R. C. CRAWFORD

R. C. Crawford
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Those who study the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club have long puzzled over the identity of a man who was listed as a member by the name of “A C Crawford”. There has not been enough evidence to determine what the “A C” stands for and thus who “A C Crawford” may have been. Indeed, one wag has created an entirely mythic “A C Crawford” complete with photography that was for a time available to be read on the internet. This having been said, the likelihood is that the A in “A C Crawford” is a typo.

R C Crawford was the owner of Crawford Coke and Coal of Leckrone, PA. in Fayette County, in the Pittsburgh metro area. Chartered on April 12, 1865 Crawford Coal Company, the charter and list of subscribers of the company are available as record group 26. RG-26, Records of the DEPARTMENT OF STATE.

R C Crawford was a fine looking gentleman, and (like H C Frick) thought of as a Pittsburgher even though his base of operations was the coke fields of the Connellsville region. His Pittsburgh office was in the House Building.

A photo and caricature of R C Crawford can be seen in the book, Our friends: how we caricature them; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Newspaper Cartoonists of Pittsburgh, 1916.; which is to be found at this website:

http://digital.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=pitttext;cc=pitttext;q1=crawford%20coal;rgn=full%20text;idno=00aah1813m;didno=00aah1813m;view=image;seq=0144

Crawford Coal & Coke Co., of Lekrone, PA, used 42 gauge Heisler engines for their trains.