Baldwin County GaArchives History .....History of Baldwin County - Joel Crawford Biography 1925
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 October 7, 2004, 10:33 am

p. 307-308

HON. JOEL CRAWFORD

    Hon. Joel Crawford commenced his career at the bar in Sparta, but in 1811
removed to Milledgeville, where he resided until the close of his professional
labors.

    In the War of 1812, he enlisted as a volunteer in a corps of dragoons,
commanded by Captain Steele, and was shortly brevetted aid-de-camp to Gen.
Floyd, a post which he retained to the close of the campaign. This brevet gave
Mr. Crawford the rank of Major and imposed upon him grave responsibilities in
our Indian wars. Through these he sustained himself with credit and honor. The
theatre of his military achievements was that part of Georgia which now
constitutes a part of the territory of Alabama. He bore himself gallantly in the
battle of Antossee and at Cauleebee Swamp. In both these engagements his horse
was shot from under him. Major Crawford always enjoyed the fullest confidence of
his commanding General, of his comrades in arms, and his country.

    Major Crawford was elected for two terms a representative in Congress from
Georgia, under the general ticket system, and declined the nomination for a
third term, that he might recruit his private fortunes which had been much
reduced by the unthrifty vocations of public life. Soon he abandoned his
profession as a lawyer and gave himself to agricultural pursuits. He repeatedly
represented his county in the State Legislature and dischargd, at intervals in
his long life, important ministerial agencies for the state. In 1826 he was
commissioned, by Gov. Troup, to the difficult and exposed service of adjusting
the boundary line between the states of Alabama and Georgia. Everard Hamilton
and Richard Blount were associated with him in this commission, and finding that
the Commissioners on the part of Alabama were strangely disinclined to act,
after meeting for the purpose and obstinately declined to do anything, except to
embarass as far as possible the negotiation, the Georgia Commissioners boldly
went through with the labor, notwithstanding the known hostilities of the
Indians, and traced and defined the line under the compact of 1802 between
Georgia and the general government. And though Alabama, for a time, remonstrated
against supposed inaccuracies in the demarkation, no revision has since been
demanded in that adjustment.

    In 1837, the Legislature, by a joint ballot of both houses elected Major
Crawford, Samuel Farriss, and Charles Bolton as a Board of Commissioners for the
survey, location, and construction of the Western and Atlantic Railroad. By his
associates he was chosen President of the Board, a post he continued to occupy
until that great work was nearly complete and until the Board was dissolved.

    After all, Major Crawford cannot be said to have been what is commonly
called a popular man. He lacked that supple nature which qualifies for bowing,
and cringing to catch the popular breeze. Hired presses, caucases, factitious
platforms, and like applianced of party drill were all regarded by him as mere
devices of the demagogue to delude a credulous people into a practical abuse of
the elective franchise.

    He was a kind father, a provident and indulgent master, a benevolent
neighbor, a fast friend, and a chivalrous and devoted patriot. He deserved of
his country a more permanent memorial of his public services and private worth
than his friend, the writer, can accord him.



Additional Comments:
From: 

Part V

HISTORY of BALDWIN COUNTY GEORGIA

BY MRS. ANNA MARIA GREEN COOK

ILLUSTRATED

ANDERSON. S. C.
Keys-Hearn Printing Co.
-1925—


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