Homer C. Crawford and Mary E. Orlady

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Husband Homer C. Crawford ^{1 2}

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           Born: 26 Sep 1853 - Cooperstown, Jackson Twp, Venango Co, PA 2
     Christened: 
           Died: Aft 1919
         Buried: 

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         Father: Dr. Robert Crawford (1815-1892) 3 4 5
         Mother: Sarah Poak Kelly (Abt 1820-1888) 6 7

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       Marriage: 

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Wife Mary E. Orlady ⁸

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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         Father: Dr. Henry Orlady, M.D. (      -Bef 1898) 9 10
         Mother: Martha C. Boal (1824-Aft 1898) 9

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Children

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General Notes: Husband - Homer C. Crawford

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He had excellent educational advantages, leaving the public schools to pursue his higher studies in Allegheny College, Meadville, Pa., from which he was graduated in 1877. It was originally his intention to engage in the practice of medicine, but the condition of his health, and particularly of his eyesight, led him to change his course. Thirty years ago [about 1890] he came into possession of the three-hundred-acre farm which he is still [1919] operating, and which his father had owned for some years previously. Its transformation to an up-to-date dairy farm is a practical illustration of the possibilities of dairy farming in this section. The Coolspring Farm and Dairy property is now considered the best dairy farm in Venango County, and the arrangement and equipment, as well as system of operation, have called forth encomiums from dairy experts all over the State. Mr. Crawford's practical training made him decide early to lead, not to imitate, and being gifted with strong initiative he has not found it difficult to adhere to the policy he laid down originally. He is not overly conservative, but when he proceeds along any line he is guided in his course by actual knowledge, guesswork having no place in any of his operations. With such principles, it is not remarkable that he has attained a foremost place among dairymen. At the outset of his farming enterprise he began breeding Jersey cattle, and has become widely known for his success with them as well as with other valuable stock. The situation of his farm being ideal for dairy purposes he decided to make the most of it, and every natural advantage has been utilized fully, doubled in value by the application of modern ideas and machinery. The soil is fertile and watered by noted flowing springs which afford an abundant supply for dairy and house, centered at a capacious spring house, where the water from subterranean streams gushes from the living rock at a constant temperature of forty-eight degrees, affording model cooling facilities. The overflow is directed to the various buildings on the property, fresh running water being carried to each stall, and water power being available for the washing of machinery and other devices. No detail pertaining to the handling of milk in accordance with the strictest principles of hygiene has been neglected, including the care of the stock itself. A gas engine operates the compressed air milking machines, and also the electric dynamo, by which a complete lighting system in house and buildings is maintained. Everything is thoroughly tested before installation, hence there is great economy in operation, both as to labor and equipment - a minimum of power with maximum results.
Mr. Crawford used the first commercial fertilizer employed in this section, and has demonstrated to his neighborhood the unquestionable value of using lime and phosphates on the local soils. From March, 1897, for more than ten years, he owned and published the "Pennsylvania Farmer," at Meadville, Pa., when they had some five thousand subscribers. Mr. Crawford's work has been sufficiently noteworthy to attract wide attention among experts, and has been recognized by his appointment to the State Board of Agriculture. However, he has never sought political preferment, on the contrary refusing such offers. The experience gained in his local business ventures has been valuable on a larger scale in other fields of enterprise. He has acquired outside interests of considerable magnitude, chief among which may be mentioned his connection with the Franklin Trust Company, one of the strongest financial institutions of Venango County. He helped organize that company, and has since served as vice president. For years he was president of the Light & Power Company at Durand, Wis., and he now holds a controlling interest in the waterworks system of Centerville, Iowa, which he has completely remodeled and rebuilt at a vast expenditure. When this property came into his possession it was in a rundown condition, and had been a failure financially. Mr. Crawford found plenty of opportunity for the exercise and application of the principles of industrial economy which he had formulated. He gave his time without limit to a personal study of the situation and the remedy, and concluded that the wisest course would be to spare no expense to develop the system into the best attainable. A new source of water supply was secured, with the result that it has become one of the most desirable public service properties in the State. The settling basin and filtering plant were designed and built after tiresome research and experiment. Their operation by automatic remote electrical control, as well as that of the pumping machinery, pumping the water and operating the entire plant, makes it the first of its kind to be installed. Its successful operation for several years marks a new era in the building and economical operation of water plants for small cities. Mr. Crawford considers the successful development of this plant one of his most creditable achievements. In his home State he has been a prosperous oil producer, both on his own account and as a member of corporations, and the accuracy of his careful judgment has been repeatedly demonstrated. The record of his business life is one of success won by the fairest means. [CAB, 530]

1 —, History of Venango County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Brown, Runk, & Co., Publishers, 1890), Pg 1071.

2 Charles A. Babcock, Venango County, Pennsylvania, Her Pioneers and People (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1919), Pg 530, 571.

3 —, History of Venango County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Brown, Runk, & Co., Publishers, 1890), Pg 1070.

4 J. G. White, A Twentieth Century History of Mercer County Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1909), Pg 921.

5 Charles A. Babcock, Venango County, Pennsylvania, Her Pioneers and People (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1919), Pg 569.

6 Charles A. Babcock, Venango County, Pennsylvania, Her Pioneers and People (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1919), Pg 571.

7 Helen M. Snyder, Genealogy of Robert Beatty 1760-1823 (Franklin, PA: Self-published.), Addendum.

8 Charles A. Babcock, Venango County, Pennsylvania, Her Pioneers and People (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1919), Pg 531.

9 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 160.

10 —, Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley (Chambersburg, PA: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897), Pg 28.