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Scots and Scots Descendant in America
Part V - Biographies
William Crawford


The Crawfords are an ancient Scottish family, among the loyal supporters of Wallace and Bruce in the Wars of Independence and distinguished in history throughout succeeding centuries. Members of the family who have come to America have been prominent in the religious, professional and business life of the country.

Mr. William Crawford, who is widely known as a successful business man, not only ranks among the great dry goods merchants of the United States, but on account of his business sagacity and genial disposition, enjoys the warm friendship of a host of influential men.

Mr. Crawford is a native of East Kilbride, near Glasgow, the son of William Crawford, and was born in the year 1845. He received a good education in the parish school.

He came to America in 1866, settling first in Boston, where for three years he was employed in the store of Hogg, Brown & Taylor. He then opened a dry goods store of his own in Nashua, N. H., and conducted it successfully for seven years. He also operated stores in Taunton, Mass., and Manchester, N. H.; after three years of prosperous business, selling out the latter to his partner, Mr. Anderson, a native of Perth.

In 1877; Mr. Crawford moved to New York and established a dry goods business at the corner of Nineteenth Street and Sixth Avenue, in partnership with Richard Meares. A few years later, when Mr. Meares retired from the business, Mr. Crawford bought him out and formed a partnership with Thomas and James Simpson, under the name of Simpson, Crawford & Simpson. Mr. Thomas Simpson died a few years afterward, and Mr. James Simpson died in the nineties, and Mr. Crawford assumed the entire responsibilities of the firm. Here his fine abilities and splendid personality met with their fullest reward. In 1877, the store was 50 by 100 feet: in 1902, the store was in its own fine new building, occupying the entire block front on Sixth Avenue.

Since that time, Mr. Crawford has not engaged actively in any business, though his large interests are varied. He has an office with Judkins & McCormick Co., who were formerly associated with him in business.

Mr. Crawford has been a member of the St. Andrew’s Society of the State of New York since 1885. He is a member of the Union League Club. He travels extensively in this country and Europe, spending his winters usually in California.. His home is in Munroe, Orange County, N. Y., where he has an extensive farm.


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