My Genealogy Hound

ALBERT CRAWFORD is descended from one of the old colonial families of Montgomery county. He was born in Lower Providence township, January 27, 1826. He grew to manhood in the same neighborhood in which he now lives, and was educated in the common schools of the vicinity. He is the son of Joseph and Rebecca (Francis) Crawford.

Joseph Crawford (father) was the son of Joseph and Ann (Edwards) Crawford. Ann Edwards was the daughter of Revolutionary fame. The Edwards family were of Welsh descent. The Crawfords were from Ireland originally, although they have been long domiciled in this country. Joseph Crawford served in the militia during the Revolutionary war, being with Washington when he crossed the Delaware to attack the Hessian troops at Trenton, and participating in other movements of that period. He was about eighteen years of age at the time of the action at Trenton. At the end of the war he settled in Roxboro, where he married. In 1795 he purchased the farm on which Albert Crawford now resides. He lived on this farm the greater part of the time until his death which occurred in 1844. He was a lifelong member of the Presbyterian Church. He was a director in the Bank of Montgomery county, now the Montgomery National Bank. He was a practical and successful farmer. Politically he was a Whig, but never aspired to public office. Major Edwards, the father of Mrs. Ann Crawford, was a resident of Montgomery county. About 1775, he sold a part of his farm to his son John, and farmed the remainder of it, dying about 1795. The children of Joseph and Ann Crawford were: Joseph (father); Margaret, wife of Captain Abram Brower; and Alexander, who died unmarried.

Joseph Crawford (father) was born and reared in Lower Providence township, and after reaching manhood he gave all his attention to farming the homestead. He died in early manhood, in 1830, being less than thirty years of age. He was a Whig in politics. His wife survived him many years, and educated the children. Later the widow married (second husband) Jacob Culp. She was the daughter of John Francis, a prominent farmer of the township, whose other children were: Ann (Mrs. George Highley); Deborah (Mrs. H. Loucks); Eliza (Mrs. Thomas Shepard); and Felix, who died when a young man. All were Presbyterians, and were buried at the Lower Providence Church.

The children of Joseph and Rebecca Crawford were: Ann (Mrs. Joseph Rhoads); Albert, mentioned hereinafter; and Amanda (Mrs. Samuel F. Jarrett). The children by the second marriage (Mrs. Crawford to Jacob Culp): Joseph, who died in 1903; and Emma (Mrs. Davis).

Albert Crawford was born and reared on the homestead farm, which he inherited under his father’s will. When he grew to manhood, he sold it to his sister Ann, and took possession of the farm on which he now lives, which had been left him by his grandfather. He has been engaged in general farming, raising some stock, and attending Philadelphia markets. He also fattened cattle. In addition to the home farm of one hundred and fourteen acres, Mr. Crawford owns a tract of forty acres on the Perkiomen, and several Norristown properties. He has been a successful farmer, and is a broad-minded, intelligent business man. He has been a Republican from the formation of the party, but has never aspired to office. He was reared in the Presbyterian faith, but is not a member of any church. He is a man of integrity and honor, widely known and highly respected.

Mr. Crawford married, in 1855, Miss Adelaide Corson, born in Lower Providence, near Arcola Station, October 28, 1834. She is the daughter of Charles and Sarah (Egbert) Corson, of the well-known family of that name in Montgomery county. Charles Corson’s father and grandfather were both named Joseph Corson. The Corsons were originally French Huguenots, whose ancestor settled on Long Island, and later in Bucks county, Pennsylvania. The brothers and sisters of Charles Corson were: Alan W., teacher, surveyor, and in general one of the most useful men of his day; Sarah, who married Thomas Read; Mary (Mrs. Charles Adamson); Joseph, Charles (father of Mrs. Crawford); George, a well-known resident of Plymouth Meeting; Dr. Hiram, who lived to a great age, and died in 1898; and William, a Norristown physician; all are long since deceased. The family has very remarkable traits, and few have equaled them in the history of Montgomery county in ability and usefulness. All, including Charles, were identified with the Society of Friends, and were active in the anti-slavery cause. Charles died in 1878. His wife was the daughter of Laurence and Sarah Egbert. The children of Laurence and Sarah Egbert were: Thomas, George, David, Mary (Mrs. A. Corson); Sarah and Susan (twins), Susan being Mrs. James Rogers, and Sarah, the wife of Charles Corson.

The children of Charles and Sarah Corson were: Richard R., William, George, the well-known attorney, now deceased; John J., a leading real estate agent of Norristown; Laurence, who died at the age of forty years; Adelaide, wife of Mr. Crawford; Susan (Mrs. Felix F. Highley, deceased); and Mary F., who died at the age of forty-nine years.

The children of Albert and Adelaide Crawford were: Joseph, a druggist, of Philadelphia, who married Mary Hayer, of Lancaster, in June, 1898, and they had three children, Sarah, who died in infancy; Anna H., and Joseph Crawford. J. Norman, who farms the homestead, who married Josephean Rittenhouse, and they have four children: Bessie F., Adelaide C., Albert N. and Harold R. Sarah C., wife of W. B. Henderson, who died in 1896, leaving two sons; and Mary, unmarried. At the death of their daughter, Mrs. Henderson, Mr. and Mrs. Crawford took charge of her two children and are rearing them. They are Joseph C., born October 17, 1892, and Alan T., born November 7, 1894.