John Crawford Chapter

History of the John Crawford Chapter, NSDAR

Tombstone of Aileen Bettys Corbit. GPS coordinates 42 degrees 49'32.8"N, 83 degrees 16' 31.5"W

Aileen Marjory Bettys Corbit was born on October 25, 1877 to John Wetmore Bettys and Clara Crawford Bettys in the farm country of Oxford, Michigan. The Bettys and Crawford families were pioneers from New York State. Aileen was a member of the first graduating class of Oxford High School in 1893. She graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School, June 19, 1902. Aileen married Robert McClain Corbit, a lawyer, on October 22, 1902 at Oxford Congregational Church on Hovey Street, Oxford, Michigan. The Corbits moved to Jones County, Iowa, where Aileen passed the medical bar and started her practice. After many years in Iowa, the Corbits moved back to Oxford, Michigan, where they lived at 111 Washington Street; both pursuing their professions. Their son, Clarence, later became a professor at a prestigious Southern college. Aileen became a member of the AMA, the Michigan State Medical Society, the Oakland County Medical Society, and was a health officer of Oxford Village. She and her family were members of the Oxford Congregational Church where she and Robert were married. As a member at large, Aileen helped found the John Crawford Chapter, NSDAR, in Oxford in 1918, and became Organizing Regent of the chapter. Five of the charter members of the chapter were relatives of Aileen; all descended from John Crawford of Orange County, New York. Aileen passed away on July 12, 1937 at her home in Oxford after a long illness. She is buried with her husband in the Bettys plot in Oxford Township Cemetery, and a brass commemorative plaque donated by the chapter marks her tombstone.

The John Crawford Chapter, NSDAR, was organized on 5 February 1918, with 20 charter members, six of whom were direct descendants of John Crawford.

Charter Members of the John Crawford Chapter, NSDAR

Mrs. Aileen Betteys Corbit, Organizing Regent (John Crawford)

Mrs. Nina Crawford Brokenshaw (John Crawford)

Mrs. Mildred Betteys Dennis (John Crawford)

Mrs. Bernice Taylor Hayes (John Crawford)

Mrs. Lizzie Crawford Taylor (John Crawford)

Mrs. Elizabeth Crawford Saunders (John Crawford)

Mrs. Nora Dewey Parker (Ebenezer Dewey, Jr.)

Miss Olive B. Dewey (Ebenezer Dewey Jr.)

Miss Ethel Evelyn Hathaway (Ebenezer Dewey Jr.)

Mrs. Pearl A. Wieland Hovey (James Graham)

Mrs. Blanche M. Sims (James Graham)

Mrs. Eliza J. Coryell Carpenter (Abraham Coryell)

Mrs. Catherine A. Coryell Reed (Abraham Coryell)

Mrs. Cora L. Webster Francis (Abraham Coryell)

Mrs. Grace M. Carpenter Hopkins (Abraham Coryell)

Mrs. Nettie Laird Anderson (Joseph Coon)

Miss Minnie E. Casamer (Joseph Coon)

Mrs. Mary Louise Miller Haddrill (George Flower)

Miss Anna Elizabeth Betteys (John Wetmore)

Mrs. Ella Butts Shoemaker (John Emery)

Dewey Twins Marker
It is located on the north side of Orion Road on a stone,
west of the intersection of Orion/Adams Roads,
in Oakland Township of Oakland County, Michigan.
Click on bronze tablet to read inscription
The marker was placed at this location in 1928.
GPS coordinates: N42' 5.4632' W083' 12.1836'

The Territorial Road marker (in the above newspaper article on this page)
was placed in 1954 on the lawn of the old library on Mechanic Street in Oxford.
It has been recently moved to Centennial Park in downtown Oxford.
GPS coordinates: N42' 49.4115' W083' 15.8812'

The Lakeville Methodist Church boulder was placed in 1942 on the church lawn (color photo of church and boulder above). It has recently been moved to the Lakeville Cemetery on Drahner Road, Addison Township, MI. The Lakeville Methodist Church was the oldest church in Oakland County, MI.
GPS coordinates: N42' 48.8443' W 083' 09.4216'

John Crawford was born 20 Jan 1761 in Ulster/Orange Co., NY. He was the son of Samuel and Anna (Kidd) Crawford. John mustered 5 May 1778 for nine months in Captain Israel Smith’s Company of the 3rd Regiment, Orange Co., NY Militia. John Crawford served in the counties of Ulster and Orange, NY. Discharged on 5 Feb 1779, he married Sarah Barclay (born 18 Nov 1761) in 1782. Ten children were born between 1783 and 1804, nine of whom married. John Crawford died 19 Nov 1834; Sarah Barclay Crawford died 17 Feb 1838. John Crawford is buried in the Hopewell Burying Ground, a small cemetery in Ulster Co, NY.

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Website last updated on 18 November 2022