Biography of J W Crawford, Greene Co, AR *********************************************************** Submitted by: Michael Brown Date: 5 Sep 1998 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************** Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas page 131 J. W. Crawford. Prominent among the many esteemed and respected citizens of Paragould stands the name of the above mentioned gentleman, who was born in Orange County. N. C., June 4, 1854, and who is the son of William and Elizabeth (Howard) Crawford, both natives of North Carolina. They are still residents of that State, and the father is a farmer by occupation. Their family consists of ten living children, five sons and five daughters. J. W. Crawford was reared on the farm, in Orange County. N. C., receiving his education in the common schools. and in 1868 went to Tennessee, locating in Fayette County. He was but a boy at this time, and engaged as clerk in a store, which business he followed most of his time while in Tennessee. In 1877 he came to Arkansas, locating at Gainesville, Greene County, and sold liquors for two years. He then embarked [p.131] in mercantile pursuits, which he carried on until his removal to Paragould, in 1885, and was one of the first business men of the town. Previous to this, in 1880, he married Miss Sadie Glasscock, daughter of Capt. H. W. Glasscock, and the result of this union is two children: Guy E. and Henry V. Mr. Crawford continued his mercantile business at Paragould until 1888, when he sold out, and has since been practically retired, although he turns his attention somewhat to real estate speculations. He owns a half-interest in the Gager Hotel, which is a fine brick building, and a credit to Paragould; and he is also the owner of a good farm adjoining the corporation of Paragould. No man has been more active in improving this place than has Mr. Crawford. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity.