Biographies & Area Histories of Crawford County

Brief History of Crawford County

Crawford County was formed on December 31, 1816 from Edwards County (see map) and is located in the central eastern portion of the state bordering Sullivan County, Indiana. Originally, Crawford County encompassed all the northeastern half of the state and the upper half of the southeastern portion of the state. In 1819, the portion of county lying north of Crawford County's present day northern border was split off to form Clark County (see map). In 1821, the present day southern border of the county was established with the creation of Lawrence County. Also that year, a portion of Fayette County was formed out of Crawford (see map). On February 15, 1831, Effingham and Jasper Counties were formed from the western half of the county to create the county's present day borders (see map).

The county was named in honor of William H. Crawford, a United States Senator from Georgia who also served his country as Minister of France, Secretary of War, and Secretary of the Treasury. He was also a prominent presidential candidate in 1824. Palestine was originally the capital of Crawford County. It was laid out on the 19th and 20th of May in 1818. Robinson, centrally located in the county, eventually became the county seat. It is named after J. M. Robinson, a leading attorney and prominent citizen of Carmi, IL.

Other Short Histories of Crawford County and her People

Various short history articles from the Crawford County USGenWeb Archives - Includes the entire text of the book History of Clark and Crawford Counties, Illinois 1883, a sketch of Hutsonville, Hardinsville school rosters, a Newlin family history, etc.

Biographies

Biographies in Crawford County Newspapers

Biographies of individuals whose surnames start with A-C in the Crawford County USGenWeb Archives

Biographies of individuals whose surnames start with D-G in the Crawford County USGenWeb Archives

Biographies of individuals whose surnames start with H-L in the Crawford County USGenWeb Archives

Biographies of individuals whose surnames start with M-P in the Crawford County USGenWeb Archives

Biographies of individuals whose surnames start with Q-Z in the Crawford County USGenWeb Archives

Churches

Religious History of Honey Creek Township, Crawford Co., Illinois, covering a period of time from 1814 to July 1, 1901 by Charles S. Goff. Transcribed by Barbara Dix.

History of the Berlin Church in Martin Township. Transcribed by Barbara Dix.

History of the Christian Science Society in Crawford County. Transcribed by Barbara Dix.

History of the New Hebron Church. Transcribed by Barbara Dix.

History of the Palestine Pilgrim Holiness Church. Transcribed by Barbara Dix.

History of the Palestine Second Methodist Church. Transcribed by Barbara Dix.

History of the Pilgrim Holiness Church in Robinson. Transcribed by Barbara Dix.

History of the Prairie Methodist Church. Transcribed by Barbara Dix.

History of the Primitive Baptist Church in Crawford County. From the Primitive Baptist Church website.

Companies/Organizations

History of Allen's Baptist Sanitarium. Transcribed by Rita Millis.

The Case Manufacturing Corporation, formerly a part of W. A. Case and Son Manufacturing Company and originally the Zwermann Company, was founded by the late Carl H. Zwermann in 1919. Transcribed by Rita Millis.

Crawford County Farm Bureau. Transcribed by Rita Millis.

Crawford County Farmers Exchange. Transcribed by Rita Millis.

The Ettelbrick Shoe Factory. Transcribed by Rita Millis.

The Heath Candy Company. Transcribed by Rita Millis.

Imperial Credit Company.Transcribed by Rita Millis.

Discovery of Oil in Crawford County. Transcribed by Rita Millis.

History of Ohio Oil in Crawford County. Transcribed by Rita Millis.

Robinson Carnegie Public Library. Transcribed by Rita Millis.

Robinson Water System. Transcribed by Rita Millis.

Service Organizations

History of the Ernest M. Coulter American Legion Post No. 69. Transcribed by Rita Millis.

Modern Woodman of America. Transcribed by Rita Millis.

History of the Robinson Lions Club. Transcribed by Rita Millis.

History of the Robinson Rotary Club. Transcribed by Rita Millis.

Locations (Towns, County, etc.)

Short blurb relating to Bond Township (Lawrence County)

Brief sketch of early settlers of Christy Township (Lawrence County)

History of Crawford Co., IL from January 7, 1920 edition of Robinson Argus by the Honorable Ed. S. Wilson. Transcribed by Cindy McCachern.

History of Crawford Co., IL from March 26, 1909 edition of Hutsonville Herald by Judge J. C. Allen. Transcribed by Cindy McCachern.

History of Flat Rock. Transcribed by Barbara Dix.

History of Fort Lamotte. Transcribed by Barbara Dix.

Three Score and Ten, Fathers and Mothers of Hutsonville Township. Printed in 1914 by McNutt and Musgrave Brothers, Hutsonville, IL, this booklet is from the files of the Crawford County Historical Society.

History of the Merom Ferry. Transcribed by Barbara Dix.

Early History of Oblong. Transcribed by Barbara Dix.

History of the Village of Palestine. Transcribed by Barbara Dix.

 

This page last updated on March 18, 2022.