NEWS: Russell CRAWFORD Family, October 7, 1905, Sinking Valley, Blair County, PA

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October 7 1905

LEAVING THE OLD HOME - Farwell Testimonial to Mr. and Mrs. Russell Crawford in 
Sinking Valley.     

A most enjoyable event took place on Saturday last at the beautiful home of Mr. 
and Mrs. Russell Crawford in Sinking Valley.  It was the nature of a family 
reunion and also a farewell fathering of a number of their relatives and 
friends.  Mr. and Mrs. Crawford having sold their farm which has been their home 
for a number of years past, will in the early spring retire from farming and 
will move to one of the towns in the county.  As this farm at one time was owned 
and occupied by the honored citizen, the last Armstrong Crawford and was known 
as the Armstrong Crawford homestead, it was decided to hold a family reunion of 
the Armstrong Crawford branch of the large Crawford family and also a farewell 
fathering of some of the relatives and friends of Mr. and Mrs. Crawford before 
they would leave the "old home."     

Old Sinking Valley seemed to have put on her best garb for this event.  The 
green fields of newly sown grain, the yellow fields of golden corn about ready 
to be garnered, and beautifully tinted leaves of the mountain forest kissed by 
the rays of the Autumn sun, were some of nature's decorations with which the 
grand old valley was bedecked.   By eleven o'clock about fifty of the relatives 
and friends had assembled and after an hour spent in pleasant conversation all 
were invited to the spacious dining room where three large tables were 
bountifully spread with many good things which satisfieth the cravings of the 
inner man.  At the conclusion of the feast D. O. Templeton Esq., of Tyrone, on 
behalf of the relatives and friends presented Mr. and Mrs. Crawford with a 
handsome silver tea service.   Prof. D. S. Keith, of Altoona, in his usual happy 
manner, received the gift on behalf of the recipients.  Rev. L. M. Lewis, of 
Arch Spring, then spoke feelingly of the great loss the community would sustain 
in the removal of this most excellent family and especially the church with 
which they have been so long connected.     

Four sons and four daughters of the late Armstrong Crawford are still living and 
were all present at this time.  They are, John and Russell, of Sinking Valley; 
Alexander, of St. Paul, Minn; Jas. A., Sarah A., Lucinda and Frances, of Tyrone; 
and Margaret, wife of D. S. Keith of Altoona.  Miss Elsie D. Crawford, on of the 
two children of Mr. and Mrs. Russell Crawford, and who is a trained nurse in 
Philadelphia, was unable to be present.  A photograph of the four brothers and 
four sisters above mentioned was taken as was also a photograph of the entire 
assemblage which was composed of relatives from St. Paul, Altoona, Tyrone, 
Spruce Creek, Sinking Valley, and other places.     

While the occasion was a very happy one, yet a tinge of sadness was here and 
there noticeable because of the fact that during the past few years the Valley 
has lost by removal to town, a number of its very best families.  May peace and 
prosperity attend Mr. and Mrs. Crawford in their new home wherever it may be 
established, is the wish of their neighbors, relatives and friends.