Joseph Edmund Crawford was raised in Grey County, Ontario working on his father’s farm and sawmill. He attended school in Owen Sound and Toronto where he became a chartered accountant. When he arrived in Fort William in 1907, he was employed by the Pigeon River Lumber Company. Crawford also worked as Fort William’s City Auditor for three years and opened his own accounting firm in 1918. Throughout his political career, Crawford continued working as an accountant until his retirement in 1951.
In Crawford's first run for Mayor in 1922, he was defeated by only six votes; however, he was acclaimed to Council to replace R. E. Rutledge in April of the same year. His second attempt at the Mayor's seat resulted in a loss by 25 votes. In 1926, he was victorious and became Mayor of Fort William.
During his mayoralty, Fort William established a contract with Ontario Hydro, ending a 20-year contract with the Kaministiquia Power Company. Later, he spent one session as the Liberal Member of Legislative Assembly for Fort William; he ran again in 1937 as an Independent Liberal but was defeated.
Born: December 2, 1877 in Invermay, Arran Township, Bruce County, Ontario
Died: October 9, 1964 in Fort William, Ontario at the age of 87
Councillor: 1919-1921, 1922, 1923
Mayoral Candidate: 1922, 1924, 1925
Mayor: 1926-1928
Member of Legislative Assembly: Liberal MLA for Fort William Riding 1934-1937
Previous Mayor: Mayor Issac Newton Edmeston
Next Mayor: Mayor Nathaniel Bascome Darrell
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