My Genealogy Hound

Cassius J. Crawford, who is engaged in agricultural operations on his farm of 80 acres in sections 2 and 11, Pontiac township, Oakland County, was born November 4, 1865, on his present farm, where he has lived all his life. He is a son of Robert E. Crawford and grandson of William Crawford.

William Crawford, the grandfather of our, subject, was a native of New Jersey, but early in life removed to Ontario County, New York, where he followed the pursuits of a farmer until 1830, when he journeyed by boat to Detroit, and from there came by land to Oakland County, Michigan, first locating in Orion township, where he lived one year. Removing then to Pontiac township, he purchased 160 acres of government land from the United States; 80 acres of this tract have been sold and divided, but the remaining 80 acres have been kept in the possession of the family and constitute the farm now owned and operated by our subject. A part of this farm was an Indian corn-field, and the property was what was generally known as “oak opening,” there being little timber on a part of it, though most of the surrounding country was a forest. It was not a difficult matter to clear a part of the farm of the scanty forest growth that prevented cultivation of the soil, and it was but a short time therefore before the pioneer with his axe and plough had put the farm in fine shape. His first work on the farm, however, was to build a log cabin in which he and his family lived many years. He had eight children, namely: Robert E., William, Moses, Madison, John, Harriet (Kimball), Catherine (Chapman) and George.

Robert E. Crawford was born in New York, in 1815, while his father resided in Ontario County. He came to Michigan with his parents in his 16th year from Canandaigua, New York, and was engaged in farming on the home acres all his life with the exception of three or four years which he spent working in the sawmills. He died on the home farm in 1896, at the age of 81 years. He was a Democrat until the Civil War, and then became a Republican. In social matters he was a Mason and was always looked upon as a trust-worthy friend and neighbor. He married Polly Giddings, a native of Michigan, and they had three children: Stella (Huntington), of Lapeer County, Michigan; Delia (Williamson), of Pontiac, Michigan, and Cassius J.

Cassius J. Crawford has worked on his farm skillfully and diligently and success has crowned his efforts. Among the improvements he has made since his father’s death is the large and well appointed barn, which was erected several years ago. He married Sarah Howarth, a native of Orion township, Oakland County, Michigan, the daughter of John and Sarah Howarth. They have three children, namely: Wesley, Charles and Mary. Our subject takes but a good citizen’s interest in politics, and is a member of the Republican party. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.