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Below is a family biography included in the book, Portrait and Biographical Record of Johnson and Pettis County Missouri published by Chapman Publishing Company in 1895.  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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HON. S. K. CRAWFORD, M. D., was born in Belfast, Ireland, December 25, 1838. The Crawfords, who were of the Presbyterian faith, were originally from Scotland, but settled in Ireland some two hundred and fifty years ago. Samuel Crawford, the grandfather of our subject, was a civil engineer in Belfast, where he spent his entire life. His father, Thomas Crawford, came to America in 1847, landing in Canada, but soon afterward removed to Iroquois County, Ill. By occupation he was a farmer. He died in Iroquois County at the age of seventy-four years. His mother, Usilla (Kerr) Crawford, was born near Belfast, Ireland, and died in that city when our subject was three years of age. Of their children, Samuel K. was the only that lived to maturity.

The early life of our subject was spent in Belfast, where he received his primary education, and where he remained until fourteen years of age, when he came to the United States, shipping from Liverpool, England, and being six weeks upon the ocean. The vessel on which he sailed was wrecked off the coast of Ireland and had to return to Liverpool for repairs. Arriving in New York, he went by way of the Hudson River and railroad to Chicago, and thence to St. Charles, Ill., to make his home with an uncle.

From childhood he had a desire to study medicine, and soon after his arrival began the study of the same in the office of his uncle, Dr. Henry M. Crawford, an eminent physician of Illinois, who served as Surgeon of the Fifty-eighth Illinois Infantry during the late war. In 1854 he entered the University of Michigan, where he took the scientific course of three years, and then entered Albany (N. Y.) Medical College, graduating therefrom in 1857. Returning to St. Charles, he at once commenced the practice of his profession, and continued in the same until the breaking out of the Rebellion, when he was commissioned by Governor Yates First Assistant Surgeon of the Eighth Illinois Cavalry. The regiment was assigned to the Army of the Potomac and in that array it served under MacClellan, Burnside, Hooker, Stoneman, Pleasanton and Meade, taking part in all the various battles of that grand army. Later Dr. Crawford was made Surgeon of the Seventeenth Illinois Cavalry, with the rank of Major, and served until the close of the war, being mustered out at Ft. Leavenworth in December, 1865. The Seventeenth Cavalry served for a long time on the plains of the West. In a cavalry engagement near Rapidan Station, Va., he was slightly wounded in the right thigh, the same ball that wounded him first killing his horse.

On receiving his discharge. Dr. Crawford returned to St. Charles, Ill., resuming his practice, and there remained until 1868, when he removed to Warsaw, Benton County, Mo., where in a short time he built up a large and lucrative practice in medicine and surgery. Often he was compelled to ride forty miles in a single day in the practice of his profession. While residing in Warsaw he served as Health Officer of that city for some years, and was also a member of the School Board. Professionally he has always held a high place and has always enjoyed the confidence and esteem of his brother practitioners. In 1883 he was placed on the list of lecturers in the State University, but on account of making a trip to Europe he did not serve. He is a member of the Pettis County Medical Association, of the District Medical Association, and of the State Medical Association. While still a resident of Warsaw he was President of the Benton County Medical Association.

As stated above, in 18S3 the Doctor made a trip to the Old World, visiting many places and spending some time in his old home at Belfast in renewing old acquaintances. He was gone nine months, a portion of the time being spent in various medical institutions and hospitals of Europe. Returning, he spent six weeks in Bellevue Hospital in New York, and then returned to Warsaw, where he continued in the practice of his profession until 1894, when he removed to Sedalia and opened an office in the Winter Block. While in Warsaw he served as President of the Board of Medical Examiners for a number of years.

Before leaving St. Charles, Ill., Dr. Crawford was married to Julia E. Groom, a native of Buffalo, N. Y., and daughter of Alfred J. and Mehetabel G. (Norris) Groom. The former was a native of London, England, while the latter was a native of New Hampshire and the daughter of Col. Thomas J. Norris, who served in the War of 1812. Three children have been born to the Doctor and his wife: Mettie G., now Mrs. Tomkins, of Warsaw, Mo.; Maud and Mabel.

Politically Dr. Crawford is a stanch Republican and for many years has been quite active in political affairs. He was Chairman of the Central Committee of the Republican party of Benton County for years, and was a member of the Republican State Central Committee for four years, two years of which time he was Chairman, having succeeded Major Warner. He was a delegate from the Seventh District to the Chicago Republican Convention in the year 1888. But few state or district conventions of his party have been held of which he was not a member. In the fall of 1880 he was elected a member of the Assembly from Benton County on the Republican ticket, and was twice re-elected, serving in all six years, or three regular and two extra sessions. While in the Assembly he served on several important committees, including that of Appropriations and Internal Improvements. He was twice appointed as a member of the Legislative Committee to visit the state institutions, once by Governor Marmaduke and once by Governor Moorehouse. He visited in all thirteen state institutions, and aided in making necessary and important changes and recommendations to the Governors. He drafted and introduced the first bill proposing suffrage for women in the state of Missouri.

The life of Dr. Crawford has been a very active one. In addition to his medical practice and his political work, he has social connections with the Masonic fraternity, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Grand Army of the Republic post, of Sedalia, in all of which he has taken an active interest. On Decoration Day, May 30, 1895, the Doctor delivered a memorial address on Grant and Garfield at Charleston, Ill. Few men in the state have a wider acquaintance or are more favorably known than Dr. S. K. Crawford.

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This family biography is one of the numerous biographies included in the Pettis County, Missouri portion of the book,  Portrait and Biographical Record of Johnson and Pettis County Missouri published in 1895 by Chapman Publishing Co.  For the complete description, click here: Pettis County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Pettis County, Missouri family biographies here: Pettis County, Missouri Biographies

View a map of 1904 Pettis County, Missouri here: Pettis County, Missouri Map

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