Seth Amos Crawford (1891 - 1918)

Born 13 Sep 1891 in Buchanan, Iowa, United States

Ancestors

Died 9 Aug 1918 at age 26 in Fismes, Marne, Champagne-Ardenne, France

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Biography

Pvt. Seth Crawford served for the United States of America in World War I
Service started: 1918
Unit(s): Co. E; 47th Inf.
Service ended: 3-13 Aug 1918

Seth Amos Crawford was born 13 Sep 1891 in Walker, Cono Township, Buchanan County, Iowa.^[1] He was the son of Charles Crawford and his second wife, Luella Andrews. When he registered for the draft in Sep 1917, Seth was a truck farmer and an apairist (beekeeper) residing in Viola, Wisconsin.^[2]

According to his obituaries, Seth enlisted in the US Army at Viroqua, Wisconsin on 27 Feb 1918 and reported for duty at Camp Green, North Carolina. On 19 May 1918, he went with his company to Camp Mills, New York, and sailed that day to Liverpool, England, where they arrived 31 May 1918. From Liverpool, they moved on to France.

A 16 Feb 1919 memorandum issued by command of General Pershing formally listed all members of the American Expeditionary Forces who were reported Missing in Action. Seth, who was named on that list, was considered MIA some time between the 3rd and 13th of August 1918: "Crawford, Seth A. (557469), Pvt., Co. E, 47th Inf., Aug. 3-13 1918".^[3]

Private Seth A Crawford was killed in action at the 2nd Battle of the Marne (aka Battle of Reims) at the Vesle River and his body was never recovered. He is named on the Tablets of the Missing at the Oise-Aisne American Cemetery and Memorial, Fere-en-Tardenois, Departement de l'Aisne, Picardie, France.^[4][5] There is also a memorial marker at Walker Cemetery, Walker, Linn Co., Iowa, which is inscribed "He Gave His All to the U.S.A."^[6] The Wisconsin Gold-Star List recorded his date of death as KIA on 9 Aug 1918.^[7] Armed Forces Grave Registrations record his death betw. 3-13 Aug 1918 in France.^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} "Iowa, Armed Forces Grave Registrations, ca. 1835-1998," database, FamilySearch: 17 Mar 2018, Seth Amos Crawford, 03 Aug 1918; citing France, The State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines; FHL microfilm 2,169,152: DOB 13 Sep 1891 in Cono IA.
2. ↑ "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," database with images, FamilySearch: 13 March 2018, Seth Amus Crawford, 1917-1918; citing Vernon Co., WI, USA, NARA microfilm publication M1509 (Washington D.C.: NARA, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,674,996.
3. ↑ "Kansas, Camp Funston Military Records, 1914-1919," Ancestry.com, (Camp Funston WWI Military Records. Military History Collection 617. Kansas State Historical Society, Topeka, Kansas). Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013, Provo, UT, USA.
4. ↑ "WWI, WWII, and Korean War Casualty Listings," Ancestry.com, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2005, Provo, UT, USA.
5. ↑ Find A Grave (France), database and images: accessed 11 Nov 2018, Pvt Seth A. Crawford (unknown–8 Aug 1918), Memorial #56636650, citing Oise-Aisne American Cemetery and Memorial, Fere-en-Tardenois, Departement de l'Aisne, Picardie, France: Photo.
6. ↑ Find A Grave (US), database and images: accessed 20 Aug 2018, Seth A. Crawford (1891–1918), Memorial #38933625, citing Walker Cemetery, Walker, Linn County, Iowa, USA: headstone photo.
7. ↑ Gregory, John G., Wisconsin's Gold Star List - Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Nurses from the Badger State Who Died in the Federal Service During the World War. Madison, WI: WI Historical Society, 1925. Access online at LDS. Page 128.

See also:

• Obituaries:
  • Cedar Rapids Republican, 23 Feb 1919, page 2.
  • Independence Conservative, 19 Feb 1919.
  • Independence Bulletin Journal, 27 Feb 1919.
• "Iowa State Census, 1895," database with images, FamilySearch: 10 Mar 2018, Seth Crawford in household of Charles Crawford, Buchanan, IA, US; citing p.105, 1895, State Historical Society, Des Moines; FHL microfilm 1,020,334.
• "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch: accessed 11 Nov 2018, Seth A Crawford in household of Charles R Crawford, Cono Twp, Buchanan, IA, US; citing ED 40, sheet 1B, family 10, NARA microfilm pub T623 (Washington, D.C.: NARA, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,420.
• "Iowa State Census, 1905," database with images, FamilySearch: 16 Mar 2018, Seth Crawford, Buchanan, IA, US; citing card #A240, State Historical Department, Des Moines; FHL microfilm 1,430,293.
• "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch: accessed 11 Nov 2018, Seth Crawford in household of Lowella Crawford, Liberty, Buchanan, IA, US; citing ED 60, sheet 1B, family 33, NARA microfilm pub T624 (Washington D.C.: NARA, 1982), roll 393; FHL microfilm 1,374,406.
• "Iowa State Census, 1915," database with images, FamilySearch: 17 Mar 2018, Seth Amos Crawford, 1915; citing Walker, Linn, IA, US, Iowa State Historical Department, Des Moines; FHL microfilm 1,379,490.