Friday Find: The Obituary of Nelson G Crawford

Do you have old newspaper photocopies tucked away in your genealogy files?

As I continue looking through my Crawford-Kansas files, I am finding newspaper clippings and photocopies collected years ago—records that deserve another look and, more importantly, a place in my digital research.

Today's Friday Find is the obituary of Nelson Garfield Crawford, brother of my great-grandfather Judson Foster Crawford.

Nelson was a son of Washington Marion Crawford and Mary Foster. Like Judson, he grew up in the Dodge City, Kansas, area after the Crawford family moved west. His obituary provides more than the basic facts of his death. It gives us a glimpse into a long career with the Dodge City post office, his involvement in the Methodist Church and Masonic organizations, and his place in the community.

One detail that particularly caught my attention was his 47 years of service with the post office. According to the obituary, Nelson served as Dodge City postmaster from March 1928 until April 1936 and later became superintendent of mails before retiring in July 1948.

The obituary also documents his two marriages. Nelson married Cora Adams on July 7, 1907. Cora died December 6, 1947. He later married Grace Nicoll Stateier, who survived him.

Below is the photocopy from my files, followed by my transcription.

Transcription

Nelson G. Crawford Dies After Years Of Failing Health

Nelson Garfield Crawford, 75, former postmaster and long-time post office employe, died late this morning in Trinity Hospital where he had been a patient since last August. He had been in failing health for several years.

Funeral arrangements will be made later. The body is at the Hulpieu-Swaim Funeral Home.

Mr. Crawford was born October 29, 1881, in West Lebanon, Ind. When he was a child he moved with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Marion Crawford, to a soldier’s claim southwest of Dodge City. The family later moved to Dodge City, and Mr. Crawford attended the local schools. He entered the postal service when he was a young man and served in various capacities for 47 years.

He was postmaster from March 1, 1928 to April 1936, later becoming superintendent of mails. Mr. Crawford retired in July 1948.

Mr. Crawford and Miss Cora Adams were married July 7, 1907. Mrs. Crawford died December 6, 1947. Mr. Crawford later married Mrs. Grace Nicoll Stateier, who survives.

Other survivors are a stepdaughter, Mrs. Donald Gieckler of Salem, Ore.; two cousins, Mrs. Elsie Smart of Morocco, Ind., and Mrs. Martha Crudger of Attica, Ind., and several nephews and nieces.

Mr. Crawford had been a member of the Methodist Church since he was 11 years old. He was a member of St. Bernard Lodge No. 222, A. F. and A. M., Dodge City Chapter No. 75, Royal Arch Masons, Dodge City Council No. 10, Royal and Select Masters, Dodge City Commandery No. 35, Knights Templar and Midian Shrine Temple of Wichita. He had a wide acquaintance in the community and was highly esteemed.

More Than an Obituary

This is one of those newspaper clippings that reminds me why it is worthwhile to revisit the photocopies collected during earlier years of genealogy research.

Nelson's obituary places his life within the larger story of the Crawford family. His parents brought their family from Indiana to a soldier's claim southwest of Dodge City, and Nelson went on to spend much of his adult life serving the Dodge City community through the postal service.

And tucked into that account are numerous clues worth following: his employment history, church membership, Masonic affiliations, marriages, cousins, nieces and nephews, and even the reference to his father's soldier's claim.

A photocopy that has been sitting in a Crawford-Kansas file for years is more than an old piece of paper. It is another piece of the Crawford family story—and definitely worthy of a Friday Find.