Col. James M. Crawford
Col. James M. Crawford, honored resident of Delaware, has been identified with the interests of Delaware County, in public office and private business, all his life. He was born in Delaware, Delaware County, Ohio, June 11, 1834, and is a son of Colonel James W. and Nancy (Stephen) Crawford. The name of Crawford is a familiar one in Ohio history, and has been particularly conspicuous in public and military life. Colonel William Crawford, who was burned at the stake by hostile Indians, on Sandusky Plain, was a kinsman of the present representative of the name. This same Col. William Crawfordserved in Braddock's army, and was Colonel of the Fifth Virginia Regiment that served under General Washington during the war of the Revolution. James W. Crawford, father of James M., was an officer in the War of 1812. Two brothers served in the war with Mexico, and two brothers and five nephews assisted, with Colonel James M. Crawford, in suppressing the Rebellion of 1861-5. Of these, two were killed in battle and two were mortally wounded, while another died at the close of the war from disease contracted in the service. Still another member—one of the younger generation—kept up the family prestige by serving in the Spanish-American War, as a member of President Roosevelt's Rough Riders.
James M. Crawford was reared and educated in Delaware, where he learned the trade of painter, which he followed until 1858. On the 1st of February. 1859, he joined with a party of nine other men. at Gabon, Ohio, who crossed the plains to the Rocky Mountains, where he engaged in mining with various results. Returning to Delaware in December, 1859, he there resumed his trade, which he followed until the opening of the Civil war. Then, not content with offering his own services to aid in preserving a united country he exerted himself to secure the enlistment of his friends, and with such good success that with one day's effort he raised a company, which was organized April 16, 1861, of which he was made captain. This company was immediately offered to the governor of Ohio, and through Captain Crawford's energetic efforts, it became the first accepted military organization of the State for the Civil War service. The company, together with another Delaware County company, was assigned to the Fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. These Delaware companies were lettered respectively C and I. and the record shows that the officers of Company C were the only ones commissioned as early as April 16, 1861.
Early in May, 1861, this regiment was enlisted for the three months service, and before it was disbanded—in fact in June, 1861—it reenlisted for three years. After serving with Company C until November 14. 1862, Captain Crawford reluctantly resigned his commission on account of severe and repeated hemorrhages of the lungs, and returned to Delaware. As soon as his health permitted, he entered actively into the recruiting service and so continued until he was appointed colonel of the Ohio National Guard, and was assigned to the duty of instructing and disciplining the troops assembled at Columbus, in response to the Governor's call, for the defense of the State against Morgan's raiders. In this position Colonel Crawford won signal honors and was complimented by the Governor as well as by the department commander. This did not close his military career, for he subsequently enlisted for the service of 100 days, in the One Hundred and Forty-fifth Regiment, O. N. G., and commanded a detachment from the regiment for garrison duty at Forts Tillinghast and Craig, which protected the chain of fortifications south of Washington, D. C. On his return from this service he was honored by election as colonel of the Twenty-first Regiment, O. N. G.
In 1866 Colonel Crawford resumed work at his trade and continued to be so occupied for a number of years. In the spring of 1866 he was appointed United States revenue assessor in Delaware County, and served in that office for five years. He then engaged in a real estate and insurance business, in which he remained interested until 1884. In the year last mentioned he and his wife were elected superintendent and matron respectively of the Girls' Industrial Home, and they continued, with slight intermissions, in those positions until 1892. The records for those years show how admirably the institution was conducted, and how thoroughly qualified were both Colonel Crawford and his efficient wife for the discharge of the duties they had assumed. On his return to Delaware from the Girls' Industrial Home, he was offered a lucrative position in Chicago, Ills. Mr. J. K. Newcomer at that time was making a strenuous effort to organize a local company for the purpose of building an electric railway within the city limits. Thinking the project might prove to be a benefit to the city, Colonel Crawford was induced to join in the enterprise. He therefore declined the Chicago proposition, and at once joined the promoters with his usual zeal, to help in carrying out their plans. A company was soon organized and incorporated under the laws of Ohio. When the company advertised for bids for the construction of the road, he anticipating the advantages that might accrue from the stimulus given to home labor, determined to put in a bid. His bid, being much lower than that of any other contractor, was accepted and the contract given to him. The work was immediately commenced and was satisfactorily completed within the limits of the contract.
