Carey, Charles Henry.  "History of Oregon." Vol. 2. Chicago-Portland: Pioneer
Historical Pub. Co., 1922.  p. 643.
 
HON. THOMAS H. CRAWFORD

     Hon. Thomas H. Crawford, who for many years has been active in the legal
circles of Union county, has the distinction of being the oldest member of the
profession in the sixth judicial district, comprising all of eastern Oregon. He
is still active in the practice of his profession, which is extensive and of an
important character and he is distinguished among the lawyers for the wide
research and provident care with which he prepares his cases.
     Judge Crawford is one of Oregon's sons by adoption, for he was born in
Washington county, Arkansas, March 19, 1848, a son of George A. and Martha J.
(Wilson) Crawford, both natives of Fayetteville, Tennessee, in which place the
birth of the former occurred in 1812. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Crawford was
celebrated in the town of their birth. The boyhood of George A. Crawford was
spent in Fayetteville, Tennessee, but in later life with his father and the rest
of the family he removed to Washington county, Arkansas, where he engaged in
farming and in raising stock. In 1870 after the death of his father and mother,
George A. Crawford removed to Clackamas county, Oregon, where he purchased a
farm in the Horse Heaven district, operating three hundred and twenty acres here
until 1874. His death occurred on this place at the age of seventy-two years.
After the death of her husband Mrs. Crawford went with a son, J. P., to eastern
Washington, near Oaksdale, where her son had bought land and was engaged in
farming and wheat raising. Her death occurred while living on that place in
1880. The political allegiance of Mr. Crawford was that of the democratic party
and both he and his wife were consistent members of the Cumberland Presbyterian
church.
     Judge Crawford spent his boyhood days in Arkansas, where he received his
education at private schools. In 1870 he came to Oregon with his parents and
entering the Oregon Agricultural College graduated from that institution in
1874. He then decided to take up law as a life work, began the study of that
profession with R. H. Strahan and Judge Kelsey and was admitted to the bar in
1876. In the fall of that year he went to Dayton, Washington, where he commenced
practice and where he remained until the spring of 1878. In 1877 he served
Columbia county, Washington, as probate judge and upon the expiration of his
term, in the spring of 1878, he returned to Oregon and located at Baker City,
resuming the practice of his profession. In the fall of 1878 he went to Union,
Union county, and there practiced until the county seat was moved to La Grande.
About 1896 he located in La Grande, which has continued to be his place of
residence. He has built up an extensive and lucrative practice and handles much
important litigation for the courts. For two years he held the office of circuit
judge, being appointed to that office by Governor Chamberlain.
     In 1877 occurred the marriage of Mr. Crawford and Miss Roselia A. Smith,
daughter of Augustus Smith, and a native of Missouri. To them two children have
been born: Clarence, who is married, and living at Los Angeles, where he is
connected with an insurance business; and Maud, whose death occurred in 1918.
The wife and mother has also departed this life.
     Judge Crawford is a stanch supporter of the democratic party, having firm
belief in its principles as factors in good government. Fraternally he is a
member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Pythias
Judge Crawford came to Oregon in the early pioneer days when land could be
purchased from the state for one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, and he
has seen the country grow to a highly cultivated state with land worth more than
two hundred and fifty dollars per acre. The zeal with which he has devoted his
energies to his profession, the careful regard evinced for the interests of all
his clients and an assiduous and un-relaxing attention to all the details of his
cases, have brought him an extensive business and made him very successful in
its conduct. Mr. Crawford is the oldest member of his profession in the sixth
judicial district, the men who started out with him having passed away. The
judge finds his greatest recreation in visiting his son and his family in Los
Angeles about twice a year, and playing with his grandchildren.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in April 2008 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.