Stephen's Smith Family - Ancestors, Descendants and Cousins

Notes

John B Crawford

In the 1880 census, Van Buren Twp., Jackson couty, Iowa, John was listed as a "stone mason."

DEATH: Obituary
    We clip the following from the Goltry, Oklahoma, paper and think a number will be interested as Mr. Crawford lived here a number of years ago and was here taking care of his brother, Gardner Crawford, during his last illness.
    "Jno. Crawford was born in Corien, County Antrim, Ireland, June 17th, 1834, died at his home near Goltry, Oklahoma, March 25, 1906, aged 71 years 9 months and 8 days.
    He came to America 1851, served as a corporal in Co. C, 146 regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was united in marriage to Sarah M. Karl, September 1860. to this union was born seven children. His wife and one child preceded him to the Glory Land. since his wife's death three years ago he has made his home ith his son, Francis Crawford, near Goltry where he was at the time of his death.
    His death was caused by heart failure though his suffering was short and severe yet borne with great patience, Mr. Crawford has been a faithful christian since he was converted seventeen years ago. He was a member of the Radical United Bretheren church at the time of his death.
    His life has always been a blessing to the community in which he lived.
He leaves six children and a host of relatives and friends to mourn th eloss of a father and friend. We loved him but we would not call him back. We mourn not as those who have no hope.
    Funeral services were conducted at the house by Rev. Houk. A very appropriat sermon was rendered from the text,"Blessed are the deat who die in the Lord," and the remains were laid to rest in the Karoma cemetery to await the resurrection morning." A FRIEND.

Edwin Crawford

other possible name Edward

Gardener Crawford

BIOGRAPHY: Gardner Crawford came to New York May 27, 1849. His brother James also came at this time. Their brother William came three years earlier.
Gardner and his wife moved to Canada in 1854.
  After the death of Margaret 1855, he married Eliza Jane Gray on December 2, 1857. Five children were born to this union. The family moved to Miles, Iowa in 1872. He farmed here a number of years.

A Warranty Deed was recorded in Jackson county, Iowa on the 8th day of November A.D. 1872, at 1 o'clock p.m. from Hugh Bonn Smith and Martha Emma Smith, his wife to Gardner Crawford for the sum of Five Thousand Seven hundred Dollars on the seventh day of November A.D. 1872

DEATH: Obituary: Another old settler gone, Gardner Crawford passed away at his home here last Tuesday morning, after a lingering illness caused by a stroke of paralysis several years ago.
    Gardner Crawford was born in Coreen, Ireland, September 21, 1830 and died in Miles, Iowa, February 16, 1904. He came to New york on May 27, 1849. He was married in New york to Miss margaret Scroggy in August 1852. Two children were born to them, John W. and Margaret J. In 1854 they moved to Canada. In 1856 his wife died. In 1857, on decmeber 2nd he was married to Eliza Jane Gray. To this union five children were born. Alexander, James W. deceased, Frank P., Robert G. and Samuel C. He moved to Miles, Iowa in 1872 and has resided in this community until the Death angel called him home. Gardner Crawford was one of our most respected citizens and a most prosperous farmer, commanding the esteem of all who knew him. He was buried in the cemetery here on Thursday afternoon, funeral services being held in the M. E. church, of which he had been a faithful member for many years. Rev. A. T. Bishop preached a very appropriate sermon and showed how glorious it was to die in the faith and how dark and lonely the grave would seem were there no hopes for a future reunion and a final meeting where none could be called away. Henry Dunn, Chars. Blacksten, A. C. Heynen, Robert Campbell, H. A. Miles and W. S. Kellogg acted as pall bearers and the casket was a beautiful black with "Father" engraved on the lid. The floral piece was a very beautiful design.
    Mr. Crawford suffered for a long time and was ever cheerful as long as he was conscious. He will be missed by the entire community who will always remember him as a loving and obliging friend and neighbor and a man who was ever ready to do all in his power to assist those who were in trouble. He is survived by his wife and six children, all of whom were at the funeral. They have the sympathy of a host of friends who share their grief with them and regret to learn of his untimely death.

