Samuel was born in Marion County, OR. When he was five, his parents went to the Dayton, Washington area and farmed there. In the late 1880s or early 1990s, the family again moved; this time to the Fix Ridge area of Latah County, Idaho. While there, he married Malinda "Jane" Thornton.

In 1895 the NezPerce Indian Reservation lands opened up for homesteading and Samuel took his family there. After proving his homestead, he sold it and bought a threshing machine. He also carried the mail for many years; first with horse and wagon and then with his motorcycle. The family remained in Lewis County Idaho.

Samuel appeared to have a wonderful sense of humor. He wrote items for the Lewis County Register - some signed using his name, others signed "Cougar Sam".

obituary

Lewiston Morning Tribune - 1941
Winchester, June 28 – Samuel M. Crawford, 74, old time resident of this area and a Winchester resident several years, died at his home here yesterday afternoon at 2:30. He had been in failing health the last year.

Mr. and Mrs. Crawford came to Craigmont in 1895 at the opening of the reservation and took up a homestead three and one-half miles east of town. He was a rural mail carrier at Craigmont for several years.

Survivors include his wife, Jane Crawford; three daughters, Mabel Wamsley, Craigmont; Ida.; Jessie Kelly, Gifford and Lillian Stevens, Winchester; four sons, James and Edward, Winchester; Arthur, Craigmont, and Charles, Spalding; two sisters, Mrs. Andy Harbke, Nezperce, and Mrs. Elva Weeks, Toppenish, and five brothers, Joe and John, Orofino; Will, Peck; Jim, in California, and Abner, Portland.

Funeral services will be held Sunday at 1 at the Craigmont Presbyterian church.

(from another obit)
Samuel Marion Crawford, age 74 years, 4 months and 16 days passed away June 27, 1941 at his home in Winchester, Idaho from a heart attack. Mr. Crawford was born Feb. 11, 1867, at Willamette Valley, Oregon. When a young boy he moved to Dayton, Washington, where he grew to manhood.

He was united in marriage, March 21, 1893, to Malinda Jane Thornton at Juliaetta, Idaho. To this union were born 9 children.