Middletown transcript., 1895-07-27
DIR. v. CRAWFORD.
Death of the President of the Peoples
Bank, in His 72nd Y ear.

|
Death of the President of the People
Bank in His 72nd Tear.
DIR. James V, Crawford died at his resi-
dence on the Levels, Sunday afternoon; n
was only ill two weeks, but had been Il
failing health for many months. his malad.
being kidney trouble, with other compll
cations. -.
He was in full possession of his facultie
until his last hours, and being consciou
that his life was ebbing away, was careful
to arrange his business matters with pre-
cision.
He had been resident of this neighbor
hood for about fifty years, and was held II
highest esteem by the people. He was
man of education and culture. and wa!
broad and liberal in his views. He was
specially fond of literature and science, and
was very appreciative reader of current
literature. In business he was careful and
| Just in his dealings, and demanded the
same from others. He was reserved and
quiet in manner, but the chosen few of his
friends who knew him well, found him
genial and warm hearted, and a man OF
many natural virtues. He was type OF
the old school gentleman, dignifed, cour-
teous and polished, and withal a christian,
consistent member of the Catholic Church,
but entirely free from sectarian bigotry. In
politics he was a Democrat, but in early
life was Whig, and during the war of the
rebellion, gave his support to the defence
of the Union. He was unmarried, and
together with his two sisters lived the re-
tired and independent life of a country
gentleman.
Dr. Crawford was worthy descendant of
an honored ancestry, whose history is con-
nected with many notable national events.
James Crawford, Scotch-Irish gentle
man, the founder of the American branch
of the family, came to this country in 1864
with Sir Robert Carr, who headed the
military expedition sent out by the British
government to drive ont the Dutch who
had possession of the Delaware Colony.
After the successful termination of the ex-
pedition, Mr.. Crawford decided to remain
in the new world and settled near New
Castle. The records Of those days show
that two tracts of land and house at New
Castle were bestowed upon him for valuable
military service. and by purchase he in
creased his estate to thousand acres or
more. His descendants, through successive
generations resided in this county, and
their dust is sleeping in old Drawers
Cemetery, near Odessa, whose early history
records their names among its first mem
bers.
Jacob Crawford, the father of DIR. Craw.
ford, went to Baltimore in early life, to
engage in mercantile business and there he
married Miss Duchemin, a Catholic lady,
whose family history was also quite nota
BILE, her father having been refugee from
st. Domingo at the time of one of the
slave instructions, and her mother the
daughter of an exile from Nova Scotia-the
fairArcadia of Longfellow's "Evangeline"
whose inhabitants were the victims of Eng.
lish greed and love of Conquest. Her
father became volunteer in the defence of
Baltimore in our last war with Britain;
thus showing his devotion to the country
that had sheltered him.
DR.. Crawford was born in Baltimore in
1924, his father having died at the early
age of 38. He was educated at st. Mary's
College, and in 1s45 graduated in medicine
at the Maryland University. But instead
of entering upon his profession. he decided
to devote himself first to recovering the
large estate in Delaware, which his grand
father, had, at his death, left in somewhat
complicated and tangled state.
He settled on the farm on the Levels"
where he lived and died. He was devoted
to agriculture and the improvement of
land, and though he lived quiet country
life, he was always interested for the
material advancement of the community,
and took an active part in its business life.
He was for several years a director in
the Citizens National Bank, and also the
President of the Bank, but resigned
in 1874. In 1882 he was elected represen-
tative in the State Legislature, and served
the State with credit to himself and salts
faction to his constituents.
When the Peoples National Bank was
established in Middletown, in 1884, DR..
Crawford was chosen the President, which |
Office he held at the time of his death.
His funeral took place on Wednesday |
at st. Joseph's R. G. Church in
this town. Low Mass of Requiem was held.
Rev. Father Haugh, pastor of the Bohemia |
Church oficiated, in his discourse explain |
ing the symbols of the Church as emble-
matte of the life of the departed.
The pail bearers were chosen from his |
associates among the bank officials, and |
were: Geo. D. Kelley, G. W. W. Naudain,
Geo. L. Townsend. DIR. J. J. Wright, DR.. |
T. Fl. Gilpin and Geo. M. D. Hart. The in
terment was in Baltimore at the New |
Cathedral Cemetery. His two sisters,
Misses Augusta and Virginia Crawford the |
only survivors of his immediate family,
were accompanied on their sad errand by |
Messrs. George W. Lockwood and George |
D. Kelley. DR.. Crawford leaves quite a |
handsome estate.
Co. n nF