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Below is a family biography included in The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois published by Biographical Publishing Co. in 1894.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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BRYCE CRAWFORD, formerly a prominent farmer and stock-raiser of Randolph County, now resides in the city of Sparta, and devotes his attention to looking after his investments there and elsewhere. He is the proprietor of over four hundred acres of land in this county, twenty-seven hundred acres in Kansas, besides valuable town property. He also owns $1,080 worth of stock in the gas company in that place, and has a large sum of money to his credit in the bank.

Our subject is the son of William Crawford, who was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, about 1767, and passed the remainder of his life in his native land, dying in 1842. He was by occupation a maltster, and possessed many pleasant personal qualities, which endeared him to all who knew him. He was a thoroughly Christian man and a member of the Presbyterian Church. The maiden name of our subject’s mother was Helen Beverige. She was likewise a native of the above county in Scotland, and when quite young was taken into the home of her eldest sister. Her father was a sea-man. The parents of our subject reared a family of fourteen children, all of whom lived to manhood and womanhood with one exception. They bear the respective names of Andrew, John, William, David, Robert, George, Henry, James, Ellen, Benjamin, Bryce, Jane, Margaret and Mary Ann.

Our subject was born in the year 1815, in Ayrshire, Scotland, and resided in his native land until 1838, when he embarked on a sailing-vessel bound for America. After landing here, he made his way to this state, and for two years was employed in working out by the day on railroads. Later he located in Sparta Township, and became the owner of a quarter-section of land, which he farmed for thirty-five years. Patient industry and perseverance, which were the marked characteristics of his life, gave him an impetus upward to assured financial success. In 1875 he removed to the city of Sparta, and since that time has been engaged as administrator for many valuable estates.

July 10, 1840, Mr. Crawford was united in marriage to Miss Marion Barr, who was also born in Ayrshire, Scotland. She was the daughter of Andrew and Jane Barr, and at her death, which occurred in August, 1892, was a devout member of the Presbyterian Church. Her union with our subject resulted in the birth of eight children, namely: William D., Jane, Nellie, Andrew, Mary, Margaret, Marion and Andrew, the latter of whom died in infancy.

In his political relations, our subject has always been a stanch Republican. He has served as Treasurer of township 5, and was School Treasurer for a period of thirteen years. Deeply interested in all matters pertaining to local and national welfare, he is ever ready to lend a helping hand in the promotion of progressive enterprises. Religiously, he is a member of the Presbyterian Church, with which he has been connected since 1840, and has served his congregation as Trustee for nearly two-thirds of the time.

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This family biography is one of 679 biographies included in The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois published in 1894.  View the complete description here: The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois

View additional Randolph County, Illinois family biographies here: Randolph County, Illinois Biographies

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