Crawford Family

THE CRAWFORDS are one of the most numerous and best known families in the southern part of Venango county. John Crawford, immediate ancestor of this branch of the family, was born November 1, 1748. He was one of the first settlers of Greene county, Pennsylvania, whence he removed to Butler county, where he died February 18, 1812. His wife, Isabella (Parker) Crawford, was born August 21, 1756, and died December 30, 1839. They were the parents of twelve children, of whom the names in order of birth are as follows: William, James, John, George, David, Alexander, Arthur, Samuel, Ebenezer, Polly, Rebecca, and Robert J. The family immigrated to this section in 1798. The first year, assisted by several of his sons, the father made a small clearing and planted a crop on what afterward became the homestead farm, two miles south of Emlenton, now the home of William T. Crawford. The following year he returned with his family, and although several married sons remained for a time in Greene county, all except Alexander eventually secured homes in the vicinity of the paternal residence. William located on the farm now owned by his son, David M., in Scrubgrass township; Samuel, on the west end, and Ebenezer, on the east end of the homestead tract; David and George, one mile east of Six Points, Butler county, now the property of Grant, Durnell and Sloan; John and James, the same distance south of that village, now the Fowler and Crawford farms; Alexander, a physician, removed to Washington county, and died there; Robert J. lived first on the old homestead, then removed to Bichland township, this county. George, David, and John afterward settled in Richland county, Ohio. The family is Presbyterian in faith, and has been represented in the session of Scrubgrass Presbyterian church since its organization.