Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 276 - 279 

L. C. CRAWFORD. Among the pioneers of Sedgwick County who are noted for their eminent success in their chosen calling is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He is residing on section 8, Valley Center Township, where he first located Jan. 3, 1871. He at first filed a claim to this piece of land under the pre-emption act, but subsequently took it in accordance with the conditions of the tree-culture law. He has since made it his home, except during the winter of 1874-75, which he spent in the State of Iowa. 

     The subject of this biography is a native of Lee County, Ill., and was born July 10, 1849, the son of Samuel S. and Serepta (Camp) Crawford, natives of Ireland and Pennsylvania. The parents are still living and residents of this county. The father has now reached the full age of threescore years and ten, and the mother is sixty-one years old. Samuel S. Crawford learned the carpenter's trade in his early manhood, and followed that vocation for many years before his marriage, in New York City. Wedding Miss Serepta Camp in 1846, he removed to Lee County, Ill., where for twenty-two years he was engaged in the pursuit of agriculture. He became prominent in public affairs while living in the Prairie State, and was looked up to as one of the leading men of his community. In the spring of 1872 he came to this county, and has since been identified with the farming interests of Southern Kansas. He was the parent of nine children, five boys and four girls, as follows: L. C., the subject of this narrative; Meda R., who married O. M. Millard, and was a resident of Harvey County, this State, where she died in 1873, leaving one child, Ida; James C., Letitia A., Mary, Asa, John, Clara and Jane. 

     L. C. Crawford was reared upon a farm, and received his education in the district schools of his native county. He remained beneath the parental roof-tree, assisting his father in the labors incident to life on a farm until he had reached his twenty-first year. Soon afterward he came to this county with C. Camp, Sr., and B. A. Merrill, and the three were among the very first settlers who located in what is now Valley Center Township. Our subject erected the first frame house in this locality west of the Arkansas river, which was built entirely of cottonwood sills and boards, and in which he is now living. He settled down upon this place and commenced its improvement, and has made it his home with the exception of the time mentioned above, when he was engaged in selling window-stops, sills and doors for a Chicago house. The place, when he located here, was totally unimproved, but by the exercise of energy and intelligence he has caused the wilderness to blossom as a rose, and brought his farm to a remarkable state of culture. 

     After having kept bachelor's hall for a time, he became anxious to surround himself by the influences of a more cheerful home, and hence sought out a helpmeet among the fairer sex. March 25, 1879, he was united in marriage with Miss Ermina Myers, a native of Tippecanoe County, Ind., and who was born June 24, 1859. Mrs. Crawford is a daughter of Michael and Nancy (Fry) Myers, who came to Kansas in 1878. The father died in 1876, in Tippecanoe County. Ind., leaving his widow and the following ten children: Catherine, Joseph, John, Wesley, Samuel, Elizabeth A., Mary, Ermina, Emma and Julia. Samuel and Elizabeth are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Myers were very estimable people, and were both members of the United Brethren Church. To Mr. and Mrs. Crawford there have been born four children, whose names are - George, Burchard, Eunice and Earl. 

     In his political affiliations Mr. Crawford is a Democrat, and has always taken a warm interest in the success of his party. In 1872 he was instrumental in getting up and circulating a petition for the organization of the township, and carried the matter before the County Commissioners, lobbying the ordinance through that body. At the first election he was chosen to fill the office of Township Clerk, and held that position for about ten years. In 1883 he served as Township Trustee, and is at present the School Director of District No. 131, in which capacity he has acted since 1885. Since he came to this locality, our subject has operated a threshing machine for eight seasons, and during that time has done work with it in the counties of McPherson, Harvey, Dickinson, Marion, Butler, Reno and Sedgwick. The farm residence, with its adjacent buildings, is given elsewhere, and represents the modest home of plenty and comfort.

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