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Kansas State Historical Society records indicate that "he enlisted as a private on 10/02/61. On 2/11/62 he was mustered into F Co KS 5th Cavalry. He was discharged for disability on 8/18/64 at Helena AR. (He apparently reenlisted as he was) transferred to Co. H. on July 16, 1864, and was mustered out on September 19, 1864, at Pine Bluff, Ark. He enlisted in Co. G., Eight US Veteran Volunteers, as a private from Leavenworth on February 22, 1865. He was mustered in on April 1, 1865, and mustered out on February 23, 1866 at Washington D.C."

Santa Cruz Daily Surf (March 9, 1894)

Died - in Santa Cruz, March 7, 1894 J.W. Crawford, a native of Ohio aged 58 years.

Santa Cruz Surf (March 11, 1894)

The funeral of Mr. J.W. Crawford took place yesterday from his late residence on Branciforte Avenue, under the auspices of the G.A.R. Rev. Benjamin Finney was the officiating clergyman. The remains were interred in the W.H. Wallace plot at Evergreen Cemetery.

Santa Cruz Sentinel (March 17, 1894)

The Old Flag

Ed. Sentinel- At a funeral a few days ago of an old veteran [James W Crawford] by the G.A.R., it became necessary as a part of the ceremony, to unfurl the stars and stripes, and let the folds of the glories banner lie across the bier of one who had given three years of his life to preserve the honor of the flag. When the splendid emblem was slowly unfurled and the loved combination of red, white and blue appeared in a blaze of beauty, a hush of almost unreal solemnity came over the assemblage. Every heart beat with patriotic enthusiasm and tears sprang to many eyes. No loyal man can look at the old flag without emotion. Our flag is a splendid banner. We can not be blamed for feeling that it is the most beautiful in the world, and Drake's magnificent lines well describe it.

When freedom from her mountain height Unfurl'd her standard to the air,
She tore the azure robe of night, and set the stars of glory there!
She mingled with its gorgeous dyes the milky baldric of the skies,
And striped it pure celestial white with streakings of the morning light.

Those who have not heard the burial service of the Grand Army of the Republic can not appreciate its simple beauty and impressiveness. It is a wonderfully affecting scene to witness a little band of time stained and battered veterans performing the last sad duty to the memory of the comrade who has fallen beneath the touch of time, and the though comes so forcibly that the ranks of these gallant men are being frightfully thinned. Only a few years, and the last soldier of the Grand Army shall have come face to face with the terror that passed so near to him on the rebel battlefields and in Southern swamps, and gave him back to a saved and reunited country.... Veteran (Blaisdell)

Santa Cruz Sentinel (January 27, 1898)

Mary E. Crawford of Santa Cruz has been granted a pension.

Santa Cruz Sentinel (June 10, 1898)

J.W. Crawford has been granted a pension of $16 a month. The pension comes too late, as Mr. Crawford is no longer among the living.

Editorial Notes from Robert L. Nelson (October 10, 2003)

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Pension/Military Research

A review of the Pension file for James Crawford and his wife Mary confirmed the periods of military service listed above. James Crawford enlisted in Neosha Rapids Kansas. It also indicated that James Crawford had married Mary Emily Huestis at New Boston, Mercer Co. Illinois on July 3, 1857. While they had no natural children, they had one adopted daughter, Mabel Lee, who was born on August 22, 1872. James applied for a pension on March 28, 1892 and was rejected for rheumatism, disease of kidneys, and a right hip injury as the cause. He was ultimately approved because of piles. Upon the death of James on March 7, 1894, Mary applied for and received his pension, which she received until her death on March 25, 1915 in Portland, Oregon.

Evergreen Cemetery Records

James Crawford was a native of Zanesville Ohio.

Date of Birth: 1836

Date of Death: 1894-03-07

County: Santa Cruz

Cemetery/City of Burial: Evergreen Cemetery

Plot: G11

Mortuary: S&E

Cause of Death: Hrt/Degnrtve

Date of Marriage: 1857/07/03

Spouse: Huestes_ Mary Emily

Height: 5'9

Complexion: Dk

Eye Color: Gr

Hair Color: Bk

Local Address: Branciforte

Last City: Santa Cruz

Native of: OH

Enlisted: 1861/10/02

Discharged: 1866/02/23

Military Unit: KS_ 5 Cav_ Co F

Rank: Pvt

Military Notes: R-FtLncln_ DbD-Helna AR_

GAR#: W32

Available records used to obtain information:
Cemetery records
Santa Cruz County death records
Military records
Santa Cruz and Monterey newspapers
Voter Records

CW Reference: SEN 1894/03/17