Armstrong Crawford’s Log House Built circa 1823

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Armstrong Crawford log house built circa 1823. The photo was taken in 2003.

In May 2020, the dismantling and removal of this log house located in Sinking Valley, Tyrone Township, Blair County, PA sparked an interest in who built it and when. The logs will be reassembled as part of a private residence in Mifflin County, PA.

The house was built about 1823 for Armstrong Crawford (1800-1877). After his father James, Sr. (1749-1822) died in 1822, Armstrong inherited 188 acres of his father’s 346 acre farm. Armstrong’s older brother James, Jr. (1780-1848) inherited 158 acres and the original homestead.

Original James Crawford, Sr. (1749-1822) homestead. The left side of the house is built of logs covered with siding. The oldest portion of the house was built before 1798.

As James, Jr. and his family settled into the house on the homestead, Armstrong needed a place to live with his wife, Sara Dysart, who he married in 1823.

Armstrong’s house was built on the back half of the farm.

Armstrong’s log house was built on the back half of the farm in about 1823. Armstrong was 19 years old when his father drew up his will, 21 when his father died, and 22 when he married. There wasn’t any reason to build the house much before 1823.

Sources:

Penn to Crawford 1793, Huntingdon County, PA, Deed Book D1, page 1-5, Huntingdon County Courthouse, Huntingdon County, PA.

United States Direct Tax of 1798, First Subdivision (Tyrone, Franklin and Warriorsmark Townships), Second District (Huntingdon County), Eighth Division of PA, National Archives Microfilm Publications, Roll 21, volumes 673-675.

James Crawford, Last Will and Testament 1819, Huntingdon County, PA Will Book 3, pages 23-26, Huntingdon County Courthouse, Huntingdon, PA.

Tax Assessment 1821, Tyrone Township, Huntingdon County, PA, Microfilm, Huntingdon County Historical Society, Huntingdon, PA.

Tax Assessment 1825, Tyrone Township, Huntingdon County, PA, Microfilm, Huntingdon County Historical Society, Huntingdon, PA.

Crawford, Dorothy (1909-1996), Crawford Family Tree and Relationship with the Deans and the Morrows.