|
COL. JAMES M. CRAWFORD, Delaware;
was born in Scioto Township, Delaware Co., Ohio, June 11, 1834, and
is the son of James W. and Nancy (Stephen) Crawford; his mother was
one of the first white children born in Franklin Co., Ohio, on the
opposite bank of the Scioto, where Columbus now stands; his father
was born in Pennsylvania, and came to Delaware Co. about 1804 or
1806, first locating in Liberty Township, whence he removed to
Scioto Township, where he remained until 1839, during which time he
was engaged in farming and milling; he also filled several offices
of public trust-Magistrate, Representative, and was to the State
Senate ; he was a soldier of the war of 1812, having enlisted and
recruited men from this and adjoining counties ; he was a most
estimable man, honored and liked by all ; he died in 1859, in
Delaware, whither he had moved in 1839. Our subject moved with his
parents from Scioto Township to Delaware ; here he received a good
common-school education, when he began to learn his trade as a
painter, which he carried on in Delaware until the breaking-out of
the late civil war, when he began recruiting soldiers, and on the
organization of the 4th O. V. I., he was made Captain of Co. C,
commission dating April 16, 1861, which was the first captain's
commission issued in the State of Ohio ; the regiment was organized
at first for the three-months service ; after the expiration of that
time, Col. Crawford re-enlisted for three years, acting as Captain
of Co. C until Nov. 14, 1862, during which time e he participated in
all the marches and engagements of the regiment; on account of a hemorrhage
of the lungs, he resigned, and came home After returning home, he
was actively engaged in recruiting men, and afterward was appointed
by Gov. Todd as Colonel of the Ohio National Guards, which included
some 8,000 men; this command took an active part at the time of the
Morgan raid through Ohio. Returning home, he e enlisted as Captain
in the 100-day service in the 145th O. V. I. during which time he
was in command of Forts Woodbury, Tillinghast and Craig as post
commander ; after serving until the expiration of the time, he
returned to Delaware, and was soon after made Colonel of the 21st
Ohio National Guards ; from 1861 to 1865, he was actively engaged
either in the field or recruiting men for the service, and
faithfully discharged his duty. It may here be stated in this
connection, that James W. Crawfbrd, father of Col. Crawford, was in
the war of 1812, and at his death in 1859 left a wife and twelve
children ; two of his sons were in the Mexican war; Thomas J. two
years, and Andrew J. one year; three sons were in the late civil
war-James M., Hugh S. and John A., the latter of whom was killed at
Robinson's Cross-roads (or Mine Run), Va.; he also had five
grandchildren in the late war, of whom two were killed ; this family
has lost three killed in battle, and has furnished over twenty-three
years of service; our subject in 1865 filled the office of Revenue
Assessor of Delaware Co. to 1869 ; he then followed his trade as
painter for a short time, when he entered his present insurance
business ; he filled the office of Justice of the Peace for one
term. Col. Crawford is a Democrat, but during the war voted for
Lincoln ; since the war he has been a worker in the Democratic ranks
; he married, in 1864, Miss Sarah M. Henry, of Shelby Co., Ohio.
(1)
“The
State Reform School for Girls,” as it was originally called,
but changed in 1872 by an act of the Legislature to the “Girls’
Industrial Home,” is on a beautiful site on the Scioto, ten miles
southwest of Delaware, and eighteen above Columbus.
The spot was long known as the “White Sulphur
Springs.” In early
times a hole was bored here 460 feet for salt water, but, instead,
was struck a spring of strong white sulphur
water. In 1847 a large
hotel and some cottages were put up for boarders, and the place was
for a term of years quite a resort, but finally ran down.
It becoming
a home for girls was the result of a petition to the Legislature by
some of the benevolent citizens of the county, who, seeing the fine
property going to decay, desired that it should be purchased by the
State, and converted into an asylum for unprotected girls.
In 1869 the State purchased it, and founded the institution
“for the instruction, employment, and reformation of exposed,
helpless, evil-disposed, and vicious girls,” above the age of
seven years and under that of sixteen.
The institution at times has over 200 pupils, and is on a
well-conducted foundation. Col.
James M. CRAWFORD is the superintendent. (31)
|
