Jefferson Arthur Crawford, M. D.; Rapides, then Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana Submitted by Mike Miller ** ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ Jefferson Arthur Crawford, M. D. During his boyhood, Jefferson Arthur Crawford planned a career in medicine, but had to earn the money to put him through medical college, graduating in 1912, and since then has been one of the skilled men of his vocation in Southwest Louisiana, specializing in diseases of children. His home is at Lake Charles in Calcasieu Parish. He was born in Rapides Parish, Louisiana, September 10, 1883, the Town of Hineston being his birth place. He represents some old family names of Louisiana. The Crawfords came from Scotland John Crawford settling at Charleston, South Carolina, a little before 1800. Another John Crawford moved to Mississippi, where the grandfather of Doctor Crawford, James Crawford, was born. James Crawford in 1858 settled in Jackson Parish, Louisiana, and after the war moved to Thomastown, Mississippi, and in 1873 returned to Louisiana, becoming a planter at Cheneyville, and in 1876 at Hineston, where he was one of the large land owners. In 1907 he retired from business, and died at the age of eighty-six in 1914. He was a veteran of the Confederate army. William Thomas Crawford, father of Doctor Crawford, was born in Jackson Parish July 25, 1834. in early life he was a merchant at Sugartown, taught in the first public schools in Rapides Parish, was a contractor and builder in that parish at Edgerly, and at Orange, Texas, and in 1890 took charge of construction work for the American Sulphur Company at Sulphur, Louisiana. Since 1897 he has lived retired, his home being at Hineston. He has an interesting hobby, the making of violins, and has perfected some very beautiful instruments in tone and artistic workmanship. He is a member of the Methodist Church. The mother of Doctor Crawford was Sina Lucinda Young, who was born at Sugartown. Her father, Jefferson Young, was a planter there and was born at Sugartown in 1830 and died at the age of eighty. He served as a Confederate soldier. His father was Julien Young, a native of Opelousas, Louisiana, and a planter who reached the venerable age of ninety-seven. The parents of Julien Young came from France. Jefferson Arthur Crawford attended public schools and the Preparatory School of Professor Monroe at Glenmora. During 1905 he took a course in the Massey Business College at Houston, Texas. In 1906 he became a clerical worker for the general merchandise firm of R. A. Parrott at Forest Hill, for two years was timekeeper for the Industrial Lumber Company and also bookkeeper in the general store of Erwin Bros. In 1908 he entered the Medical Department of the University of Tennessee, graduated with his degree in medicine in 1912 and served an interneship in the Memphis General Hospital. Doctor Crawford in 1913 formed a partnership with Dr. J. T. Phillips at Glenmora, in 1914 was physician for the Urania Lumber Company at Urania, Louisiana, in 1915 became assistant physician with the Long Bell Lumber Company at Long View, Louisiana, and in 1916 engaged in general practice at Sulphur. During 1920 he resumed his work at Longville as physician for the Long Bell Lumber Company, but since 1921 gave all his time to his duties at Sulphur, until he removed to Lake Charles in January, 1925, his office being located in the Calcasieu Bank Building. He is a specialist in diseases of children and a recognized authority on pediatrics. He belongs to the Parish, District, State and American Medical Associations, Doctor Crawford is fond of outdoor pursuits, especially hunting and fishing. He is a member of the official board of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Lake Charles and leader of the young men's Bible ~ias and president of the Wesley Brotherhood of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Lake Charles. He belongs to the Charles F. Buck Lodge No. 260, Free and Accepted Masons, at Urania, the Royal Arch Chapter, Council and Malta Commandery of the Knights Templar at Lake Charles and Brimstone Lodge Knights of Pythias at Sulphur. He married at Liberty, Mississippi, August 29, 1912, Miss Ira Beall Tucker. Her parents were Rev. Isaiah and Mattie (Beall) Tucker, the latter living at Liberty, Mississippi. Her father was a Methodist minister, serving pastorates at Glouster, Mississippi, Aransas Pass at Waco, Texas, and was living at Waco when he died. Mrs. Crawford is an active worker in the Methodist Church and the Eastern Star. They have one daughter, Ethelyn. A History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), pp. 268-269, by Henry E. Chambers. Published by The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, 1925.