Crawford Dobson was the eldest son of Franklin and Violet Dobson, born in Morgan County, Indiana. He had an elder sister, Emily, and five younger siblings, John Maurier, Eliza, Clarissa, Mary, and Margaret. At about four years of age, his family moved to Champaign Illinois.
In September, 1855, Mr. Crawford started to California. When he reached Burlington, on his way back, he saw the first train ever in Iowa, which consisted of an engine, tender and five cars. On account of the cholera he gave up the idea of going to California, and went to Marion county, Iowa, where he stayed till the 12th of January, 1855. He then went back to Illinois, where he worked on the first railroad begun in the state. He was in Chicago when it was a small town, and from there came to Louis county, and, staying three years, came to Guthrie county, settling on section 21 [Highland township], his present location, where he cut down trees and shrubs and built him a small log cabin.
On November 26, 1856, Crawford married Mary Ann Howe in Champaign Illinois, where they had two children, Violet Amanda, born in 1857, and John Franklin, born in 1859. He and Mary Ann moved their family to Guthrie County Iowa, where they had another son, William, who was born in 1861.
Crawford Dobson was a Union Civil War veteran and member of the Eugene Grand Army of the Republic, Post 7. He served in Company G, 37th Illinois Volunteer Infantry in the Western Division, between 1861 and 1862, and fought in the campaign against Price, under the command of Colonel White.
Crawford suffered serious illness from the war, and returned home after two years of service. He and his wife, Mary Ann lived the next 45 years in Guthrie County Iowa as pioneer farmers, while raising their three children, who all went on to have families of their own.
As an active member of his community, Crawford served as Constable, and at one time was the Post Master of the Dodge Post Office in Guthrie County Iowa, before it burned down in 1875. He had the largest orchard and most fruit of any one in Highland township. He put out 17,000 forest trees when he first came to Guthrie County, Iowa, having started with only twenty-five cents (about $15 in today's money).
Crawford was also a member of the Benevolent Lodge of Masons of Bayard, A.F. and A.M., and was junior warden and deacon in the 1880's. He was also a member of the Northwestern Christian conference, and a member of the Quarterly Conference of the district including Guthrie, Adair, Dallas, and Polk Counties of Iowa.
(Source: Iowa Genealogy Project) http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~iabiog/guthrie/g1884/g1884-highland.htm#Crawford%20Dobson
He and Mary Ann celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary on November 26, 1907, as well as one more year together, before Mary Ann died April 17, 1909 in Guthrie Center, Guthrie County, Iowa.
A year or so after his wife's death Crawford moved to Eugene Oregon where his daughter Amanda, and brother John were living. Later, Crawford married Alwilda Boggs Hayden, which was also her second marriage. He lived the rest of his life in the Eugene Oregon area.
Crawford is buried in the in the Pioneer Memorial Cemetery of Eugene Oregon. His grave is in the front row, fifth from the far left (in the picture to the right) next to his brother John, who also served in the same company as his brother during the Civil.
In September, 1855, Mr. Crawford started to California. When he reached Burlington, on his way back, he saw the first train ever in Iowa, which consisted of an engine, tender and five cars. On account of the cholera he gave up the idea of going to California, and went to Marion county, Iowa, where he stayed till the 12th of January, 1855. He then went back to Illinois, where he worked on the first railroad begun in the state. He was in Chicago when it was a small town, and from there came to Louis county, and, staying three years, came to Guthrie county, settling on section 21 [Highland township], his present location, where he cut down trees and shrubs and built him a small log cabin.
On November 26, 1856, Crawford married Mary Ann Howe in Champaign Illinois, where they had two children, Violet Amanda, born in 1857, and John Franklin, born in 1859. He and Mary Ann moved their family to Guthrie County Iowa, where they had another son, William, who was born in 1861.
Crawford Dobson was a Union Civil War veteran and member of the Eugene Grand Army of the Republic, Post 7. He served in Company G, 37th Illinois Volunteer Infantry in the Western Division, between 1861 and 1862, and fought in the campaign against Price, under the command of Colonel White.
Crawford suffered serious illness from the war, and returned home after two years of service. He and his wife, Mary Ann lived the next 45 years in Guthrie County Iowa as pioneer farmers, while raising their three children, who all went on to have families of their own.
As an active member of his community, Crawford served as Constable, and at one time was the Post Master of the Dodge Post Office in Guthrie County Iowa, before it burned down in 1875. He had the largest orchard and most fruit of any one in Highland township. He put out 17,000 forest trees when he first came to Guthrie County, Iowa, having started with only twenty-five cents (about $15 in today's money).
Crawford was also a member of the Benevolent Lodge of Masons of Bayard, A.F. and A.M., and was junior warden and deacon in the 1880's. He was also a member of the Northwestern Christian conference, and a member of the Quarterly Conference of the district including Guthrie, Adair, Dallas, and Polk Counties of Iowa.
(Source: Iowa Genealogy Project) http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~iabiog/guthrie/g1884/g1884-highland.htm#Crawford%20Dobson
He and Mary Ann celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary on November 26, 1907, as well as one more year together, before Mary Ann died April 17, 1909 in Guthrie Center, Guthrie County, Iowa.
A year or so after his wife's death Crawford moved to Eugene Oregon where his daughter Amanda, and brother John were living. Later, Crawford married Alwilda Boggs Hayden, which was also her second marriage. He lived the rest of his life in the Eugene Oregon area.
Crawford is buried in the in the Pioneer Memorial Cemetery of Eugene Oregon. His grave is in the front row, fifth from the far left (in the picture to the right) next to his brother John, who also served in the same company as his brother during the Civil.
