The Washington herald., 1907-09-15


for the last fifty years. has but recently
passed away at tie age OF eighty-ons
years. fifty Of which had been spent in
this city and f0rty-seven Ia the house at
l6l0 X street northwest
Ms. Crandell was a gracious and hos
lpitable matron Of the old style. al active
business woman who participated thor
loughly in all OF the City's life and growth,
land in its struggle through the trying
times Of the late civil war when she
lnursed the sick soldiers IN the Patent
lOmce building. She was in Washington
Iduring the memorable Bull Run battle, on
August o. 1852. and later assisted Mrs
IGen. Mcclellan, the Assistant Postm2s-
ter's wife. in giving Thanksgiving DIN
liner TO 300 wounded men who had been
brought into the city, collecting FUNDS
herself TO defray the expenses.
She was IN this city at the surrender
tof Cen Robert Z. Lee. when the union
soldiers filed the city, and a. the assas-
sinatiou Of President Lincoln. Her late
home IS only three doors from the house
Of Mrs. Surratt where the plot for Lin
coins assassination was concocted- She
saw the conspiratOrs come ana 90 IN the
moonlight. and was warned by nurse
lin her family that something was wrong
lin the house; but, with her usual char
liable disposition, replied that she did
mot wish 20 be spying out her EcighbnTs 5
business
RoOmed Near COnspiratOrs.
At one time she unconscioUsiy roomed
Tia a house neor one Of the copspirators
who plotted the assassination Of the Cab
met. one of whom attacked Secretary
Seward IN his home.
Mrs Crandell later entered into all or
the city's gay life, and with her devoted
friend and companion, Mrs Emily I.
Hort, became a prominent clubwoman.
She Is named among the early members
OF the Woman's National Press AssOcta-
ton. Of which she was ar one time vice
president. helped 10 organize the first
Unity Club. and the Short Story Club. OF
both OF which she bad been the presiding
officer. and was az the date OF her death
chaplain Of Potomac Chapter, y. A r
, Mrs Crandeu was married as Lusana Il.
Smith 10 Germond CrandeA Sd Sussex
County. y. Y. where her early married
life was spent or this marriage, one
daughter was born. Lucy s. Crandel.
who died in this city Just after reaching
very heavily on Mrs. CTanGell.
Husband Dead Ten Years.
The husband and father, Germond
Crandeu. died in Washington about ten
, years ago, and her friend and compan-
ion. Mrs. Emily F. Hort, died about
seven years ago, and was buried At Ar
l!ngton.
r Mrs Crandell amassed. by her own ef-
, forts. q substautial property IN real es-
tate in the District, all OF which passes
by her Will 10 her only surviving sister,
who cared for her during her long IL
ness, Mrs Addie r Perkins. There IS .
also Of her household VINO assisted 10
care for Der during her failing years. a .
niece. Miss Elena 5. Chapman. One
brother also survives her, Joseph 4.
Smith. OF Los Angeles, Cal. The story
. of her life Is best told by q short ren!nis-
{ cence written by herself during her last
. Illness, and found among her papers.
n "Reminiscences"
l. NY life Is a field Of "reminiscences &
rich. grand. lovely, and pathetic. Ny
girlhood was passed IN New London. (
r Conn. with Forts Griswold and Trum- /
. bull on either side, and where, during the .
war of the Revolution, the British burned .
, the town Here the historic Thames !
sweeps down 70 one Of the finest harbors
g In the United States. I was removed by !
marriage from nv early home 10 Duchess
County. \. Y, with her fertile valleys
! and forest-croWled mountains. and later
10 Virginia. whose wild. weird, pictuT-
= esqUsness was IN strange contrast with
b. the cultivated New England States, the
? scenes of my childhood. Later cams
= 70 Washington, which bore little resen1- .
y = Fgl-
. ing condition.
Congress was then IN the midst Of
. terrible struggle. fighting its way 20 glory /
I or defeat The secession was on, the Bull
l. Run battle and al that followed. With
, three other ladies and Mrs. Mcclellan, ,
, the Assistant Postmaster Generals wife,
We concluded 70 give Thanksgiving din
p ner 70 the 200 wounded men then IN the
city. I canvassed Washington and George
2 town for funds 20 cover expenses.
! In the meantime another battle had
taken place and 800 more wounded men
We're added TO our list. The dinner was
q success. Our citizens gave literally
). and sd goldpieces were cheerfully hand
ed Is. K all passes before my mind-the
: surrender Of Lee our army filling this
/. city, and greeted by thousands Of happy
faces; the assassination of our grand
l. President the proclamation Of martial
Law, the arrest OF Mrs. Surratt and others
J. she living but three doors from my
B. house.
: 'Remipniscences. Yes, The grandeur
OF the Philadelphia Centennial. where
a spent two weeks-the Chicago Exposi-
o tio7. which ! visited twice. the Buffalo
Z Fair. and my second visit 10 Niagara
y Falls for a week. and down the St Law
n renee TO the Thousand Isles, thence TO
/ Montreal and after a week TO Quebec, .
J. and then across the country 70 the White 1
= Mountains. where we remained for some
environments and later 10 New York
City and Washington.
! Tells of Western Trip.
But I am forgetting my long enjoyable
trip TO California, and on the way stop
ping IN every State. In California We as
cended Mount Samalpias, saw Mount
Stockton and San Francisco as she was,
= and the beautiful Golden Gate, Los An
geles, the DelcOranardo, and the grand,
quiet Pacific. and then 10 Oregon.
0. Through II all We found only pleasure
f and friends.
"reminiscences, Ab. the loving hand
removed my precious one from pain and
l. disappOintments You all have these ex-
periences. They are part OF life, and
"reminiscences"
e Such is the story Of an earnest, useful
J. life. Of one who has passed over the
> river 10 the world beyond.
?