Peter Crawford

Peter Crawford (22 November 1818 – 10 June 1889) was a Scottish-born land surveyor who was a prominent pioneer in the Pacific Northwest. He founded Kelso, Washington and platted numerous towns in the Oregon Territory which later became the states of Oregon and Washington. He was a member of the Monticello Convention which petitioned and successfully convinced Congress to create Washington Territory out of the Oregon Territory.

Early life Crawford was born near Kelso, Scotland, on 22 November 1818. He was one of six children and born the middle of three sons. He attended school in Kelso after which he moved to Edinburg to attend the University of Edinburgh where he studied mathematics and surveying. Upon finishing school, he moved in 1838 to London for three months, then to Southampton, where he completed his studies. Peter's older brother Alexander (Alec) had moved immigrated to America in 1835 where he married and convinced Peter to also immigrate. At the age of 24, on a ship called ‘’Rainbow’’, Peter made an 1842 voyage from England to Quebec, Canada.

Americas After arriving in Quebec and unable to find work, he made his way to Michigan, crossing the Great Lakes. In the spring of 1848, at the request of Henry Williamson, Peter surveyed for a town site on the north bank of the Columbia River, just west of Hudson's Bay Company's Fort Vancouver. Mr. Williamson called the town Vancouver City, to differentiate between the town and the fort. This would later be shortened to the city of Vancouver. In early 1849, began his journey seeking a fortune prospecting in the California Gold Rush. Upon arrival in San Francisco, he engaged in mining operations for seven months until returning to settle his land claim on the Cowlitz River in October. The following spring he planted an apple orchard and built a house, which burned by fire in 1851.

In 1852, Crawford participated and was a signing member of the Monticello Convention. On 25 November 1852, 44 regional settlers adopted a Memorial to Congress requesting separation from Oregon Territory and the creation of a separate territory due to a number of issues they had with the Oregon government. Their request was successful and on 2 March 1853, President Millard Fillmore signed legislation that created the Territory of Washington.

Having settled in Kelso in 1849, Peter served in a number of public capacities as the population grew. He was a justice of the peace, a notary public as well as being the first elected surveyor of Cowlitz County. He was held the position of United States Deputy Surveyor.

Personal Crawford married Zillah Patterson, born 3 February 1836, in 1854 and had five children.

Writings The overland journey to Oregon in 1847 : an autobiography on the Oregon Trail Narrative of the overland journey to Oregon Peter Crawford's Cowlitz journal; first published writings of the founder of Kelso

Legacy Peter Crawford Bridge, Kelso, WA Crawford Street, Kelso, WA