My Genealogy Hound

Clarence H. Crawford, senior member of the manufacturing firm of Crawford Brothers, at Oxford, is one of the prominent and substantial citizens of the village and is also an honored survivor of the Civil War. Mr. Crawford was born in 1847 in Oxford township, Oakland County, and is a son of Calvin and Clarissa (Morris) Crawford, both of whom are most highly esteemed residents of the village of Oxford, the former aged 85 years and the latter 79 years.

Calvin Crawford was born in Orange County, New York, and is a son of John B. Crawford, who later removed to the western part of the State, where Calvin was reared and learned the carpenter’s trade. In 1845 he came to Oakland County, Michigan, and purchased a farm in Oxford township. He has been a good and useful citizen ever since. He has always been interested in local and national affairs and still keeps well informed. Although never an aspirant for office, he has taken an active part in campaign work, consistently supporting the candidates of the Republican party ever since its formation. His wife is a daughter of James D. Morris, of Orange County, New York, who came with his family to Oxford township, where he and his wife passed their declining years.

Clarence H. Crawford is the eldest of seven children and one of four survivors, the others being: Mrs. Lizzie Taylor, of Michigan City, Indiana; G. E.; and Mrs. Ada Delano, of Nebraska. Our subject was educated in the best schools Oxford township supplied, and has passed his whole life in that township, with the exception of two years of army service during the Civil War. In 1864 he enlisted in Company G, 3d Reg., Michigan Vol. Inf., and saw hard service in the Army of the Cumberland, being honorably discharged in 1866.

After the war, Mr. Crawford returned to his peaceful life on the farm, doubly dear to him after his hardships and dangers of war. He followed farming very successfully for some 15 years and still owns a half-section near Oxford, which he leases. He then removed to Oxford and engaged in a produce business, mainly poultry and eggs, for some time, forming his present partnership with G. E. Crawford in 1899. The firm of Crawford Brothers is engaged in the manufacture of vehicles, having a fine plant with capacity of 1,200 jobs annually. Employment is given to some 30 people, and two traveling men, as well as members of the firm, visit the trade. It is a leading industry at Oxford, and sales are made mainly in Michigan and New York.

Mr. Crawford was married to a daughter of the late Burgoyne Jones, who came to Oakland township, Oakland County, a pioneer about 1843 and died 12 years ago. Mrs. Crawford was born in Oakland township. One daughter has been born to this marriage, Edith, an accomplished young lady. Mr. Crawford built a very handsome, modern residence on Main street, Oxford. The family belong to the Congregational Church.

Politically Mr. Crawford is a Republican and one of the influential members of the party in his section. He has served three years as supervisor of the township and has done his part in all public movements. Fraternally he is a valued member of Frank Powell Post, Grand Army of the Republic, and has served a number of years as its commander.