industries with which his interests are allied. But biography finds justification, nevertheless, in tracing and recording of such a life history, as the public claims a certain property interest in the career of every individual and the time invariably arrives when it becomes advisable to give the right publicity. It is, then, with a certain degree of satisfaction that the chronicler essays the task of touching briefly upon such a record as has been that of W. J. Crawford, long a well-known and influential citizen of Jasper county, who, after a useful and strenuous career, is living retired from the active affairs of life, surrounded by every comfort in his pleasant home in the attractive village of Ira. His course has been that of a broad-minded, honorable and progressive gentleman and he justly merits the high esteem in which he is universally held.

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. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 1156