Prior to the extension of the line into the grounds at Greenwood Lake. Colonel Crawford endeavored to secure a lease on the premises for the purpose of developing more fully the natural beauty of this pleasant resort. Not being able to secure sufficiently satisfactory terms, according to the value of the property, upon which to base a lease, he abandoned further effort along this line and turned his attention toward the development of the greatest natural asset within the limits of the city. To this end he purchased and moved into the pleasant home place afterward known as Five Oaks, on West Central Avenue, this being in the fall of 1892. The property purchased lies in close proximity to the well known Indian, or Little's Springs, whose healthful waters have inspired him to a continued effort to get his neighbors interested with him in the development of these beautiful grounds, whose resources seem to be beyond all present calculation. At this writing there is an organization known as the Mineral Springs and Sanitarium Company, of which he is president, with a capitalization of $150,000, and with bright prospects of realizing their plans and seeing their efforts for the construction of the necessary buildings crowned with success.
Colonel Crawford entered the political arena in 1855. and has been an active worker in the ranks of the Democracy ever since, but side-stepped in 1860 and 1864 to vote for that greater Democrat, Abraham Lincoln, holding that he violated no tenet of his party in so doing. He has been many times called to the chairmanship of the County Committee, and served as a member of the State Central Committee in 1884, when he stood Spartan-like against the machinations of the schemers in the committee to thwart the will of the people by placing another candidate in the field from Ohio against Judge Allan G. Thurman. the people's choice for the Presidency. He went to Chicago with Judge Thurman and was selected by him as the custodian of his headquarters during the struggle in the National convention. During the Colonel's long service he has been frequently chosen as a delegate to Democratic State conventions. He was a delegate to the National convention at Cincinnati in 1868. and an alternate at the National convention at Chicago in 1890. While Colonel 
Crawford has displayed much activity in business and political affairs, his home life has been to him the sphere in which he realized the greatest degree of happiness, and in which he found the deepest sentiments of his nature capable of their fullest expansion. He married in 1864, Sarah M. Henry, a refined and accomplished lady, who was a native of Shelby County, Ohio. When he and his good wife moved to their suburban home, they felt that they had found a real haven beneath the trees and among the birds—a situation in which ethical culture becomes a pleasure and the frequent touch of Nature leads to a closer touch with the Creator. This quiet retreat became a refuge to all who sought its hospitality and appreciated the privilege of a free pull at the latch string, that ever hung on the outside of the door. Many of the recipients of the fostering care bestowed upon them in earlier years, returned, bearing mementos of their appreciation of the kindness and consideration extended to them in the days of their youth. To the Colonel and his wife these visits were like bread cast upon the waters, that returns after many days.
This retreat was their happy home until August 15, 1903. when the deepest shadows that ever fall upon any household, encompassed theirs. It was then that the good wife anil co-worker in public and private life, who was the light and the joy of their home for nearly forty years passed to her reward. Her death brought grief to all who had had the privilege of knowing her, kind and affectionate remembrance being shown by mainy wards of the State upon whom she had lavished so much sympathizing care.
Colonel Crawford remained at the old homestead until June, 1907, when he sold his place and located on North Franklin Street, where he now resides. Colonel Crawford has been financially interested in a number of important enterprises in this section. His connection with the Delaware Electric Railroad and its construction, and with the Mineral Springs and Sanitarium Company, has been already noticed. He is also a director in the Citizens Savings Bank. He belongs to Hiram Lodge, No. 18. F. & A. M.. to the Chapter and Council at Delaware, and to the Commandery at Marion. He has been a member of the local Grand Army post from its organization. For half a century he has been a member of William Street Methodist Episcopal Church, and also teaches a large class in the Sunday school. He has served as justice of the peace for two terms, commencing in 1877 and closing in 1883; and was a member of the city School Board six years, 1894 to 1900. A man of tried integrity and public spirit, with a readiness to sacrifice himself for the interests of others, yet of good business ability, social in his nature, with a cheerful disposition and kind and genial manners, such is Colonel Crawford as his neighbors see him. The weight of years has made little impression on him, nor ever will in any essential respect, for he is pre-eminently one of those who may wear out but will never rust out.
From 20th Century History of Delaware County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens by James R. Lytle