History of Wexford County, MI. Compiled by John H. Wheeler Published in 1903 by B. F. Bowen Biography Page 167 - 168

RALPH W. CRAWFORD

In the perspective of human thought and action is often found the lamentable condition which justifies the words of the poet, "Some with lives that come to nothing; some with deeds as well undone," and yet the close observer needs never lack for objective lesson and incentive through worthy lives and worthy deeds in all fields of human endeavor. In every American community today the young man in business is a distinctive factor, and in the city of Cadillac the field of newspaper enterprise has an able representative in the person of Mr. Crawford, who is associated with John M. Terwilliger in the publication of the Cadillac Globe, an individual sketch of the life of his partner appearing on another page of this work, while in the connection is also given an outline of the history of the paper, so that a detailed recapitulation is not demanded at this juncture. The editors and proprietors of the Globe are both alert and thorough-going young business men and the success which has attended their efforts stands to their credit and is in justice due. Mr. Crawford was born in the town of Woodhull, Henry county, Illinois, on the 27th of January, 1874, being a son of Rev. John W. Crawford, D. D., who was a prominent and scholarly clergyman of the Presbyterian church and who died in Monett, Barry county, Missouri, in 1897, at the age of sixty-three years, his life having been one of signal consecration and usefulness. His wife, whose maiden name was Emma Van Nice, is still living. Seven children were born of this union, of whom the sixth was Ralph W., the immediate subject of this sketch, while of the number five are still living. The early years of Ralph W. Crawford were passed principally in Kansas and Missouri, the family removing from place to place, as the clerical duties of the father demanded. After receiving a common-school education he entered the Strickler Business College, in the city of Topeka, Kansas, where he completed a course of study, after which he secured employment in a printing office at Ellsworth, that state, where he remained three years, gaining a thorough and practical knowledge of the mechanical details of the art. He later was employed at his trade in various places. In 1896 he assumed charge of a weekly paper, the Eagle, at Monett, Missouri, and about eighteen months later he located in Purdy, that state, where he conducted a paper for a short time, and then disposed of the business and came to Cadillac, Michigan, where, in July, 1899, he purchased a half interest in the Cadillac Globe, which had been established by his partner, Mr. Terwilliger. In politics Mr. Crawford gives his allegiance to the Republican party, and fraternally he is identified with Clam Lake Camp No. 1596, of the Modern Woodmen of America. He is popular in the business and social circles of the community and is known as an able and discriminating newspaper man, the Globe having attained marked prestige and a liberal supporting patronage.