BURIAL: Both Gardner and his wife, Eliza Jane are buried in the Miles Cemetery, Row 16.

PROBATE: Will probated in the Jackson Co. Court House, Maquoketa, Iowa.
    I, gardner Crawford, of jackson county and State of Iowa being of full age and sound mind and disposing memory, do hereby make and execute this my last Will and Testament,  hereby rovoking all former wills made by me:
    First, I give, bequeath and devise to my beloved wife eliza j. Crawford, the possession, use, rents and profits of all my real estate of every kind and discription during her natural life only - and in case said real estate should be sold or any part of it, the proceeds shall be invested by my executors hereinafter named to the best advantage for her benefit and the net incomes therefrom as interest and rent shall be paid to her from time to time as she may demand or request for her sole use and benefit forever and during her natural life only and at her death the proceeds of said real estate are to be disposed of and divided as hereinafter provided. This bequest is made to my said wife, Eliza J. Crawford, and she is to receive the same in lieu of her dower or distributive share of my estate as allowed to her by law.
    Second, at the death of my said wife, or before with her consent, I authorize my executors to sell and convey all the real estate and personal property that may then belong to my estate and sign, execute, and acknowledge all the necessary deeds of conveyances and instruments in writing necessary to make a good title to the purchases of all real estate so sold by them and to divide the proceeds of such sale or sales, as provided in the third bequest or division of this will.
    Third, at the death of my said wife, I order and direct that the proceeds realized from the slae of my real and personal property and estate, be diveded among my children and heirs at law as folows - to wit:
    To Mrgaret J. Walker, Alexander Crawford, Frank P. Crawford, Robert G. Crawford and Samuel C. Crawford the undivided five sevenths (5/7) of all of sid proceeds so arising from the sale of my siad realestate and personal property and estate to by divided equally between them, share and share alike for their sole use and benefit forever. To John W. Crawford, the undivided one seventh (1/7) of the proceeds arising form the sale of my real and personal property and estate for this sole use and benefit forever, less the sum of three Hundred Dollars hereby reserved out of the siad one-seventh (1/7) to Margaret J. Wlaker for her sole use and febefit forever to be paid over to her in addition to the one-seventh hereinbefore specified, and to Myrtle Crawford and LaPearl Crawford, the only heirs at law of Wm James Crawford deceased, the other undivided one-seventh of the proceeds arising from the sale of my real and personal property and estate less the sum of Three Hundred Dollars to be divided equally between them share and share alike for their sole use and benefit forever and the said Three Hundred dollars so excepted and taken from the said undivided one-seventh (1/7) shall be paid over to the said Margaret J.
Walker as a part of her share in addition to the undivided one-seventh (1/7) hereinbefore specified for ther sole use and benefit forever and I give and bequeath to each fo said heirs and persons named above in the is bequest the several sums named for their sole use and benefit forever and said executors may make such sale or sales of any or all of said property at any time by and with the consent of my said wife Eliza J. Crawford and invest the proceeds for her use and benefit as hereinbefore provided in this will.
    Fourth - I hereby nominate and appoint my sons Alexander Crawford and Robert G. Grawford executors of this my last will and testament.
    Witness my hand this 9th day of Aug. A.D. 1899.
/s/ Gardner Crawford
    The foregoing instrument was at the date thereof subscribed by Gardner Crawford in our presence, and he at the same time, declared the same to be his last will and testament; and by his request we signed our names thereto as withnesses both in his  presence, and in the presence of each other.
/s/ Wm. M. Crawford
/s/ H. Milienstein.

PROBATE: Probated: 17th day of November A.D. 1906. Record contains copy of will and documents entitled "Description of Real Estate and List of Heirs" and
"Commission to Appraisers/Oath of Appriasers."

I offer a toast to our most genial host
and his charming lady as well
And may their abode by the side of the road
long continue its beautiful spell.
So drink hearty my friends as this reunion ends
and another's about to appear
And lets promise to come and rejoice with our chum
at the end of each subsequent year.

