Name:
Allan Crawford 
Location served:
Bothwell  
Years in Practice:
1870 to 1888
Area of Specialization:
Family Medicine  

Biography:

Dr. Allan Crawford was born in Scotland in 1838.

Dr. Crawford married Almira Patterson on the 27th of October, 1858 in Middlesex County, Ontario.  Mrs. Crawford was born in Westminster Twp, Middlesex County on the 11th of August, 1839.  She was the 2nd of 6 children born to William Patterson and the former Susannah Hunt.  Her parents were farmers and her siblings were; Isaac Patterson, Esther Amanda Patterson, Alice B. Patterson, Lydia Ann Patterson and Celesta Jane Patterson.  Mrs. Crawford’s mother died on the 8th of March, 1862.  Her father married Lucina (Wilson) Ramey on the 4th of November, 1862 in Middlesex County.  They had 4 children together; Jacob Jeremiah Patterson, Mary Louisa Patterson, Mary Emma Patterson (who died on her 3rd birthday, on the 1st of January, 1871) and Ada Melissa Patterson.  Around 1870, Mr. Patterson moved his family to Strathroy, where he worked as a carpenter.  Mrs. Patterson had previously been married to Gordon Ramey who had died in 1860 and they had children prior to his death.

According to the 1861 census, Dr. Crawford was living in Mosa Twp (Middlesex County) with his wife Almira and their 2 year old son William F. Crawford.  Dr. Crawford was listed as a teacher at the time.  In 1869, Dr. Crawford, was living on James Street, in Yorkville (Toronto).  According to the W.C. Chewett Toronto City Directory,  Dr. Crawford’s occupation was listed as a school teacher, but it is presumed that Dr. Crawford was attending medical school.  Dr. Crawford graduated M.D. from Trinity Medical College in Toronto in 1870.

By the time the 1871 census was taken, Dr. and Mrs. Crawford were living in Bothwell with their two children, William who was 11 and a daughter Ada Helena who was 4 years old.  Dr. Crawford’s son William F. Crawford, died on the 16th of October, 1872 and he was buried at the Wardsville Municipal Cemetery.

Dr. Crawford joined the College of Physicians and Surgeons on the 20th of March, 1872.  Dr. Crawford advertised in the 1874-1875 Kent County Directory and he listed his medical credentials as M.A. and M.D.  His office was located on Chestnut Street in Bothwell.

Dr. and Mrs. Crawford had a daughter Edna Almira Crawford born to them on the 18th of January, 1879.  She died 6 weeks later of pneumonia on the 25th of February.  They had another daughter Irma Anne Crawford on the 23rd of May, 1880.  She died on the 24th of February, 1881.  Both daughters were buried at the Wardsville Cemetery.

By 1881, the family was living in Alvinston, Lambton County.  A fifth child was born to Dr. and Mrs. Crawford on the 12th of October, 1884, a son named Clare Allan Crawford.

Dr. Crawford died of pneumonia on the 4th of March, 1888.  On his death record, it stated that Dr. Crawford was 50 years old.  After the death of her husband, Mrs. Crawford and her son Clare went to live with her daughter Ada and Ada’s husband Charles Pray.  According to the 1891 census, they all lived in Alvinston, where Charles Pray was a dry goods merchant.

Mrs. Crawford died on the 20th of November, 1892.  Dr. and Mrs. Crawford are buried at the Alvinston Cemetery.  On the tombstone, below the inscription for Dr. Crawford, is written: ‘As a husband devoted as a father affectionate as a friend ever kind and true’.

*Dr. Crawford’s daughter Ada delivered a son in 1894 and he was named Allan (Pray).  Dr. Crawford’s son Clare, had a son in 1911 and that little boy was also named Allan (Crawford).

Tombstone Photo Credit: Anne F.