| James W. and Elizabeth (Van Lear)
Crawford, both of whom were natives of Maryland, where they resided
until 1811, when they removed to Delaware Co., Ohio; they were the
parents of four sons and one daughter. Mrs. Crawford died in 1821.
Mr. Crawford was in his lifetime a prominent and influential man ;
he represented his county in the State Senate one term, and held a
number of lesser offices in the county; he was Colonel of a regiment
of State militia for a number of years, and had been a soldier in
the war of 1812 ; he departed this life in 1858. (1)
In the war of 1812, and the Indian wars of that period, Delaware
County, comprising then but a population of a few hundreds, came
forward with the same lofty spirit of patriotism which has ever
since pervaded her sons, and which characterized their Revolutionary
sires. There were some who had been present, at the surrender of
Cornwallis, and others who had been with Gates and Greene in the
South, while many others were descendants of such heroic stock; and,
when the tocsin of war sounded, and the roar of the British lion was
again heard in the land, like the clans of Roderick Dhu, who
assembled for battle at the "circling o'er " of the
"fiery cross" they took down their old flint-lock fowling
piece and hastened to offer themselves for the defense of their
country. Many enlisted upon their arrival in the county as
emigrants, even before they had found shelter for their families,
and others were drafted into the service while oil their way to
their destined place of settlement. The whole number who served in
the army from this county, during the war. cannot, after this long
lapse of time, be given, but comprised most all of the able-bodied
men. A company of cavalry was raised in the county; of which Elias
hurray was Captain, and James W. Crawford, the father of Col.
Crawford, of Delaware, was a Lieutenant, and did duty for some time
; while several regiments, or portions of regiments, of infantry,
were recruited; and, upon special alarm; the militia was called out
to defend the settlements. (1)
In the Presidential campaign of 1832 such was or had become. the
popularity of Gen. Jackson, he swept everything before him. Col.
James W. Crawford, who was a lieutenant in the company commanded by
Capt. Elias Murray in the war of 1812, was elected as the
Administration candidate the successor of Senator Carpenter, and
Capt. John Curtis. (1)
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