Olive Hanson Harris, Ascension Parish, Louisiana
File prepared and submitted by Ed Hanson <edhanson@hal-pc.org>


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Newspaper article from the "Donaldsonville Chief" c. Oct.  1975.

Mrs. Crawford dies at 93.

Mrs. Alexander S. Crawford, a long-time resident of Ascension Parish,
died October 27, 1975, at the age of 93.  Religious services were
conducted from the Church of the Ascension, Episcopal.  Interment was
in the Protestant Cemetery in Donaldsonville.

Born Olive Hanson Harris May 4, 1882, a native of New Orleans, Mrs
Crawford was the wife of the late Alexander S.  Crawford, area
plantation owner and operator for over fifty years.  She was the
granddaughter of Richard T. and Barbara C. Hanson, a prominent pioneer
Ascension Parish family and landowners.  Mrs. Crawford received her
early education from the family governess and later attended public
schools in New Orleans.  She was a graduate of McDonough No. 7.

Mrs. Crawford's marriage and eventual settlement in the River Road,
Donaldsonville area, was the culmination of a romance that began at a
Planters' Ball, an annual event held in Donaldsonville and sponsored by
the sugar planters of the surrounding plantations.  Mr. Crawford, a
native of Nixburg, Alabama, at that time was employed by the Miles
Planting Co.  of New Orleans which operated various River Road
plantations.  From this union, which began in June 1900 and lasted
until Mr. Crawford's death in April, 1957, five children were born:
William Harris, Marjorie Hunt, Calderwood Gibson, Duncan Howe, and
James Alexander.  Two are surviving, Mrs. L.A.  Richard (Marjorie Hunt)
of Lafayette, Louisiana and Duncan Howe of Paincourtville, Lousiana.
She is survived by eight grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren and two
great-great grandchildren.  She is also survived by a younger sister,
Mrs. Lyla Harris Lucy.  Mrs. Crawford learned to love plantation life
and did much to help the field hands and their families.  Her
sensitiveness to the needs of the people in the "quarters" earned her a
place of love and respect.  She was affectionately called "Mis'
Blossom."

Mrs. Crawford's father, the late William Hunt Harris, was a native of
Columbus, Miss. and served in the Army of Tennessee of Civil War fame.
Her mother, Lylie Olivia Harris, was the eldest of a family of fourteen
whose members did much in the field of medicine, education and
agriculture.  Mrs.  Harris was a writer-reporter for the New Orleans
Times-Democrat, one of the first women to hold such a position in
Louisiana.  Many of her short stories were published in popular
magazines.  A sister, Miss Margaret C. Hanson, was principal of the New
Orleans Normal School for many years.  In her honor the name of the
school was changed to the Margaret C.  Hanson Memorial School.  Two
brothers, both physicians, Drs.  John D. and Tuite Hanson, dedicated
their lives to caring for the sick in and around Donaldsonville.
Another brother, Edward C. Hanson served Ascension Parish as sheriff
for four consecutive terms and also served as president of the
Lafourche Levee Board.