Do you ever feel like you get stuck in the ‘middle’? I’ve started researching descendants of the Alexander Crawford who married Margaret McElwee in 1788 in Lincoln County, Kentucky for yDNA purposes. Since a descendant of Joe Crawford (1856-1925) has agreed to do a yDNA test, I’m trying to create a paper trail supporting Joe being the great grandson of Alexander and Margaret thru their son John Crawford.
Since this research is totally new to me, I’m using the FamilySearch tree and other family trees for guidance. And I’m stuck in the middle!
I’ve found the obituaries for Joe Crawford (listed as Jones Crawford on FamilySearch) and his wife Harriet Ryder.
Joe A. Crawford
“Joe A. Crawford,” The Houston Herald (Houston, Missouri), 1 October 1925, page 9; digital images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 28 December 2023).
Joe A. Crawford died at the home of his daughter in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, September 20, 1925, following a long sickness of carcinoma stomach. The remains were brought back home and funeral services conducted at the church by Rev. J. J. Carty in the presence of neighbors and relatives. Burial followed in Allen Cemetery.
Joe A. Crawford was born in Crab Orchard, Kentucky, July 28, 1856. Age at death 69 years, 1 month and 22 days. His home was near Raymondville, Texas county, Mo.
He was married to Harriett Rider, who preceded him to the great beyond some eight years. To this union 12 children were born: Dick and Ollie, deceased; George of Safford, Arizona; Mrs. Betty Blackard, John Boebel and Buel of St. Louis; Mrs. J. E. Richardson and Roy Crawford, of Lebanon, Mo.; Mrs. Dolly Miller and Mrs Bernice Morelock, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Our dear father told us not to weep, for all was well. Father, your earthly work is ended now, your path of life is trod, and your name in gold is written in the precious book of God. Father, you have left us lonely, oft we think of you and cry, but we will meet you up in Heaven; until then we say “good-bye.”
D.M.
Obituary
Died, at her home in Raymondville, MO., Friday, November 17, 1916, Mrs. Harriett M. Crawford. She was born in Phelps county, near Rolla, Mo., April 7, 1862, age 54 years, 7 months and 10 days; she was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M. S. Ryder.. She was married to J. A. Crawford September 9, 1877, who survives her. Twelve children resulted from this union. The living are George, of Maxville, Kansas, Robert, of Raymondville, Mo., Mrs. Bettie Manley of Houston, Mo., Mrs. Dollie Miller, of Fort Scott, Kansas, Roy of Plato, Mo., Mrs. Bernice Crawford of Miami, Okla., Mrs Jennie Richardson, of Raymondville, MO, John, Goebel and Buel, who are at home. The deceased are Allie and Richard.
“Obituary,” The Houston Herald (Houston, Missouri), 7 December 1916, page 3; digital images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 26 December 2023).
She has been in poor health for more than a year but bore her affliction with great patience and fortitude. In July her condition was recognized to be very serious and all her children were called to her bedside. The only hopes the physicians gave was by an operation. September 9th accompanied by her daughter, Mrs. Dollie Miller, and Dr. R. C. Haggard, she was taken to St. Johns Hospital, Springfield, MO., and on Sunday an operation was performed. She stayed there three weeks and was able to return home alone. Her relatives and friends were truly glad to see her home again and looking so well, not realizing her weak condition and being confined indoors so long and anxious to see her many friends exposed herself, her heart being in bad condition was too much for her. After two weeks of suffering she passed peacefully away.
Deceased united with the Christian church early in life and lived a consistent Christian life. Funeral services were conducted in the church at Raymondsville at 1 p.m. Sunday, November 19th, by Rev. J.B. Payne. The remains were conveyed to Allen cemetery where surrounded by relatives and friends they were tenderly laid in their last resting place in the city of the dead. A very large crowd attended the funeral services and paid their last tribute to the memory of one of the splendid Texas county mothers.
A life which has been a benediction and a blessing to the entire community has closed. Another of the mothers of Israel has passed from a useful life here on earth to her reward in the home eternal there at the feet of her Father to await the reassembling of her loved ones. The hearts of our people go out in earnest sympathy to the broken hearted husband and children.
These two obituaries provide some key information to help document the yDNA line.
- They both dentify the twelve children and the communities where they lived which will make it easier to locate the census records and other documentation for them
- Harriet’s obituary provides their marriage date.
- Joe’s obituary provides a birth date
- Joe’s obituary indicates he was born in Lincoln County, Kentucky
In hopes of finding Joe Crawford with his parents, I started searching the 1860 census for a 4 year old Joe (or Jonas) Crawford. Based on the FamilySearch tree, Joe’s parents were Jonas and Mary. With this information, I found an 1860 census record for Johnes Crawford in Lincoln County, Kentucky. THe household included Mary, a 25 year old female; John, a 6 year old male and Mary, a 2 year old female.
Even though the age is off by two years, some might argue that the John Crawford in the census record is actually Joe or Jonas Crawford. However the database, Kentucky Birth Records, 1847-1911, contains a birth record for John Crawford son of Jonas A Crawford and Mary Fish who was born 18 Jul 1854. Thus, I think the John Crawford in the census record is the John Crawford in the birth record.
Further study of the 1860 census in Licnoln County, Kentucky has a 4 year old James Crwford in the household of John Fish, aged 71 and Mary Fish, aged 68.
The 1870 census for Lincoln County, Kentucky has a 14 year old James Crawford living in the Mary Fish household.
While these census records may be for Joe Crawford as a child, they do not help connect Joe (Jonas) Crawford to his parents. If this 14 year old James Crawford is Joe (Jonas) Crawford, then there are some clues in the 1870 census.
- Are there any records connecting John and/or Mary Fish to Jones (James) Crawford?
- Is the 11 year old Mary Crawford in the 1870 census record the same Mary Crawford in the 1860 census as a 2 year old?
- Are there any records connecting Jones (James) Crawford to William Miller and or Martha West?
Good evening,
My husband is a descendent of Shelby Crawford, son of Alexander and Margaret McElwee. Would it be helpful for him to do a y dna test?
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