Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1892-09-16
Iohn Crawford.

Extract from paper read atthe late
reunion. Of the Crawford family at
Emlenton.)
The first account we have of the John
Crawford family Is about the year l796.
In the early fall Of this year he appears
with his family of nine sturdy boys and
one daughter, Mary Parker, ia the little
village Of Pittsburg, on the banks of the
Allegheny River, from which place, owing
to circumstances, they were compelled to
change their method of travel to the GOV.
eted western home. There was no road
save tho path through the woods known as
the Washington trail, and to move their
effects it became necessary to purchase or
build q boat. while the cattle, sheep and
hogs were driven by John the third son,
and Samuel, the eighth son, then lad OF
ten years of age, through this lonely wilder
ness path to the cabin their father had pre-
pared the previous spring. 1t wasn't with
out misgivings that the parents consigned
these boys with their charge to the wilds
of the forest, and many were the God bless
yours and wishes for safe journey with
instructions to put forward as fast as pos
sible with their slow travelling caravan to
the new home, with the assurance that
they would be there to welcome them. In
the afternoon Of the third day they reached
the spot which figures so conspicuously in
cur history, viz: the VIM. 7. Crawford
c., - >, +bo;r surnr;ca tbara Evara norn
to greet them. John. after properly car
ing for the stock, placing them out of reach
Of wild beasts, left Samuel in the cabin to
watch while he went to the river to see
and help bring the family up from the
boats, but in this he was doomed to disap
pointment Arriving at the river bank, no
boat met his view. Following down the
stream from bend to bend, soon night
overlook him. On he plodded and some
five miles down the stream came upon the
household raft, which had tied up for the
night, and there remained until the morn
ing, leaving the 11-year-old boy in the
cabin in the lonely wilderness. The ac-
count of this night in the woods Samuel
never tired Of telling his grandchildren
how the eyeballs of the wolves glistened as
they prowled and howled around the sheep
pen but few rods from the cabin door
Next day the boat arrived and soon we
find John Crawford comfortably located in
the home he occupied to the day of his
death some sixteen years later at the age
of 65 years, l month and 20 days His
wife, Isabelle Parker, then woman of 56
years, lived on in the homestead for nearly
81 years and died at the advanced age of
SO years.
But to return to the arriving family. We
find them of ages ranging from % years
the oldest, to the youngest, less than /
year. Soon it became necessary to furnish
this long list of children with homes.
William, the Oldest, located on the farm
now owned by David Crawford. Next
James located on a 400acre tract just
south of what is now Six Points. John
chose as his home the property lying east
of his brother James George took as his
choice the farm now occupied by Mrs.
Alexander Grant. David falls IN line and
erects his cabin on the site now occupied
by Alexander Wilson, the Andrew Sloan
farm. Samuel settled on the homestead,
with Ebenezer occupying the land lying
between the homestead and the Allegheny
River. Mary Parker We find settled on
tract of land lying south Of the old home,
and Robert, the youngest son, journey
man working at his trade in the neighbor-
hood. Thus we find him, the happy father,
comfortably situated, his family located
on homes of their own covering almost
contin nous belt of country reaching from
the riv er five miles back into the country.