JOSEPH A. CRAWFORD.-Among the enterprising and successful agriculturists of Cass township, Sullivan county, may be named Joseph A. Crawford, whose skill and energy in the direction and prosecution of his chosen industry have given to his work a value and significance of which few have deemed it capable. A son of the late Hugh Crawford, he was born in this township, and has here spent his entire life, his birth having occurred March 24, 1862.
Born in 1808, in Ohio, Hugh Crawford was there reared and married. With his young wife he came to Indiana in search of a home, and for a while lived in Grant county. Coming from there to Sullivan county, he resided first in Cass township and then moved to Hamilton township, where he bought two hundred acres of land. A commodious hewed log house and a few acres cleared constituted the improvements on the place at the time of his purchase. By dint of energy and persistent toil he cleared the greater part of the land, placing it under cultivation, and was there actively engaged in farming until his death, August 11, 1873. His wife, whose maiden name was Marion McCormick, was born in Ohio, a daughter of William McCormick, and died in Sullivan county, Indiana, August 19, 1892. She reared eight children, namely: John W., Robert, David O., Lewis L., George W., Thomas W., Susanna and Joseph A.
Beginning when young to assist on the farm Joseph A. Crawford received his education in the usual manner, gleaning his early knowledge of books in the district schools. Leaving his mother's home after his marriage, he began life for himself on rented land, and continued thus to make his living until 1892, when he bought the farm which he now owns and occupies. This is pleasantly located in Cass township, about four miles from the village of Sullivan, and contains one hundred and thirty acres of rich and productive land. Here Mr. Crawford is profitably engaged in general farming and stockraising, in both branches of his work meeting with satisfactory results.
On April 17, 1884, Mr. Crawford married Lydia E. Brodie. She was born March 20, 1862, in Cass township, Sullivan county, Indiana, a daughter of William A. and Mary J. (Maxwell) Brodie. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Crawford six children have been born, namely: Maude, Mary Ann, Clio, Hugh (deceased), Lester and Russell Homer. Politically Mr. Crawford is a stanch Republican.