[p. 987] a thrifty and prosperous agriculturist of North Beaver Township, owner of a good farm of eighty-eight acres, upon which he lives, was born in North Beaver Township, this county, November 5, 1859, and is a son of James and Nancy (Lindsey) Crawford. His paternal grandfather was William Crawford, a Scotchman, who settled at an early day near East Liverpool, Ohio, and died on his farm there in middle life. He was survived by his widow, Eliza Henderson, whom died at Sharon, Pa., at the age of eighty-four years. They were the parents of seven children, namely: James father of the subject of this sketch; Robert, who is now deceased; William, who resides in the State of Florida; Jane, now deceased, who was the wife of Charles Everetts; Mary, who became the wife of John Hoover; Isabella, wife of Thomas Bagnell, and Richard, who died in boyhood.
James Crawford remained a resident of Ohio until he was sixteen years of age, at which time the family removed to Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. Here James married Nancy Lindsey, a daughter of John and Ann (Carlisle) Lindsey, and bought a small farm in North Beaver Township. This he soon afterwards sold, purchasing a farm near Mt. Jackson, which he also sold in a few years, buying the present Crawford farm. This consists of 120 acres in Big Beaver Township and 100 acres in North Beaver Township, the house being in Big Beaver and the barn in North Beaver Township. This property he subsequently cultivated until his death, which took place in January, 1891. In his early manhood, after coming to Pennsylvania, he had followed for a time the trades of bricklaying and stone-cutting, building many walls throughout this section, most of which still remain as monuments to his industry. Just shortly before his death he was elected to the office of county commissioner, but never entered upon its duties. He and his wife Nancy were the parents of seven children, as follows: William H., a prosperous farmer of Big Beaver Township; Samuel W., the direct subject of this sketch; Edwin W., who is assistant postmaster at New Castle; Thomas P., who resides on the old homestead; Robert James a farmer of Wilmington Township; Silas Elmer, principal of the Horne Street School, New Castle, and one who died in infancy. James Crawford is survived by his widow, who has now passed her seventy-eighth birthday, and who resides on the 220-acre farm in North and Big Beaver Townships, being one of the most respected residents in that locality. She came to Lawrence County when a child with her parents, was educated in a log schoolhouse, and became the wife of Mr. Crawford at the age of twenty-two years. When a girl of eighteen she joined the United Presbyterian Church at Bethel.
John Lindsey, her father, was a native of County Down, Ireland, and was there married to Ann Carlisle. He followed the trade of weaver in his native land and subsequently emigrated to the United States with his wife and five children. They first went to Baltimore where Mr. Lindsey had an uncle, but after a short stay there they removed to Camp Run, and thence to Lawrence County, settling in the woods. Five more children were born to them after their arrival in this country, their entire family being as follows: Jane, who married Samuel Stewart; Sarah Ann, who married John Patterson; John; Robert; Maria, who became the wife of M. Right; Susannah; Nancy, widow of James Crawford; Charlotta, who married Robert Jenkins; Margaret, who became the wife of Joseph Wilson, and Elizabeth, who married William Michaels. All these are now deceased but Nancy and Mrs. Jenkins.
Samuel W. Crawford was educated in the schools of North and Big Beaver Townships, and since beginning industrial life has followed agriculture except for a period of five or six years up to 1908, when he rented his farm and was engaged with the firm of Cochran & Paraday, contractors, being a foreman in charge of their street paving. He has lately, however, returned to the farm, which he is now carrying on, being engaged in general farming and in buying and selling horses.
He has been twice married, first to Eva Woods, daughter of James D. Woods of which union there was one child, S. James D. Crawford, who lives with his aunt, Mrs. Davidson, in New Castle. Mrs. Eva Crawford died June 28 1898, and Mr. Crawford married for his second wife Margaret Morrow, a daughter of Charles Morrow. Mr. Crawford is one of the enterprising citizens of his township and is widely respected throughout this locality.
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
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