Do you have old handwritten notes in your genealogy files? I have lots of pages of such notes. Whether looking at a book or microfilm, I often took notes instead of making photocopies.
One of those pages of notes was from a biography of George W. Crawford found in the book, Biographical History of Tippecanoe, white, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren and Pulaski Counties, Indiana, Volume I.

Fortunately, this book is one of the many digitized and found on Archive.org. Thus, I was able to transcribe the entire biography of George W. Crawford.
Crawford-IN-014-Geo-W-Crawford-Tippecanoe-White-Jasper-Newton-Warren
George Crawford Biography
Biographical History of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren adn Pulaski Counties, Indiana. Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1899
p. 398
Born on the old homestead which he now owns and occupies, in Pike township, Warren county, George W. Crawford is one of the honored old residents of this locality. His parents, William Allen and Lutitia (Snodgrass) Crawford, were pioneers of this county, as they came here in 1829, and entered the identical tract of land now in the possession of George W. and cultivated by him for many years.
William A. Crawford was born in Kentucky, July 23, 1803, and was but two years old when his parents took him to Preble county, Ohio. There he grew to manhood, and was married to Miss Snodgrass March 15, 1827, and within two years the young couple came to this section of Indiana. Here they bravely mastered the difficulties of frontier life, and by industry and preserving labor made a comfortable home in the wilderness and reared their children to be good and useful citizens in whatever community they should dwell. Every one who knew them was their friend and their house was an example of unlimited cheer and hospitality. Faithful and consistent members of the Christian church, their daily lives were beautiful reflections of that of the Master who disciples they professed to be. The father passed to the better land April 24, 1854. The mother, born in Harrison county, Kentucky, July 22, 1805, a child of Samuel and Sarah (Sellars) Snodgrass, is still living. Though now in her ninety-fourth year, she is remarkably sound in mind and body, and her senses of sight and hearing are but little impaired. She was about nineteen years of age when she went with her parents to Preble county, Ohio, and there she was married. She became a typical frontiers-woman, brave, self-possessed, industrious and self-reliant and in the first years of her residence in this section she had abundant need of all the fortitude and endurance which she possessed. She was equal to the burdens placed upon her, and imparted strength and courage to everypage 399
one who came within range of her helpful, fearless nature. Her home is now made with her daughter, Mrs. Robb, of West Lebanon, Warren county.
William A. and Lutitia Crawford were the parents of seven sons and four daughters. Two of the sons, James Samuel and William Marion, were heroes of the war of the Rebellion — heroes whose lives were offered up willing sacrifices to their loved country. Both enlisted in Company E, Eighty-sixth Regiment of Indiana Volunteer Infantry. James S. was taken prisoner at the battle of Murfreesboro, and died in the hands of the Confederates; and William M. died at Camp Dennison, September 6, 1862. The eldest daughter, Jane married Benton Williams and died a number of years ago. Three other children died in early life. The surviving members of the family are George W., John D., of West Lebanon; Harvey of Dodge City, Kansas, Margaret, wife of Bolivar Robb, of West Lebanon; and Sarah Elizabeth, wife of Henry A. Houpt, of Pike township.
George W. Crawford was born October 30 1846, and has never lived at any other place than on the old homestead. He is a practical and successful farmer and in highly respected by a large circle of friends and well-wishers. Socially, he is a Mason, a Knight of Pythias, a member of the Woodmen of the World, and in his political views he is an uncompromising Republican. One of the notable and interesting events of his somewhat uneventful life was the journey through the western states, commonly known hereabout as the “Pilgrimage,” and frequently mentioned in this work, in connection with the history of hte participants of this delightful trip. It was made in the autumn of 1891, and over two months were spent by these seven old friends and neighbors in visiting the chief points of interest in the western states, National Park, etc.
January 4, 1875, G. W. Crawford married Miss Sarah E. Porter, daughter of Elias Porter, a pioneer of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Crawford have a son and a daughter, named respectively Donald Porter and Stella L.
