1890 Delaware and Buchanan Counties History pgs

1890 Delaware and Buchanan Counties History pgs. 262-263

ROBERT G. CRAWFORD, the pioneer hardware merchant of. Hopkinton, Delaware county, Iowa, is a native of Mercer county, Pa., born September 18, 1845. His father, Robert Crawford, was a native of Ohio, born in Trumbull county in the year 1807. He was reared to manhood in that state and was a dry goods merchant for twenty-five years in Pennsylvania. He located in Rushville, Ill, in 1854 and was there engaged in the real estate business for a period of four years. He came to Delaware county in 1859, where he died March 8, 1865. He was a zealous Christian all his life and took great interest in all church work. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Jane Breckenridge. She was a native of Ohio, born in 1817 and died November 9, 1880. She was a member of the Presbyterian church for fifty years and a consistent Christian. These, Robert Crawford and Jane (Breckenridge) Crawford, were the parents of three children, two boys and one girl, all of whom are now living. The maternal grandfather of our subject was William Breckenridge, a native of Ohio and a gallant soldier in the War of 1812. He died in 1865, aged eighty-nine years. The maternal grandmother was Jane Wallace, a native of Carlisle, Pa. She was of Scotch descent and died at the age of fifty-seven years.

Robert G. Crawford, the subject of this notice, came to Delaware county, Iowa, with his parents in 1859. He received a fair common-school education, finishing with a course at Lenox College.

August 3, 1863, he enlisted in the Eighth Iowa cavalry. His regiment was ordered South soon after mustering and started with Sherman's army from Cleveland, Tenn., on the Atlanta campaign and is in all the engagements of that campaign up to and including the terrible battles around Atlanta. On the division of the federal forces at that point he was with Thomas' army on its return expedition into Tennessee in pursuit of Hood. He was in the engagements at Franklin andd Nashville. After going out of winter quarters at Florence, Miss., his regiment started on the Wilson raid through Georgia and Alabama, the heroism and hardships of which raid have long since passed into the history of the great war of which it was among the closing acts. He was mustered out in September, 1865.

After the war he worked on the Illinois Central railroad for two years, after which he returned to Mercer county, Pa., and completed his trade as a
tinner. He worked there for three years and then returned to Iowa and was for three years engaged in the hardware business at Sac City. In 1871 he returned to Hopkinton and engaged in the hardware business, which he has conducted successfully since.

Mr. Crawford married March 28, 1870, taking for a life companion Miss M. A. Jackson, daughter of Leroy Jackson, one if the first settlers of
Hopkinton. Mrs. Crawford was born February 7, 1846. This union has been blessed by two children-Alice B. and Robert L. (twins), born September 15, 1880. Robert died when only one year old.

Mr. Crawford is a republican in politics and a firm advocate of the principles as enunciated in the platform of that organization. He has served as trustee of South Fork township for a period of nine years, having been re-elected three successive terms. He has also held other minor offices, the duties of which he has discharged with credit to himself and satisfaction to those concerned. Both he and his estimable wife are active members of the Presbyterian church, and contribute liberally to every good and worthy cause. Mr. Crawford is an enthusiastic Mason, having taken all the degrees in the Ancient York rite up to and including that of Knight Templar. He is a member of Rising Sun Lodge, No. 187, A. F. and A. M., at Hopkinton, Iowa. He is a member of Monticello Chapter, No. 42, R. A. M., at Monticello, Iowa, and a member of Trinity Commandery, No. 16, Knights Templar at Monticello, Iowa. He is also a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and of the Grand Army of the Republic, in all of which organizations he takes much interest, giving to the broad and benevolent purposes of each a hearty support.