Crawford
back to Gallatin County
Pioneers
have lived in the Crawford area for some time.
One of the 1st families was Rev. John Crawford and his wife Nancy
Ramsey Taggert. They arrived in Gallatin County before
1830.
Nathaniel Holderby opened a General Store and a Post Office on Dec 13,
1853.
New Pleasant Pres. church was built, with such members as Jas. Dillard,
Sr. Joh V. Sherwood, Isaiah W. Pettigrew, John Murphy Sr.
John Alexander, Jas. Fleming ad Isaac N. Hannah. Ministers were
B.F. Spillman, Benj. F. Bruce, and John Crawford.
Soon after, the church built a school. In 1841, the teachers at
that time were Isaac Hannah and Re. Benj. Bruce.
After the Civil War, railroads were being built. The line was to
come down from Shawnee town. Crawford wanted the train to come
through their town as did a neighboring town, New Market.
The competition became so fierce that Thomas Ridgeway, the
president of the railroad co, decided to have the train come
right smack down the middle of the 2 towns which created a whole new
town and named , of course, Ridgway. which is now known as
the Popcorn capital of the World.
The post office closed in Crawford on Jan. 2, 1867.
But Rev. Crawford continued his ministry and was wel known for his
preaching. He is also recognized as the founder of
the Cumberland Pres. Church of Ridgway, Illinois.