Georgia:  Elbert County:  Biography of William Harris Crawford

====================================================================
USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing
free information on the Internet, data may be used by
non-commercial entities, as long as this message
remains on all copied material. These electronic
pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit
or for presentation by other persons or organizations.

Persons or organizations desiring to use this material
for purposes other than stated above must obtain the
written consent of the file contributor.

The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb
Archives to store this file permanently for free access.
This file was contributed by:
Barbara Walker Winge
Barbarawinge@yahoo.com
====================================================================

WILLIAM HARRIS CRAWFORD
Hon. William Harris Crawford was born in Nelson County Virginia, 24th
February, 1772. In 1779 his father removed, with his family, to
Steven's Creek, Edgefield district, South Carolina, about 30 miles above
Augusta. The next winter, the British troops, having captured Savannah 
and taken possession of Augusta, Mr. Crawford returned north, over Broad 
river, into Chester district. Soon all South Carolina was overrun by the 
British, and he was seized and thrown into Camden jail, as a rebel. Here 
he remained the greatest part of the summer, and was released on some of 
his loyal neighbors becoming his security. In 1783 he removed into 
Georgia, and settled on Kiokee Creek, where he died in October, 1788, 
aged 53 years.

We have followed young Crawford eleven years of his life, to show that
he had no opportunity hardly to education. He went, however, a few months
to school, while his parents resided in South Carolina, and discovered
uncommon capacity to receive instruction; so much so , that when
permanently settled his Georgia, his father determined to send him to
Scotland, and give him a thorough education. He made arrangements with a
Scotch merchant in Augusta, for supplying his son with funds during his
residence at the University; but the merchant, in a fit of derangement,
having attempted to cut his own throat. Mr. Crawford thought it unsafe to
entrust him with funds, and with the superintendence of his son. Having
abandoned the idea of sending is son abroad, he put him to school in the
county, and gave him the best English education he could, and then set 
him to teaching school in 1788. Before this year expired, however, his 
father died, and the disease (probably the small pox] which carried him 
off, swept away also most of the valuable slaves owned by the family, and 
reduced them to very narrow circumstances. In order to assist his mother 
in supporting a large and almost helpless family, young Crawford taught 
school, more or less, for three or four years.

In 1794, Rev. Dr. Waddel opened a Latin school in Columbia, called
Carmel Academy. The desire of obtaining a classical education, which had
been lost sight of since his father's death, now revived, and young
Crawford entered the Academy, and remained in it two years, studying the
usual Latin and Greek authors, Philosophy, and the French. The last year
he was an usher in the school, and received for his services one-third of
the tuition money. In 1796 and '7, he was English teacher in the Richmond
Academy, and in '98 appointed Rector of that institution, the successor 
of Judges Griffin and Tate. During his residence in Augusta he purchase 
books and studied the law, to the practice of which he was admitted in 
1798; so that he is a self-taught law scholar.

I have minutely followed Mr. Crawford along through the vale of
poverty, discharging the duties of fraternal affection, and supporting an
aged parent, till, by the strength of his own mind, he begins to rise and
soar to that eminence which he has since reached: I have done this to 
show his young countrymen, that there is no mountain which application 
cannot climb, and no obstacle which industry cannot removed. Let no young 
man, buffetting the stream of adversity, be discouraged in his attempts 
to acquire an education, or render himself respected and useful to his 
country.

Why is it that school-keeping is so disreputable an employment in our
State? It would be well if it could be rescued from the odium attached to
it. Why is it that not one in fifty of the graduates of our College 
engage in the useful, but little-esteemed task of "rearing the young idea 
how to shoot?" If learning is honorable, you cannot separate the teacher 
from a share in it. But how inconsistent is it in parents to desire their
children to rise to stations of honor, and yet provide no means for their
permanent education? We must instruct ourselves; and for this purpose we
must engage in the low calling of schoolmasters; low with us, because we
have a foolish pride on this subject; but not low, where learning is more
justly appreciated. In Scotland, the teacher of a common school is
idolized by the whole neighborhood; and so it is in some other parts of 
the world. A pretty good thermometer to the state of learning in a 
country, is the respect which is paid to those who instruct the youth of 
that country. If they are considered disreputable, on account of their
profession, education will be, but little desired. The very house in 
which Milton, the greatest poet that ever lived, taught boys, can now be 
pointed out in London.

If it be said that our teachers are not well educated, and sometimes
immoral, how, let it be asked, shall we have better, unless we encourage
the profession, and throw out inducements to make them so? Let the
graduates of our College take up this business, and they can wipe away 
the odium attached to it. What kind of knowledge for the duties of a
legislator, will be obtained in an old field school? It is a subject of
gratulation, that several of the last graduating are now in respectable
Academies; and we hope the number of good teachers will increase, till
education shall be more generally diffused among us.

In the spring of 1799, Mr. Crawford removed into Oglethorpe county, and
commenced the practice of the law in what was then called the Western
Circuit. Here he attracted the notice of the late Peter Early, then at 
the head of his profession in the upper country, and who had formed a 
favorable opinion of his legal and classical attainments. - After Mr. 
Early went to Congress, in 1802, Mr. Crawford might be said to stand at 
the head of the bar, in this section. Oglethorpe called him four years to 
represent her in the Legislature, and she always found in him an able 
representative. In 1807, he was elected for six years to the Senate of 
the United States; and in 1811 re-elected without opposition. In 1813 he 
was sent, by President Madison, Minister to the Court of St. Clouds. Dr. 
Jackson, long the enlightened and amiable Professor in our University, 
was the Secretary of Legation. On his return from France, in 1815, he 
found that he had been appointed Secretary at War. In October, 1816, he 
was appointed Secretary of the Treasury, by Mr. Madison, and was re-
appointed to the same office by Mr. Monroe, in 1817. This office he held 
till 3d of March, 1825, when he resigned, having previously declined to 
accept the office under Mr. Adams.

He sustained an honorable poll from the Electoral College,
in 1825, for President of the United States, having received
45 votes; and had it not have been for severe indisposition, it
is believed by many, he would have been elected.

In 1827, after the death of Judge Dooly, he was appointed,
without solicitation, by Governor Troup, Judge of the Northern 
Circuit; and in 1828, the Legislature elected him to the
same office, without opposition.

He has resided since 1799, except when abroad, discharging 
the duties to which his country has called him, at his
Country seat, called "Wood Lawn," three miles west Lexington, 
near the road to Athens. Most of this time he has been
an active trustee of our College. Like other great men, he
has his enemies, and it would be an anomaly in the natural
course of politics if he were without them.

An interesting sketch of Mr. Crawford's PRIVATE LIFE,
while at Washington, is found in the Richmond, "Southern
Literary Messenger."

He died suddenly, in Elbert, September, 1834, on his way
to preside at court.

Ref: Sherwood, Adiel, A GAZETTEER OF THE STATE OF
GEORGIA, 1837, P. Force, Washington City, pp. 266-269.


Submitted by Barbara Walker Winge,
barbarawinge@yahoo.com