Father Crawford is now one of the oldest living ministers in the State. He says, "I was born in South Carolina Jan. 31, 1804." The fore part of his letter relating to his father's removal to Kentucky, and the first Cumberland Presbyterian family ever on Illinois soil, will be found in the first part of the volume. He dates his conviction for sin to a sermon Rev. Thomas Campbell preached near Golconda on his way to the Sangamon country in the early part of 1822; professed religion at old Sugar Creek camp-ground the same Fall. We now quote from his manuscript verbatim:

"On the 2d day of March, 1825, I united in marriage with Nancy R. Tagert, and moved to Village church, White county, in the bounds of what is now Ewing Presbytery, in September of the same year. In March, 1826, I joined Illinois Presbytery as a Candidate, which then embraced the entire State. My progress was slow, being very deficient in literature and means to acquire it. I was licensed at Bear Creek church, Bond county, September 1831, and settled in Gallatin county the same month. I was ordained at Union Ridge church in March, 1834. My time has been mostly spent in efforts to supply destitute points. I have traveled over some fifteen counties in Southern Illinois, officiated in the organization of seven congregations. My attendance at Church courts has been: General Assemblies, seven; Synodical meetings, sixteen; Presbyteries, one hundred and two; and camp-meetings, one hundred and twenty-eight. I am now in my seventy-fourth year, and have retired, being prostrated by paralysis.

"The following transpired in the bounds of what is now Ewing Presbytery: A camp-meeting was held in the vicinity of Shawneetown at an early date (which I have not) by John Barnett, David Lowry, and others. There were many conversions and a congregation was organized, which was vacated by the removal of General Street, John W. McCord and H. Delaney. Of the remaining members and others the Rev. D. W. McLin organized New Pleasant church in September, 1830, at the present site of New Market. Elders, James Dillard, John Murphy and John V. Sherwood. From this church were stricken off Liberty, Concord, and Walnut Grove, all of which have much declined in the absence of a supply, while the old stand is enfeebled by the change of population."
[Source: Logan, J. B. History of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Illinois, Containing Sketches of the First Ministers, Churches, Presbyteries and Synods; also a History of Missions, Publication and Education. Alton, Ill.: Perrin & Smith, 1878, pages 193-194]