James W. Crawford Tombstone

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Perhaps a family member somewhere down the line, James W. Crawford hailed from Zanesville, Ohio. In 1861, he enlisted with the Union Cavalry at Neosha Rapids, Kansas. A proud member of the Grand Army of the Republic, he now rests in the small GAR plot at Evergreen Cemetery in Santa Cruz. Four years after his passing, Mr. Crawford was awarded a veteran's pension. The Santa Cruz Sentinel reported on June 10, 1898 that "J.W. Crawford has been granted a monthly pension of $16." Unfortunately for him, the pension came too late, as he had already left this world behind. It appears that Mr. Crawford initially faced rejection when applying for benefits due to arthritis, kidney disease, and a hip injury not meeting the necessary requirements. However, upon reapplying with an added condition of hemorrhoids, his application was approved. To learn more about Mr. Crawford's story, visit http://www.santacruzpl.org/history/articles/691/. To delve into the Grand Army of the Republic and their role in advocating for veterans, check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Army_of_the_Republic.