Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-01-03
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FRIDAY MORNING. JAN. g.. 1879.
Local
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Death of an Old and Esteemed Citizen.


Death Of an Old and Esteemed Citizen.
Yesterday morning at O'Clock BeDja-
min Crawford died at his reside ice No.
225 Kalorama ST., in the 10Th year of his
age. His illness had been but of few day S
duration and he passed away peacefully.
He had been for many years model mer-
chant in this city and belonged to family
having perhaps as extensive a connec-
lions as any in the Union. He was born
in the county of Rockingham IN 1903, his
grandfather having come over in the
ScOtch-Irish emigration more than cen
fury ago, and settled there. Mr. Craw-
ford came to Staunton in 1916, and entered
as store boy with the firm of Smith q
Penn, one Of the partners, Mr.. Jos. Smith,
being brother of his mother. In 1925 he
married Magdelene M. Cochran, daughter
of James Cochran and sister of George
Moffett Cochran, now perhaps the most
venerable, botn from his age and sturdy
character, citizen of StauntOn.
After marriage, Mr.. Crawford went into
business for himself in Stanton and so
continued until 1912 when he entered into
copal tnership with his brother-in-law, G.
M. Coeh IAN, a firm that continued until
1857, when it was dissolved, Mr.. Craw-
ford taking into partr ership his late part
ner's son, Henry King Cochran. who was
killed at Chambersburg during the war.
In the years in which Mr.. Crawford had
been in business he had established char
acter for integrity, an even balanced mind
and practical sense, by which he gained
the confidence of the public to an extraor
binary degree. In the days when there
were no banks, the most Of the cattle deal
ers made their deposits with him and his
receipt was equal to bank note. He was
a member of that old county magistrates
court which isstill recollected with pride in
Augusta, composed of such men as James
A. McCue. Robert Guy, James Bell,
N athaniel Massey, Addison Cochran,
David S. Young, Elijah Hogsett, VIM.
Ramey, Littleton Waddell, George M.
Cochran, James Crawford, D. W. Patter-
son, Addison WaddeIl and others. In pol
itics he had been Wing, but on the doc
trine of State rights became Calhoun
Democrat and while never a politician was
considered with Michael CARRIER, Lewis
Hartman and Jacob and George Baylor,
the head of the Democracy in this county,
Political advancement was at his COM
mand but he preferred commercial life.
When the war commenced in 1861, Mr..
Crawford would have been considered, for
this part Of the country. wealthy man,
but he was true and ardent Confederate
and man OF accommodating and generous
disposition, and allowed his debtors TO
pay their debts, some 5000 900 in amount,
in Confederate money, so that he lost a
fort une by the result of the conflict. The
result was that after long life OF labor
and strict attention to business, his de-
clining years were harassed by liabilities,
an undeserved calamity, which he bore
with manly fortitude until Death called
h m hey nd its sting. In his last hours he
had the kindest and most devoted atten-
tions of his children and many friends and
passed away as if in a gentle and sweet
sleep: the heart that had been stirred by
every grief of others ceased to beat. and
the hand which had been ever active in
charity Was still. Those who are left
mourn the loss of father, friend, and
good citizen. while he who has gone has
safely passed over the river and is at rest.