Evening star., 1896-08-24

goods business with his brother, the firm
name being J. p. and H. l.. Crawford.
whose store was at the corner Of Broad
way and Duane street. The business was
successfully conducted until the breaking
out of the war in 1861. April IS of the
came year he entered the federal service
as first lieutenant of company G, 14th New
York State Militia (Sith New York Volun-
teers). generally known as the Brooklyn
14th. He participated with his reg :ment
IN the first battle of Bull Run, and the
next spring in the taking of Falmouth and
Fredericksburg. In May, 1862, he was
detailed by Gen. c. C. Augur on his staff,
and shortly afrerward on the staff of Gen.
John z. Hatch, who succeeded Gen. Augur
The command was the first brigade, first
DIVISION, first corps. He participated in the
engagements august 20 to 3o) of Kappa
hammock Station. Sulphur Springs, Gaines
Vile, Groveton and Second Bull Run, and
on September ii in the battle of South
Mountain.
HOnOrnbly Mentioned for Bravery.
The brigade carried the heights at the
right Of the pike, and never lost foot of
ground until relieved by Gen. Doubleday's S
brigade. Maj. Crawford was honorably
mentioned in this battle, which appears III
the war records of the rebellion. He served
as acting assistant adjutant general
through the campaigns and battles of An
tietam, Fredericksburg and Chancellors-
vile.
Early in 1863 he was appointed by the
President captain and commissary of SUBJ
sistence. and continued to serve as such
until the close of the war. He served on
the staffs of Gems. John F. Reynolds and
Abner Doubleday at the battle of Gettys-
burg. In the spring of 1864 he was ordered
TO the cavalry corps, and with 1t went to
the Shenandoah valley. and served through
out that campaign on the staff Of Gen. Wes-
ley Merritt, and was in the closing cam
paign from the Goth of February to the
9TH of April. 1865, when Gen. Lee surren-
rYyov m hn St. of
idan as chief comHissary.
His Civil Career.
In July, 1865 he resigned his commission
and returned to his home in Brooklyn, N
Y. Shortly after he accepted the position
of general manager Of the Black Heath
Coal Company in Pennsylvania and served
as such two years. He then returned to
Brooklyn and went into the asphalt paving
business In June, 1871. he came to this
city, where he at once engaged as general
contractor. The streets Of the city were
then unpaved, and the dumping ground for
refuse of all kinds, and full of mud holes
and filth always after rain, disgrace to
any country. especially its capital CITY,
At this time various unscrupulous paving
companies came into existence, with the
sole purpose Of making what they could
out OF the stimulus that Maj. Crawford
gave the street paving business, with the
result that only pavements laid by him
were lasting, and this because the honesty
integrity, skill and perseverance which have
characterized his whole life were dominant
In Inc result was mat MS advice was sought
by the committees of the United States
Congress and the Commissioners of the
District of Columbia.
The principal avenues and streets are
paved with asphaltum, a large extent of
which was laid by Major Crawford. Under
his guidance the sidewalks throughout the
city were being constructed of granolithic
and artificial stone, he being also the
MI nf hot fo1ac 80
trict of Columbia.
Major Crawford was married April %,
1861, to Margaret J. Mum of Montclair
N. j., granddaughter of Capt. Joseph Mum
of the war Of 1872 He has had born five
children, of whom two survive, Joseph H.
and H. Percy, who are both associated
with him in his business, Joseph H. be-
ing the very efficient general manager of
his fathers large business interests.
MAJ Crawford was for several years a
prominent National Guardsman. He was
SO prior to his coming to Washington, when,
as an engineer officer, he located and laid
out the famous rifle range at Creedmoor
He was the first Quartermaster general of
the District National Guard, and remained
in active service until business pressure
compelled him to resign his commission
His interest in the organization continued
however, until the last.
His Personal Characteristics.
Major Crawford was a very sick man
long before he ever allowed himself to
acknowledge 1t. His intimate friends were
aware that he was i'll with a serious dis
order, but they were afraid to tell him so.
because, despite his deep affection for his
friends, he was bitterly opposed to what
he regarded as anything like interference
with his personal affairs. Major Crawford
himself regarded his complaint for long
time a temporary indisposition, and it
was not until the anxious members Of his
family acquainted their family physician
with their fears that he was induced to
submit to treatment. 1t was then too late
for medical science to do more than tenn
porarily arrest the progress of his disease,
which had attacked the liver and injured
it beyond all hope. He was a heroic suf-
ferer, however, and until the very last
displayed the same stoical Indifference in
the face of intense agony that he had al
ways shown when confronted by lesser OBJ
stacles in the course of his active life.
The chief characteristics OF Maj. Gran
ford were an indomitable will and an un-
yielding devotion to purpose. which was
shown in his public and personal life alike.
To his duties and the work he might have
iv nd he xox,o he yfrsr