Obituary Record

Deputy Collector of Port John David Crawford, who was stricken with paralysis at 3:30 o'clock Saturday morning, died at 8 o'clock yesterday morning without recovering consciousness that left him at 11 o'clock the previous morning.

The news of Mr. Crawford's illness and expected death was a shock to commercial circles, for he was deeply esteemed for many fine qualities which merged in his manhood, and those who had worked with him in the Custom House spoke yesterday of his death as a decided loss to the government.

Mr. Crawford was born in Belfast, Ireland, June 30, 1839, and was fifty-eight years one month and one day of age when he died. He came to this country when a young boy, working as a clerk for one of his older brothers, who owned a store in South Carolina. When he was eighteen years of age, he came to this city and found employment in the city hall in a clerical capacity. In 1862 after the fall of this city, Mr. Crawford's fine clerical ability secured him a position in the custom departments, and in the years following his conscientiousness and ability were rewarded by promotion until, when General Badger became collector of the port, Mr. Crawford was chief clerk in the customs departments.

Gen. Badger, recognizing Mr. Crawford's value to the government, appointed him deputy collector of the port in 1880 in which capacity he was retained under three succeeding administrations by Collectors Jonas, Warmoth, and Wilkinson.

Mr. Crawford was recognized far and wide as an authority in customs matters, his knowledge of customs laws and regulations was many times recognized by other ports than this.

In the interim between his entering the customs service and his appointment as deputy collector, Mr. Crawford was commissioned a notary public by Gov. Warmoth in 1871, and in 1879, while clerking in the Custom House, he was appointed commissioner of the federal circuit and district court.

Mr. Crawford was twice married, his first wife being his cousin, Miss Catherine Crawford. Two children survive this union, Miss Catherine and Ada Crawford, both of whom live in Belfast, Ireland.

Mr. Crawford's second wife was Miss Kate O'Hearn. She died a few years ago leaving eight children all of whom live here. There are three daughters Misses Anna, Erin, and May Crawford, and five sons, Messers. John. S. Crawford, Samuel O. Crawford, Daniel Crawford, and Alaxander B. Crawford, and Master Edward O'Hearn Crawford.--from Monday's Times-Democrat

Source: Sea Coast Echo 08-07-1897