Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-02-05
HON. G. A. CRAWFORD DEAD.

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Bound Up I'm the History OF Kansas.
GRAND JUNCTION, Col, Jan 29.-Hon.
George A. Crawford, for years one Of
the most noted men in Kansas, died
yesterday afternoon at 4:15.
"A severe cold contracted last Septem-
Der and which settled upon the lungs
was the cause of death.
For three months Mr.. Crawford has
fought for his life with a will rarely
equaled and only succumbed after =
glorious fight
. BIOGRAPHICAL.
George Addison Crawford was born in
Pine Greek township, Clinton County, Pa,
July "a, 1927. He came to Kansas by steam
boat on the Missouri river, landing at Leav-
enworth,s whence he was accompanied to
Lawrence by Dr. Norman Eddy, United
States Commissioner for the sale of the
Delaware and other Indian lands. While at
Lawrence they encountered q party going
to Fort Scott to secure the town site, and at
once accepted an offer of passage by the
mule team and partnership IN the town pro-
5ect. Fort Scott was then an abandoned
military post. Messrs. Crawford, Eddy and
their associates purchased claims to $50
acres OF land and organized the Fort Scott
Town Company, of which Mr.. Crawford was
elected president. in which capacity he re-
manned nearly twenty years. He named the
streets after his friends Bigler, Hendricks
and others, and procured a Autograph of the
town site on which he marked two prospect
i've railways. The two leading railroads en-
tering Fort Scott now. occupy those very
lines.
bought a pro slavery hotel and made it a
Free State hotel, by which name it was
known far and wide.
During the years from 1857 to 1850 violence
n
George w. Clarke had gone there from Le-
compton to take charge of the land office,
and was accompanied by DR.. George P. Ham
ilton, w. B. Brockett and other pro- slavery
men. Arrayed against these were John
Brown James Montgomery and other Free
State leaders. commanding bands of men
known as "'jayhawkerS." Several times
United States troops were ordered there
to preserve peace. Fort Scott was in con-
slant danger of destruction The bor-
der counties of Missouri were greatly agi-
tated and at one time the Governor sent a
large military force under General Frost to
protect them Mr.. Crawford was opposed to
the agitation kept up by the contending
parties. Mr.. Crawford was, however, con-
stantly making strong opposition TO the pro-
slavery men and one day he received the
following letter from the president of the
pro- slavery society:
''TO George A. Crawford, William Gallaher
and Charles Dmon: --
'sYOu are respectfully invited to leave town
in twenty four hours
His answer was: st don't exchange mes.
sageS with horse thieves
Mr.. Crawford was in the room with John
II. Little, ex-deputy United States marshal,
December Is. 1858. when a raid was made
upon Fort Scott by the forces under John
Brown and James Montgomery to rescue
Benjamin Rice, who was held as prisoner
by Deputy Il rshal Campbell Little was
shot through the head and was killed al
most Immediately. Crawford remained inn
nrSOned in the hni1dino with rifle halls a
intervals coming through the windows and
a cannon standing within a few feet in readi-
ness to be fired into the building at any mo-
ment.s Mr.. Crawford walked into an open
door in the face of about 100 Sharp's rifles all
cooked upon him. He was liable to be taken
for Little by those who did not know him.
One rifle was snapped upon him by Hazlett,
who was afterward killed at Harper's Ferry.
Colonel Montgomery, seeing Crawford, sent
orders for his protection.
Crawford,s political views did not change
with the war aud not until long after it. He
became what was then known war DEM
ocrat. He followed the lead of Judge Stephen
A Douglas, who was personal and political
friend, in support of the administration of
Lincoln and his war policy. He assisted in
the organization of the Second Kansas regi-
ment, taking a leading part In the caucus of
officers which selected its Colonel, Lieuten-
ant-Colonel and Major Owing to the irreg-
ulartieS incident to the first organization of
troops and to the many deaths of soldiers at
of dollars, as he had furnished great share
of the supplies and clothing.
In 1861, to save expense, petitions were
largely circulated asking the Republican
committee to make nominations for State
officers. The committee met in Topeka with
A Carter Wilder, chairman, and in con-
sultation with leading war Democrats, NOM
mated George A. Crawford for Governor.
peculiar question had arisen, however,
to the term of the State officers under
the Constitution. This was on account of
the admiss ion of the State on January 20, 1861,
narly tn 'rteen months after the terms of the
State officers previously elected had begun
to run. The question was, whether those Of
fcers should continue to serve two years
literally with the letter of the Constitution,
or should they have two years from the ad-
mission of the State, or should they be per.
mitted to hold over until the successor
clause. The outcome was the request for the
committee to make nominations.
According to the vote cast Crawford was
elected the first Governor of the State of
Kansas. He received at least two thirds OF
the total vote cast. The papers and PEG.
pie who adhered to the Constitution
adopted by the State officers and the
legislation opposed the election and re-
fused to vote and in some counties the cleo
ton officers refused to count the vote. The
State canvassers refused to canvass the vote
and Mr.. Crawford applied to the Supreme
Court for q mandamuS. The election was
decided illegal Estate of Kansas ex rel.
Crawford VS.. Robinson, I Kansas, Id, and no
attempt was made to carry it before the Leg
slature the United States Supreme Court.
In1e6i Mr.. Crawford again permitted the
use of his name for the Gubernatoral NOM
nation, Samuel J.. Crawford received the
nomination, though the relative vote first
stood: George A. Crawford %, S. j. Craw-
ford Is. Under Governor s. j. Crawford,
Mr.. George A Crawford accepted an ap-
pOintnlent of Commissioner of Immigration.
Subsequently he became associate editor
of the Kansas Farmer, which position he held
a year and half. In 1867, with Judges King.
man, Bailey and Others he helped to organ.
iZe the Kansas Historical Society. In 1868 he
wasagain defeated for the nomination for
Governor, though he led by twelve votes on
tina first ballot. In 1869 he established the
Daily Monitor and free reading room and
museum at Fort Scott, maintaining the same
till 1878, when he sold the paper. He spent
seven months in Philadelphia in 1876 in CEN
tennial work as an alternate United States
commissioner.
When the Ute reservation was thrown open
Mr.. Crawford went into the Grand valley of
Colorado and founded Grand junction. He
plated it and was president and manager of
the town company since its organization
He was one of the most public spirited o.
men. and left nothing undone that would
add to the town which he founded and
named. He never was married. but has