The Crawford Family
Emlenton, Venango County, Pennsylvania
Marker Inscription
Eben Crawford (1821-1897) was an iron foundry operator and early oil and gas producer. In 1926 sons George (1861-1935) and Fred (1863-1933) organized Columbia Gas and Electric Corp., the world's largest integrated natural gas company, merging production, pipelines, and distribution properties in several states. Cousin Harry Crawford (1867-1953), banker, producer, and refiner, became first president of Quaker State Oil Refining.
Erected by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
The Story
The Crawford family helped build the oil and gas industry that grew out of western Pennsylvania's fields. Eben Crawford ran an iron foundry and was an early oil and gas producer, and in 1926 his sons George and Fred organized the Columbia Gas and Electric Corporation, which became the world's largest integrated natural gas company. Cousin Harry Crawford became the first president of Quaker State Oil Refining.
Why it matters
From a small Venango County town, the Crawfords helped transform the region's pioneering oil and gas discoveries into the vast energy corporations of the modern age.
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Related people
- · Eben Crawford
- · George Crawford
- · Fred Crawford
- · Harry Crawford
Themes & tags
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