This biography is NOT for my line of Crawfords but for the James and Martha (Knight) line. Since my family seemed to migrate alongside James and Martha, there are quite a few details in this biography that may help with researching my line.
- 1803 – Kentucky – William A. Crawford’s place of birth
- 1805 – Harrison County KY – Lutitia’s place of birth / residence of Samuel and Sarah (Sellars) Snodgrass
- 1824 – Preble County, OH – approximate arrival time of Snodgrass family
- 1827 – Preble County OH – William A. Crawford married Miss Snodgrass
- 1829 – Warren County, IN – William and Lutitia arrival
Not only does this biography help me build a timeline, but viewing the digital copy of the book contains a hint of a second volume which is not part of my handwritten notes. In the index, there is an entry for George W Crawford and Lutitia Crawford. The page number for Lutitia was 885 which is greater than the number of pages in the book I viewed. A search of Google turned up a digital copy of Volume 2 in the Indiana State Library collection.
On page 885 is a biography of Mrs. Lutetia Crawford which is very similar to the information about her in the George W. Crawford biography.

A search of volume II for the word, Crawford, turned up another biography related to the James and Martha Crawford family. On page 953, is the biography of Parmenas G. Smith. The wife of Parmenas Smith was identified as Eliza M. Shankland, daughter of David Shankland and his wife, Sarah Crawford. Since Sarah was a daughter of James and Martha Crawford, Eliza Shankland was their granddaughter. Thus, this biography will also help build the timeline for the travel of the Crawford families.
Biographical History of Tippecanoe, White, Jasper, Newton, Benton, Warren adn Pulaski Counties, Indiana, Volume II. Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1899.
Digital copy in Indiana State Library Digital Collections / https://indianamemory.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p1819coll6/id/24466
page 953
Parmenas G. Smith
Parmenas G. Smith, who after a life of industry and indefatigable toll is now spending the evening of his span of years in retirement at his pleasant home in West Lebanon, Warren county, is a native of Bourbon county, Kentucky, his birth having occurred October 9, 1821. He was one of the eight children, three of whom were sons, of George W. and Mary Smith, who in
page 954
1830 emigrated to Vermilion county, Illinois. Two of the sons and two of the daughters still living. The father, George W. Smith, died March 30, 1853.
It twas in 1840 that P. G. Smith came to Warren county, and December 11th of that year his marriage to Eliza M. Shankland was celebrated. She is a daughter of David Shankland, one of the early pioneers of this county. Born in Nicholas county, April 9, 1795, a son of John Shankland, who had located in that state soon after the close of the Revolutionary war, he left home at twenty years of age and dwelt for a few years in Ohio. He was married in Preble county, that state, September 27, 1817, to Sally Crawford, whose brother William was a pioneer of Warren county. In October, 1829, David Shankland, wife and six children arrived in this county and took up their abode upon government land in Pike township. There the father cleared a fine farm and resided until his death, Jun 11, 1872, the result of an accident, he having been thrown from his wagon. His wife, who was in the wagon, also, was badly injured, but recovered. She died April 16, 1875. They were esteemed members of the Christian church, and were relied upon to do all within their power in support of good causes. He was very fond of music, possessed a fine voice, and at various times taught a singing school with marked success. In the early days of his residence here he had fine sport as a hunter, as wolves, deer and other wild game were abundant, and he was an excellent marksman. Three of the six children who accompanied him to this state survive: Mrs. Smith; David, now of the state of Oregon; and Mrs. Sarah Byers, of Steuben township, Warren county.
The eldest child of P. G. Smith and wife, and their only son, Columbus, died when two years and three months old. Their four daughters are, respectively: Jane, wife of George W. Compton; Mrs. Amanda M. Cronkhite; Sally J., wife of Joseph Whitten; and Anna M. Mrs William Siddens.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith are devoted members of the Christian church, and have endeavored to embody in their lives the noble principles in which they believe. They have tried to aid and uplift their fellow men, lending a helping hand to the poor and needy, and cheering and sympathizing with those in trouble.