Henry County AlArchives Biographies.....Crawford, James R. August 7 1844 - living in 1893
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Ann Anderson alabammygrammy@aol.com May 26, 2004, 9:35 pm

Author: Brant & Fuller (1893)
   JAMES R. CRAWFORD, banker of Dothen, is the central figure of the place. He
was born August 7, 1844. He is a son of Charles Y. and Mary A. (Read) Crawford,
who were the parents of ten children. The former was born in Greene county, Ga.,
in 1810, left there when a boy, settled in Newton county, and engaged in
farming, in which occupation he passed the rest of his life. In 1815 he moved to
Decatur county, Ga., and there purchased a large plantation, upon which he lived
the rest of his days. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, south,
and was a Mason nearly all his life. His death occurred in 1888, when he was
seventy-eight years old. He was a nephew of Hon. W. H. Crawford, who was at one
time governor of the state, and in 1824 one of the four candidates for the
presidency of the United States. He was an old line whig, and was in politics at
the time Troup and Tyler were prominent men. The mother of James R. Crawford was
born in Newton county, Ga., in 1820, near the site of what is known as the old
Salem camp ground. Here she spent her girlhood's days and was married at the age
of sixteen. She became the mother of ten children, eight of whom still survive,
and two of whom live in Dothen, two in Bainbridge, Ga., and four in Gainesville,
Fla. While quite young she united with the Methodist Episcopal church, and lived
a devoted Christian the rest of her life. Her death occurred in June, 1890, when
she was in her seventieth year. James R. Crawford grew to manhood on his
father's plantation, working at the usual routine labors pertaining to the farm,
and attending school at such times as he could be spared. He also managed to
take a short academic course beside. Thus having finished his education he began
business for himself as a farmer, following that occupation ten years. In 1878
he removed to Gainesville, and became a clerk in a general store, but soon after
engaged in business for himself. First he established a meat market and then did
a general stock business, and later added a general merchandise business. During
his residence in Gainesville he conducted a successful business for ten years.
He then in 1888 removed to Bainbridge, Ga., and there organized a private bank.
in February, becoming president and general business manager. He continued in
this business one year, and in 1889 removed to Dothen, and in Sepetmber of that
year organized the First bank of Dothen, with a floating capital of $100,000. Of
this institution he became vice-president and managing director, which relations
he sustained to the bank until January, 1892, when he was elected president,
retaining controlling authority over the bank. This enterprise has proved to be
a most remarkably successful and useful one, and the income of the investment
has been as high as 20 per cent. He was married to Miss Martha A. Dickinson,
daughter of John P. and Nancy (Crawford) Dickinson, whose father was a native of
Georgia and at one time a banker in Bainbridge. He turned his attention,
however, mostly to farming. He, early in life, joined the Methodist Episcopal
church, and was known throughout his life as an eminently pious man. He died at
Bainbridge, Ga., in 1874. His wife was a native of Bainbridge, was reared there,
early united with the Methodist Episcopal church, was married in her nineteenth
year and still survives. The wife of James R. Crawford grew up on the
Chattahoochie river, secured a good English education, and is now somewhat
proficient in art, having taken up the study since her marriage. She was married
at the age of twenty-one years, and is the mother of six children, all of whom
are living. Their names are as follows: John L., cashier of the Bank of Dothen;
Robert D.; Elma, Ethel, Ruth and Tom-Jim. John L. is a graduate of Oxford and
also of Poughkeepsie Business college, N. Y.; Robert D. is also a graduate of
Oxford, and is now taking a course at Poughkeepsie, intending to take up the
practice of law; Elma is now attending the Wesleyan Female university at
Stanton, Va. John L. Crawford, an uncle of Mr. James R. Crawford, is at present
secretary of state of Florida, and has occupied the same position through three
gubernatorial terms. He is now a candidate for the governorship. He at one time
came within one vote of being elected United States senator. Mr. James R.
Crawford is undoubtedly a man of sound judgment and of great financial ability.
He encourages all measures looking to the advancement of Dothen. It is related
of him that by prompt action he saved the compress located here from destructon,
and thus preserved, one of Dothen's great industries. He has always given
liberally to churches and schools, is also reasonably active in politics and
occupies one of the finest houses in Dothen, which he has himself much improved.



Additional Comments:
from "Memorial Record of Alabama", Vol. I, p. 1078-1080
Published by
Brant & Fuller (1893)
Madison, WI

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