Date Original
1861-1874
Description
This collection contains news clippings about and letters by William Ayers Crawford between 1861 and 1874.
Biographical/Historical Note
William Ayers Crawford (1825-1874), born June 24, 1825 in Washington County, Tennessee, was the youngest of eleven children of William Ayers and Martha Blakely. Crawford moved to Saline County, Arkansas where he enlisted during the United States Mexican War in Captain Inglish's Company I of Hot Springs and Saline County volunteers. Crawford married Sarah Helen Henslee on October 5, 1848 and they would eventually have eight children. From 1852 to 1858, he served Saline Count Sheriff and from 1858-1859 as then as State Representative. He also ran a ferry over the Saline River. During the Civil War he enlisted as a lieutenant in the 1st Arkansas Infantry Volunteers, Confederate States Army, and was elected Colonel of the regiment when James Fagan was promoted. Crawford was made a brigadier general by Governor Elisha Baxter, and organized the Arkansas State Militia in 1873. In April and May 1874, Crawford was involved in the Brooks-Baxter War. While outside the Anthony House during a skirmish, Crawford suffered a head injury and went back to Saline County to recuperate. Crawford died June 22, 1874 from tuberculosis.
Physical Description
Document, 8.5" x 11"
Geographical Area
Arkansas; Mississippi; Virginia
Language
English
Identifier
SMC.056.013
Resource Type
Text
Collection
William Ayers Crawford papers, SMC.056.013
Publisher
Arkansas State Archives
Contributing Entity
Arkansas State Archives
Recommended Citation
William Ayers Crawford papers, Arkansas State Archives, Little Rock, Arkansas.
Rights
Use and reproduction of images held by the Arkansas State Archives without prior written permission is prohibited. For information on reproducing images held by the Arkansas State Archives, please call 501-682-6900 or email at state.archives@arkansas.gov.
Disciplines
United States History