Cameron, Mo. June 13, 1939 F. P. Crawford

Crawford Reunion [June 1939]
    The annual reunion of the Crawford families was held in the home of Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Crawford at 224 West 4th Street, Cameron, Missouri, June 11 and 12. those present from a distance were a brother, F. P. Crawford and wife, St. Charles, Ill.; a brother, R. G. Crawford, McCredie, Mo.; a sister-in-law, mrs. John W. Crawford and daughter, Mary, from Emerson, Ia.; a niece, Mrs. Frank C. Koch, husband and daughters, frances and Ethel, Miles, Ia.; a daughter, Mrs. Ruth Grosfield, husband and children, L. Burton and nadine, and a daughter, Mrs. Dorothy Koger, husband and son, Kenneth, the latter families from Willis, Kan. The above families are the decendents of Mr. and Mrs. Gardner Crawford, deceased of Miles, Iowa.
    These gatherings are always pleasant occasions and furnish plenty of mirth and merriment for both old and young. It is the plan to hold the next reunion at McCredie, Missouri.

A REUNION STAGED AT CRAWFORD HOME [June 1940]
Descendants of Iowa Families Gathered There In Annual Affair Sunday
    The spacious country home of Mr. and Mrs. R. G. Crawford of McCredie, was the scene of a happy family gathering over the weekend. relatives from Iowa, Illinois and Missouri began arriving Saturday and by Sunday noon the number had reached 32.
    These occasions are always pleasant ones and are enjoyed by old and young.
For a number of years these gatherings have been an annual affair and include the descendants of the Gardner and Eliza Crawford family of Miles, Iowa.
    Quite a number attended services at the McCredie Church, Sunday. Five of the charter members of this church were formerly from the old home church at Miles.
    Those present included Mr. and Mrs. R. G. Crawford, Mr. and Mrs. F. P. Crawford of St Charles, Ill., Mrs. John Crawford and daughter, Mary of Emerson, Iowa, Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Crawford of Cameron, Mo., Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Koch and daughter, Ethel, of Miles, Iowa, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Smith and Wayne, Benton, Betty, Kenneth, Paul, Jr., Dorothy, Janette and Catherine of Keytesville, Mo., Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Reed, Martha and C. P. of Columbia, Mo., Mr. and Mrs. John Henderson, Lee, Robert, Virginia and Jimmie and Mrs. Wilbur Conrad of McCredie.
    When the time for parting came, it was agreed to have the next reunion at Miles, Iowa.

Crawford Clan Holds Two Day Reunion [June 1941]
    The members of the Crawford Clan, descendants of Gardner Crawford, Sr., met in their seventh annual reunion at the home of the oldest member, Mrs. Grace Crawford in Emerson June 13 and 14. This included Mrs. Crawford's own family which was together for the first time in 16 years.
    The first to arrive were Mr. and Mrs. F. P. Crawford of Broadview, Mont., and Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Crawford and daughter, Judith of Billings, Mont., who came Thursday evening. Mr. and Mrs. F. P. Crawford, Sr. of St. Charles, Ill., Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Koch and daughters, Frances and Ethel, arrived Friday evening. Saturday R. G. Crawford of McCreedie, Mo., and Mrs. Grace Ivie of Davis City swelled the numbers and Sunday morning came S. C. Crawford of Cameron. Mo., Mr. and Mrs. G. D. Crawford of Creston and Mr. and Mrs. Frank Gronerts of Des Moines to complete the circle. These with Mr. and Mrs. Earle Crawford and Mary Crawford of Emerson completed the group of 22.
    A very pleasant time was had by all. The time and place for the next year's reunion wall be decided at a later date.

Eliza Jane Gray

    "Grandmother Crawford" was remembered as a tiny, very neat lady, very precise in dress and habits. In 1900 at the age of 72, she made a quilt top for her granddaughter, Olga Lucille Crawford Smith, when Olga was three years old. It was "Turkey Red" appliqued on white or ecru background. The quilt top was given to Samuel W. Smith, by his mother Olga Smith in May 1986.

