The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-07-08
One PeMsjomep
OF 1917 left.

or over 200 600 men enrolled in the Amer
lean armies during the war Of 1872, there
is but one single man who remains on
the pension rolls Of the United States.
This lonely veteran Is Hiram Kronk. OF
Dunn Brook. Oneida county, N. Y,
man 100 years old.
Mr. Cronk was born on April %. 1860 at
humble home in the town of Frankfort,
Herkimer county. He came of sturdy
Dutch stock of family which has won
fame through a litigation to regain the
Cronk estates In the fatherland. In the
early childhood of Hiram the family re-
moved to Wright settlement, about two
and one-half miles from the city OF
Rome. There the family lived about ten
years, the boy attending school and help
Ing about the chores. From Wright set
Element the Cronks migrated to a farm in
the town of Western. then practically In
the wilderness. and in that neighborhood
Hiram Cronk has spent the greater part
of his life. In 1897 he bought about 10
acres of land. On which he erected tho
house wherein he now lives with his
only living daughter, Mrs. Sarah Rowley
Before Hiram was fifteen years old his
spirit was reused over the issues of tho
war. and with his father aud his two
brothers. john and Jephtha. he enlisted In
the United States army and went to
Sackets Harbor. where lie served about
100 days. Hiram was so young and OF
such slight build that the other soldiers
tried to joke with him. saying that IL
need be his father could pick him up and
carry him to a place of sofety But such
an act was unnecessary. for in a s5irmish
with the British the youthful soldier car
ried himself so well that Capt. Davis,
who had command of the troops. said IL
he had a regiment of such soldiers he
could go into Canada and fight the enemy
on their own ground. For his services in
the War of 1872, Mr.. Cronk gets a pension
Of So a month. He is one OF Agent Orr's
pensioners on the rolls of the Buffalo
office
After the war the Cronks went home,
and Hiram took up the trade of itinerant
shoemaker, going about the countryside
and repairing the footwear OF the people
In their own dwellings He generally
made the trip twice year and thus kept
the farmers boots in condition for wear.
When the Erie canal was dug Mr. Cronk
was employed on the work, and later he
helped in the construction of the Black
river canal which Joins the Erie at Rome
Mr.. Cronk recalls that when the MARQUIS
de Lafayette visited this country in 1925,
and Travelled through the state on a barge
on the Erie canal and stopped at Rome
carpets were spread In the streets for the
distinguished guest to walk on.
When twenty-five years Of age Hiram
met his fate. and married her I'm the per-
son Of Mary Thornton. For sixty years
they lived happily together She died in
1885. Six children were born to them.
Five Of them are living. One son lost his
life In the Civil war or grandchildren
and great-grandchlldren Mr. Cronk has
about score. To reach a great age
seems to be the rule I'm the Cronk family
Vim "The MIIvau<ee's" New Train.
You can leave Minneapolis 1880 D. m
and ST. Paul lips p. m. every nighO,
and arrive Milwaukee 10:45 a. m, and
Chicago 90 p. m. Fine sleepers and
coaches through to Chicago.