Crawford House

Dr. Henry M. Crawford was caught in St. Charles during a heavy snowstorm in 1848. Instead of returning to his home in Ireland when the roads became passable in the spring of 1849, Crawford decided to take up residence in St. Charles. He built this house in 1855.

Dr. Crawford played an important role in providing medical care for early St. Charles residents. In 1852 a cholera epidemic swept through the community of newly arrived Swedish immigrants. Dr. Crawford established a temporary health care facility called the Swedish Cholera Hospital in the woods north of St. Charles.

Although seventy-five cholera victims died, Dr. Crawford and his hospital staff were credited with saving many lives.

Serving as a surgeon in the 58th Illinois Regiment, Dr. Crawford saw action in many battles of the Civil War, including the battles of Shiloh, Second Bull Run, and Fort Donelson.

Dr. Crawford resumed his medical practice in St. Charles after the war and continued to offer medical services to the community until he died in 1900.

Sources

■ Davis, Alice. Settlement and Growth of St. Charles. 1940. (977.323 DAV, p. 30)

■ Durant, Pliny A. Passing in Review: Reminiscences of Men Who Have Lived in St. Charles. (R977.3230081, pp. 67-8, 129,155,245)

■ Pearson, Ruth Ann. Reflections of St. Charles: a History of St. Charles, Illinois, 1833-1976. Elgin: Brethern Press, 1976. (977.32 PEA, pp. 24,26,125)