OBIT: Mark Graham CRAWFORD, 1896, Tyrone, Blair County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Sharon Miller Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/ _________________________________________ A SUDDEN DEATH M. G. Crawford, a Prominent Merchant of Tyrone. STRICKEN WITH HEART DISEASE Long a Resident and Business Man of Tyrone - Treasurer of the Presbyterian Congregation - Passed Away Suddenly Last Sunday Morning. Saturday night at the usual closing hour, Mark G. Crawford, hardware merchant, closed his place of business at corner of Logan avenue and Tenth street, and proceeded to his home in seemingly good health and in good spirits, bidding a number of friends who had spent the evening at the store a hearty good night before they withdrew. In less than twelve hours he was a corpse at his home on West Washington avenue, the news of his death spreading rapidly over the community on Sunday morning very soon after his death occurred about 8 o'clock. When he retired to bed Saturday night, he complained some of a pain in his chest, but did not seem much concerned about it, though he remarked that he had felt more or less pain for some days past but had said nothing about it. Rising about 4 o'clock Sunday morning, he dressed himself, proceeded down stairs, kindled a fire in the range, and took a seat in a rocking chair in the kitchen of his home, where he expired about eight o'clock. Dr. W. L. Lowrie was quickly summoned but could of course render no service. The cause of his death was fatty degeneration of the heart. Owing to his crippled condition, he was in consequence of sedentary habits and retired in his nature taking no exercise although at all times a healthy appetizer. Mark Graham Crawford was the son of Armstrong and Margaret Crawford, whose parents were among the first settlers of this country. The deceased was born on the homestead farm in Sinking Valley, about two and a half miles from Arch Spring, now occupied and operated by Warren Crawford, on the 5th of August, 1835, and was therefore aged 61 years, one month and one day. When a boy attending school at the old Burket school in the valley, he became overheated in racing and went into the water to cool off, which produced white swelling and resulted in making him a cripple through the balance of his life, not being able to walk without the aid of crutches. After completing the course in the Sinking Valley school he attended the Birmingham academy, now Mountain Seminary, taught at that time by Thomas A. Ward and Thomas Scott, brother of George H. Scott of this place. After graduating at Birmingham he taught school at Huntingdon Furnace, Birmingham, Altoona and Tyrone. In 1860, he entered the drug store of Samuel Berlin in Tyrone, where he learned the business. In 1862, Mr. Crawford and Samuel Berlin, Jr., went to Johnstown and established a drug store, and a year later they sold out and located at Altoona, and some years after that sold the business there, to a man named Rider, after which Mr. Crawford returned to Johnstown and purchased another drug store, where he remained till March, 1867, when he sold out and came to Tyrone and established the drug store on West Tenth street, now owned by J. S. Smith. In 1868, he sold this business to Rollman & Kepler, and went to Sinking Valley, where he remained till the spring of 1872, when he came back to Tyrone and purchased the interest of S. W. Barr of the hardware firm of Crawford and Barr, the business being conducted by James A. and M. G. Crawford from that time till July, 1879, under the firm name of Crawford & Brother. At this time, Jas. A. Crawford retired from the business, C. B. Bowles taking his place. Later, Mr. Crawford retired and A. V. Davis became interested with Mr. Bowles, then Mr. Bowles retired and A. V. Davis continued the business until about two years ago, when Mr. Crawford became sole proprietor. In 1867, Mr. Crawford and Mrs. Nancy Agee, of Lawrence county were married. Mrs. Crawford survives her husband, as do also the following named children, all at the family home in Tyrone: Vina M., Frank R. and Florence. Miss Maggie Agee, stepdaughter of Mr. Crawford, is also one of the family at home. The following brothers and sisters also survive: Mrs. Mary Burket, Franklin Grove, Ill.; Russell, Sinking Valley; Mrs. Maggie Keith, Altoona; Sarah, Lucinda, Fannie and James A., of Tyrone. Also the following half brothers and sisters: John Crawford, Sinking Valley; Mrs. Eleanor Morrow, Tyrone, and Alexander Crawford, St. Paul, Minn. Deceased was a consistent member of the Tyrone Presbyterian church, and constant in attendance at the services. He was treasurer of the congregation at the time of his death. He was a thoroughly reliable citizen and business man, and as councilman at one time rendered the town valuable service, his judgment being very accurate. He was always an uncompromising Republican. As a husband and father, he was kind and indulgent, and he will be sorely mourned in the family home. Funeral services were held at 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon, at the late home of deceased, being conducted by Rev. F. L. Bergstresser, assisted by Rev. L. L. Lewis, of Arch Spring. Interment followed in Tyrone cemetery. Tyrone Herald, Tyrone, Pa., September 10, 1896