Dr. Lawrence Lyman Crawford

Lawrence Lyman Crawford was born on Dec. 9, 1848 at Delaware County, Ohio. His parents were Calvin C. and Elizabeth (Moses) Crawford. He came with his mother to Liberty Township, Henry County, Ohio in 1863-1864 and he was educated at the Napoleon schools. Lawrence Crawford attended the Medical School at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in 1872-1873 and he then transferred to the College of Medicine and Surgery at Cincinnati where he graduated in February, 1876.

On June 9, 1874 at Columbus Grove, Ohio Lawrence married Irene Russell. They had one son Charles L. Crawford born on April 2, 1876 at Columbus Grove, Ohio. Irene Crawford died on April 6, 1876. Then on August 16, 1877 Dr. Crawford married Miss Lilla M. Lockhart at Ottawa, Ohio. By his second wife he had five children: Ruth, Jane Elizabeth "Jennie" (married D.S. Rhodes of Wyoming); Lotta L.; and twins Ray M. and Jay B. Crawford. Only Jennie and Ray lived beyond infancy.

Dr. Crawford practiced at Columbus Grove, Ohio, then at Alma Center, Jackson County, Wisconsin, where he was living in 1880, and in 1883 he moved to Merna, Custer County, Nebraska. At Merna he was remembered as being one of the pioneer physicians of the area. He removed to Montrose, Colorado in December, 1896 and in December, 1897 he established and operated the first drug store at Paonia, Colorado. Dr. Crawford remained here until his death on August 18, 1929. He was buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery at Paonia, Colorado.

Dr. Crawford's son, Charles L. was left in the care'of his grandmother, Elizabeth Crawford Knapp, of Liberty Township. On February 22, 1902 Charles married Della I. Carpenter at Wauseon, Ohio. Della, the daughter of Henry and Rachel (Guthrie) Carpenter, was born in Liberty township on Dec. 11, 1877. Her parents were pioneers of that area. Charles and Della lived at Liberty Center where he was a machinist. Della Crawford died on June 28, 1955 and Charles L. Crawford died on Jan. 17, 1962. They were buried at Young's Cemetery.

Charles and Della Crawford had one child, Delite, who was born on January 30, 1903 at Liberty township. Delite Crawford married Horace Mead, of McClure, on June 5, 1943 at Chester, S.C. They resided near McClure, Ohio. Delite Mead died at Napoleon on Nov. 1, 1961 and she is buried at Young's Cemetery at Liberty Center. She belonged to the Methodist Church.

Submitted by: Robert Barnes