Biography:

Dr. Daniel “Thomas” Crawford was born in Lambton County, Ontario on the 19th of October, 1871.   Dr. Crawford was the 6th of 8 children born to Thomas Crawford and the former Elizabeth Crone.  His parents were farmers and his siblings were; Samuel Alexander Crawford (who died at the age of 11), Francis William Crawford, Alexander MacKenzie Crawford, twins Ellen Crawford and Sarah Crawford, Jeffrey James Crawford and John J. Crawford (who died of bronchitis on the 6th of February, 1880 just 4 days before his 5th birthday).  The Crawford family was raised on a farm in Bosanquet Township, Lambton County.

The source of Dr. Crawford’s education is unknown at this time.  Dr. Crawford was practicing medicine in Courtright (Lambton County) in 1896.

Dr. Crawford married Jean “Jennie” MacDonald Shillington on the 28th of October, 1896 in London, Ontario.   Mrs. Crawford was born in Stratford Ontario on the 17th of September, 1873.  She was the 2nd of 5 children and the only daughter born to James Shillington and the former Mary Orr.  Her father was a merchant and her siblings were; Robert James Shillington, Thomas William Shillington, Frederick Lawrence Shillington and Arthur Orr Shillington.

Dr. and Mrs. Crawford had 8 children; Jean Elizabeth Crawford, Wilfred Alexander Crawford, Margret Crawford, Gordon Ralph Crawford, Kenneth James Crawford, Flora MacDonald Crawford and twins Frank Lawrence Crawford and Frances Lucille Crawford.

Dr. Crawford was known to be practicing in Bothwell according to the 1901 Canadian Census.  By 1906 the family was living in Strathcona, Alberta.  In 1911 Dr. and Mrs. Crawford were living in Medicine Hat, Alberta.  By 1916, the family had re-located to the Village of Craigmyle, Alberta, where Dr. Crawford continued to practice medicine.

Dr. Crawford died on the 7th of December, 1931 in Hanna, Alberta.  He was buried in the Craigmyle Cemetery.  Dr. Crawford’s wife Jean died on the 2nd of April, 1949 in Vancouver.  At the time of her death she resided at 996 Thurlow Street in Vancouver.

*Dr. Crawford’s son Dr. Wilfred Crawford, graduated from The University of Toronto Faculty of medicine in 1927.  He practiced medicine in Woodville and Wingham, Ontario.

**Dr. Crawford’s son Petty Officer Gordon Ralph Crawford was killed in action during WWII when his ship, the H.M.C.S. Ottawa was torpedoed and sank on the 13th of September, 1942.

***Dr. Crawford’s brother Dr. Jeffrey James Crawford became a dentist and practiced in Detroit, Michigan.  He served with the United States Army during WWI.