The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-11-20
LAST SURVIVOR OF WAR OF 1872.
Hiram cronk. Of Dunn Brook. N. T.. in His
1881 Year.
(New York SUM-

tA>cW 4Oih SuL.J
In the little hamlet of Dunn Brook. in
Oneida, County, y. Y, lives the last sur
vivor Of the War Of 1872, and also the
last pensioner of that war. He is, be-
sides, one of the oldest men IN the En-
pire State, being now in his lU3d year.
For one of his years he may be said to
be i'll excellent health. for lie is afflicted
with no special ailment or disease, save
that which naturally comes from old age
and general wearing out of the system.
He is very fond of sleep and this is con-
sidered one of the main reasons for his
longevity.
Recently lie slept for three days and
two nights at Il stretch, this being the
longest sleep that he was ever known to
take. His nights and days have become
completely turned around. for he now
sleeps all day and is awake all night.
Living with and taking care of Mr..
Cronk is his daughter, Mrs. Sarah 4.
Rowley, who 10 years ago signed q con-
tract TO take care of him for the balance
of his life. the consideration tc be the
1fO-acre farm belonging to him in Dunn
Brook. At that time Mr.. Cronk was very
ill and it was thought that lie could not
recover. He got well. however. and there
was family fight and lot of litigation
over his property, with the result that q
mortgage for $1,2GO was put on it.
For several years Mrs. Rowley worked
ii'tli " SECURE Al ptHSlbH LOT
| and through the efforts of Congressman
James $. Sherman, the old man obtained
about two years ago 4 pension of 50 Il
month, which was just enough to pay the
| interest on the mortgage. not leaving a
single dollar to go toward securing COM
forts for him. Last April the pension was
| increased to so 4 month.
Since boyhood Mr.. Cronk has been a
great tobacco chewer. using at this time
from five to 10 cents worth of the weed
daily. He also consumes Il gallon of wine
every two weeks, for it is necessary that
he should have a stimuant of some kind,
| the tobacco and wine and milk being prac-
tically all the old man will take.
Hiram Cronk is the last of family of
nine children, being son of James Cronk.
He was born at Frankfort, Herkimer
County, ". u, April %, 1900. The fami-
ly originally came from Holland. and its
members are the claimants for the Cronk
or Cronkite estates which are supposed to
exist in Holland and to be worth many
| millions.
In his 18th year. near the close of the
War of 1872, Hiram enlisted in the
United States army with his father and
| two brothers. John and Jephtha, serving
at Sackett's HarbOr about 100 days. He
was so young and of SO slight build that
he was made the butt of jokes by the
other soldiers. But in Il skirmish with the
British, Hiram Cronk behaved in such n
soldierly manner as to elicit the remark
from Capt. Davis, who was then in COM
mand:
Il wish I had regiment of soldiers
like Hiram, for then l could go right up
into upper Canada and fight the British
on their own grounds"
Mr.. Cronk always possessed a jovial
disposition, and he was ever fond of tell
ing stories of his early life. Now, when
he can be caught in the right mood, his
mind is clear concerning events of over
IS years ago.
At the time of the excavations for the
Erie Canal Mr.. Cronk was employed on
De Witt Clinton fall into the ditch in con-
sequence of trick played by mischiev
Gus boy, and he also remembers Gen.
Lafayette's trip through the State on a
barge at the time of the completion of the
Erie Canal.
In 1925. when Mr. Cronk was 25, he
married Mary Thornton, of the town of
for 60 years. Seven children were born
to them, five of whom are now living. One
son lost his life in the civil war and an
other died few years ago. The living
are William and John Cronk, of Rome,
n. Y, Philander Cronk and Mrs. Rowley.
of Dunn Brook, and George E. Cronk, of
Oklahoma. There are fourteen grandchil
dren and eight great-grandchildren.
After the War of 1912 Hiram took up
the trade of an itinerant shoemaker. He
cast his first vote for Andrew Jackson,
through all the long years following he
continued to vote the Democratic ticket,
his last vote for President being cast for
Grover Cleveland. He is devOut Metlo-
dist and can read his family Bible with
out the aid of glasses. While he lies in
bed one may often hear him strike up
note of an old Methodist hymn.
When he was 100 there was family re-
union at the home of the old man, and
none there enjoyed it more than he did.
He objects to being photographed nova
days, because camera fends have bothered
him so much.
Mr. CrOnk is an honorary member of the
Fort Stanwix Chapter, Sons of the Amer