DEATH: Obituary: Another Pioneer Passes to Her Reward
    Mrs. Eliza Crawford, one of our oldest and most respected citizens, died at her home in this city on Wednesday evening, Dec. 10, at 11:40 o'clock. She had been in failing health for the past two years and had been confined to her bed for about six weeks. Death came not as the result of any organic desease, but simply the wearing out of this earthly tabernacle and she passed peacefully away to live again in that upper and better kingdom with the loved ones who have gone on before.
    Eliza Jane Gray was born in County Antrim, Ireland, Dec. 23d, 1828, being almost ninety-one years old at the time of her death. She was the third child of Alexander Gray and Isabella Yourt Gray, both of Scotch-Irish descent. In 1846 the family came to America and settled in Wellington county, Canada. The trip on a sailing vessel across the Atlantic and on a river boat up the St. Lawrence to Toronto requiring seven weeks' time. She continued to reside in Canada until 1872 witht he exception of four years spent in the state of New York. In 1857 she was united in marriage with Gardner Crawford, of Ontario, Canada. To this union were born five children, all sons, and these with a son and daughter, children of Gardner Crawford by a former marriage, constituted the family. Their names are: Alexander Crawford of Mount Vernon, Ia.; James W. Crawford, who died in 1896; Francis P. Crawford, of Chicago,Ill.; Robert G. Crawford, of McCredie, Mo.; and Samuel C. Crawford, of Cameron, Mo.; John W. Crawford, of Emerson, Iowa, and Mrs. Margaret Walker of Miles, Iowa.
    Early in life she united with the Congregational Church but after her marriage she and her husband united with the Methodist Episcopal church.
    In 1872 the family moved to Iowa and settled on a farm now within the corporate limits of the town of Miles, and within half a mile of which home she lived until the time of her death. After coming to Miles she united with the Methodist church and remained a consistent member of the local church ever since.
    For more than forty years she had been a member of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society and she was a charter member of the Ladies' Aid Society.
    In the death of Mrs. Crawford another beautiful life has closed. Her aim was to be of service to those about her and many can bear testimony to her disinterested good will and kind acts. Patient in tribulations, never seeking prominence, but always being charitable and putting implicit trust in her family and her friends, she lived a life of such true worth as is seldom equalled. Her broad and comprehensive dealings with the serious things of life won for her the esteem of all her friends.
    A true woman, a wonderful mother and a noble helpmate gave her home the sunshine of life and its radiance reached out to the comfor tof her neighbors.
    She delighted in scattering sunshine, seeing the good things in life and always had a kind word for every one.
    ....she remained a...of the church societies and took a keen interest in the church welfare. Her mind remained remarkably bright and clear till the last. Such a beautiful life ends not in death.
    Funeral services were held at the M. E. church on Saturday morning at 11 o'clock with interment in the miles cemetery, Rev. J. W. Turner officiating.
    The choir: Mesdames E. E. Menneke, W. P. Rhodes, F. A. Menneke and W. D. McFaul, with Mrs. Emma Koch at the organ, sang "Nearer My God to Thee," and "Jesus Lover of My Soul." Mrs. McFaul rendered a solo "Shadows."
    The pall bearers were: Messrs. R. E. Watts, A. J. Cook, L. W. Wells, Wm. Bates, Warren Kellogg and Jonas Taplin.
    There were many beautiful flowers sent in by friends who were more than anxious to pay a last trubute to the departed.
    Following were the relatives from out of town: J. W. Greenward, of Savanna, Ill.; Miss Ella Rogers, Mrs. Lenora Carson, Sabula; Mr. and Mrs. F. P.
Crawford, Miss Ruth and Dale Crawford, Chicago; Mr. and Mrs. R. G. Crawford, McCreedy, Mo.; Dr. A. Crawford, of Mr. Vernon; Sam Crawford, Cameron, Mo.