Albert N. Crawford, who owns
and conducts a well-equipped harness and saddlery
establishment in the village of Garnavillo, has been
a resident of Clayton county from the time of his
birth and has won for himself distinct success and
prestige as one of the progressive and representative
business men of the county. In addition to the modern
two-story brick building in which his business is
conducted, he owns also a frame business building in
the village and the attractive residence in which he
and his wife maintain their home and delight to
extend hospitable welcome to their many friends.
Mr. Crawford was born in
Clayton township, this county, on the 24th of May,
1872, and is a son of James and Elizabeth (Gregory)
Crawford, the former of whom was born in Ohio and the
latter at Racine, Wisconsin. The parents of Mr.
Crawford settled in Clayton county in the early
period of its history and here they passed the
remainder of their lives, secure in the high regard
of all who knew them, the father having given the
greater part of his active life to agricultural
pursuits. Of the three children the eldest is Edgar,
who now resides in the city of Dubuque; Albert N., of
this review, was the next in order of birth; and
Agnes is the wife of Melvin Ringle, of Rock Island,
Illinois.
Reared to maturity in
Clayton county, Albert N. Crawford did not fail to
profit duly by the advantages afforded in the public
schools, and when 18 years of age he entered upon a
practical apprenticeship to the trade of
harnessmaker. After he had proved himself a skilled
artisan at his trade he began to consult ways and
means for establishing himself in independent
business, and in 1902 he realized his ambition by
opening a harness store at Garnavillo, where he has
built up a substantial and prosperous business and
has a store that is well equipped with all kinds of
harness and saddlery goods demanded by the local
trade and where is maintained an excellent
manufacturing and repair department also.
Mr. Crawford is one of the
enterprising business men and publicspirited citizens
of his native county and though he has had no desire
for public office of any kind he is found aligned as
a staunch supporter of the cause of the Democratic
party. Both he and his wife are active members of the
Lutheran church at Garnavillo and both have in their
native county a circle of friends that is limited
only by that of their acquaintances.
In the year 1905 was
solemnized the marriage of Mr. Crawford to Miss Lena
Ihde, who, as already intimated, was born and reared
in Clayton county. They have no children. Mrs.
Crawford is a daughter of Frederick and Sophia Ihde,
who were born in Germany and who established their
home in Clayton county about half a century ago, here
to remain as highly respected citizens until the time
of their death. The career of Mr. Crawford has been
marked by earnest industry and careful and honorable
business policies, so that he well merits the success
he has achieved.
source: History of
Clayton County, Iowa; From The Earliest Historical
Times Down to the Present; by Realto E. Price,
Vol. II, 1916; pg. 76-77
-OCR scanned by S. Ferrall
