Encyclopedia Dubuque
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
CRAWFORD, Phineas W.
Family Heritage: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=rshdsh&id=I14750
CRAWFORD, Phineas W. (Putney, Windham County, VT, Sept. 21, 1829--Dubuque, IA, Dec. 9, 1910). In 1839, when Crawford was nine years old, his family moved to Iowa Territory and settled in Dubuque. He prepared for college in the public schools and entered Illinois College at Jacksonville. He graduated in 1849. (1)
Returning to Dubuque, he began the study of law and was admitted to the bar in 1851. Crawford was elected city recorder in 1854 and was reelected three times. He was a member of the WASHINGTON GUARDS for a number of years before the CIVIL WAR. During the war, he served as a first lieutenant. (2)
He fought in several battles including: Corinth, the Siege of Vicksburg and was wounded in the Battle of Shiloh. Phineas re-enlisted in the 4th U.S. Infantry in Shenandoah Valley under General Hancock. On July 7, 1865, Captain Crawford who was a part of the 4th U.S. Volunteers known as Hancock’s Corps.
Crawford was in command of the guards at the execution of Surratt, Payne, Abzerodt and Harold who were convicted of complicity in the murder of President Lincoln. (3) He stood within ten feet of the gallows in the courtyard of the Old Capital Prison in Washington D.C. and witnessed the burials. He was mustered from service in 1866 after serving 56 months. (4)
Following the war, Crawford was appointed deputy United States Marshal for the northern district of Iowa. In 1870, he entered the field of railroad building and constructed several miles of the DUBUQUE AND BELLEVUE RAILROAD CO. (5)
Crawford left Dubuque from 1873-1875. He returned and entered the real estate and loan business with Arthur McCann in the firm of MCCANN AND CRAWFORD until 1881 when the partnership was dissolved.(6)
In 1881, Crawford was elected alderman of the Fourth Ward and served six years. He was a Republican most of his life and served as county chairman of the central committee and attended state and other conventions of the party. The last office held by Colonel Crawford was that of state senator from Dubuque County. (7)
In 1886 Crawford offered a petition to the city council to support the construction of a bridge across the MISSISSIPPI RIVER. He also drew up the ordinance for the city to supply $25,000 for the project. He was one of the first to recognize the potential of the ICE HARBOR and was active in seeking a governmental appropriation for its improvement. (8)
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Source:
1. "Phineas W. Crawford - 4th US Veteran Volunteer Infantry." Online: http://civil-war-soldiers.findthedata.org/l/1203327/Phineas-W-Crawford
2. "Phineas W. Crawford." Linwood Legacies. Online: http://www.linwoodlegacies.org/phineas-white-crawford.html
3. "The Hanging of Mrs. Surratt," Dubuque Herald, June 30, 1880. p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18800630&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
4. Portrait and Biographical Record of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton Counties, Iowa. Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1894, p. 505
5. Ibid.
6. Ibid.
7. Ibid.
8. Linwood Legacies