Crawford Dobson was the eldest son of Franklin and Violet Dobson, born in Morgan County, Indiana. He had an elder sister, Emily, and five younger siblings, John Maurier, Eliza, Clarissa, Mary, and Margaret. At about four years of age, his family moved to Champaign Illinois.
In September, 1855, Mr. Crawford started to California. When he reached Burlington, on his way back, he saw the first train ever in Iowa, which consisted of an engine, tender and five cars. On account of the cholera he gave up the idea of going to California, and went to Marion county, Iowa, where he stayed till the 12th of January, 1855. He then went back to Illinois, where he worked on the first railroad begun in the state. He was in Chicago when it was a small town, and from there came to Louis county, and, staying three years, came to Guthrie county, settling on section 21 [Highland township], his present location, where he cut down trees and shrubs and built him a small log cabin.
On November 26, 1856, Crawford married Mary Ann Howe in Champaign Illinois, where they had two children, Violet Amanda, born in 1857, and John Franklin, born in 1859. He and Mary Ann moved their family to Guthrie County Iowa, where they had another son, William, who was born in 1861.
Crawford Dobson was a Union Civil War veteran and member of the Eugene Grand Army of the Republic, Post 7. He served in Company G, 37th Illinois Volunteer Infantry in the Western Division, between 1861 and 1862, and fought in the campaign against Price, under the command of Colonel White.
Crawford suffered serious illness from the war, and returned home after two years of service. He and his wife, Mary Ann lived the next 45 years in Guthrie County Iowa as pioneer farmers, while raising their three children, who all went on to have families of their own.
As an active member of his community, Crawford served as Constable, and at one time was the Post Master of the Dodge Post Office in Guthrie County Iowa, before it burned down in 1875. He had the largest orchard and most fruit of any one in Highland township. He put out 17,000 forest trees when he first came to Guthrie County, Iowa, having started with only twenty-five cents (about $15 in today's money).
Crawford was also a member of the Benevolent Lodge of Masons of Bayard, A.F. and A.M., and was junior warden and deacon in the 1880's. He was also a member of the Northwestern Christian conference, and a member of the Quarterly Conference of the district including Guthrie, Adair, Dallas, and Polk Counties of Iowa.
(Source: Iowa Genealogy Project) http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~iabiog/guthrie/g1884/g1884-highland.htm#Crawford%20Dobson
He and Mary Ann celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary on November 26, 1907, as well as one more year together, before Mary Ann died April 17, 1909 in Guthrie Center, Guthrie County, Iowa.
A year or so after his wife's death Crawford moved to Eugene Oregon where his daughter Amanda, and brother John were living. Later, Crawford married Alwilda Boggs Hayden, which was also her second marriage. He lived the rest of his life in the Eugene Oregon area.
Crawford is buried in the in the Pioneer Memorial Cemetery of Eugene Oregon. His grave is in the front row, fifth from the far left (in the picture to the right) next to his brother John, who also served in the same company as his brother during the Civil.
In September, 1855, Mr. Crawford started to California. When he reached Burlington, on his way back, he saw the first train ever in Iowa, which consisted of an engine, tender and five cars. On account of the cholera he gave up the idea of going to California, and went to Marion county, Iowa, where he stayed till the 12th of January, 1855. He then went back to Illinois, where he worked on the first railroad begun in the state. He was in Chicago when it was a small town, and from there came to Louis county, and, staying three years, came to Guthrie county, settling on section 21 [Highland township], his present location, where he cut down trees and shrubs and built him a small log cabin.
On November 26, 1856, Crawford married Mary Ann Howe in Champaign Illinois, where they had two children, Violet Amanda, born in 1857, and John Franklin, born in 1859. He and Mary Ann moved their family to Guthrie County Iowa, where they had another son, William, who was born in 1861.
Crawford Dobson was a Union Civil War veteran and member of the Eugene Grand Army of the Republic, Post 7. He served in Company G, 37th Illinois Volunteer Infantry in the Western Division, between 1861 and 1862, and fought in the campaign against Price, under the command of Colonel White.
Crawford suffered serious illness from the war, and returned home after two years of service. He and his wife, Mary Ann lived the next 45 years in Guthrie County Iowa as pioneer farmers, while raising their three children, who all went on to have families of their own.
As an active member of his community, Crawford served as Constable, and at one time was the Post Master of the Dodge Post Office in Guthrie County Iowa, before it burned down in 1875. He had the largest orchard and most fruit of any one in Highland township. He put out 17,000 forest trees when he first came to Guthrie County, Iowa, having started with only twenty-five cents (about $15 in today's money).
Crawford was also a member of the Benevolent Lodge of Masons of Bayard, A.F. and A.M., and was junior warden and deacon in the 1880's. He was also a member of the Northwestern Christian conference, and a member of the Quarterly Conference of the district including Guthrie, Adair, Dallas, and Polk Counties of Iowa.
(Source: Iowa Genealogy Project) http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~iabiog/guthrie/g1884/g1884-highland.htm#Crawford%20Dobson
He and Mary Ann celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary on November 26, 1907, as well as one more year together, before Mary Ann died April 17, 1909 in Guthrie Center, Guthrie County, Iowa.
A year or so after his wife's death Crawford moved to Eugene Oregon where his daughter Amanda, and brother John were living. Later, Crawford married Alwilda Boggs Hayden, which was also her second marriage. He lived the rest of his life in the Eugene Oregon area.
Crawford is buried in the in the Pioneer Memorial Cemetery of Eugene Oregon. His grave is in the front row, fifth from the far left (in the picture to the right) next to his brother John, who also served in the same company as his brother during the Civil.
