Short Biography of Abigail Crawford

Abbie Crawford, half sister of mother, was born about 1835 as she was eighty when she died. It must have been in about 1915, though I am not sure. She died in Harriet's cottage, but was taken to Oxford, Ohio, where she was born, to be buried. As you may know Oxford was a College town. Aunt Abbie taught Greek, Latin and French. She was very small with tiny hands and feet. I know that she padded her insteps, used a great deal of very white face powder and wore her hair so befrizzled one could scarcely see her eyes. I never before heard of the many petticoats she wore. She was very charming in conversation, have a soft, low voice. Was a red hot Republican and decided in all her tastes. She was proof reader for "The Methodist Book Concern" Cincinnati for many years and when her eyes were failing, they furnished High School boys to read for her and she corrected as they read. I do not know where she studied painting. Her name was Abigail Crawford.

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From letter by Anna Scott Jackson to Jessie Scott Millener regarding the two paintings done by Abigail Crawford (Aunt Ruth and Uncle Bill have the one of the innocent young girl)

The picture I sent you and its companion piece were painted shortly before I was born in 1858, as it was then the parlour was furnished. The companion to the picture I sent you was an oil painting of a (half length picture) woman with her nude back facing you and her head turned over her shoulder, showing an aquiline profile, beautiful eyes and mouth. While your picture portrays an innocent face of a very young girl, the second one shows a woman, rather sophisticated and voluptuous in type. The drapery thrown over one shoulder was very colorful and altogether I considered this picture much more interesting than the other.

Where it is I do not know as the last time I saw it was after Hugh's death, when it hung in the landing of stairs in Harriet's cottage. I have an idea that both pictures were copies of plates which formerly were furnished student's when beginning to paint. They were usually found in Art journals, etc. I do not think that either of these pictures were of much, if any, commercial value.

Source: Letters by Anna Scott Jackson ³⁶⁸¹