Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1911-09-14
OBITUARY..
John H. Cranston.

win surprise ana sincere regret
will the many friends of John H.
Cranston learn of his death, which
occurred peacefully at his home, No
1913 West Thames street, about 1870
o'clock Wednesday evening. For some
time he had not been in good health,
though he was able to be about and
was at church on Sunday. Monday he
suffered a paralytic shock which
brought about the end.
John H. Cranston was born in Mys-
tic September II. 1886, the son of
Christopher H. and Priscilla Niles
Cranston. His father died when Mr..
Cranston was about IL years of age
and he was obliged to leave school
and go to work to support the family.
He was one of six children and was
able to get no schooling after leaving
the district school. except what he
was able to gain evenings. He went
to work for the Standard Machine Co.
at Mystic, where he learned the trade
of machinist and where practically
all his time was put in until coming
to Norwich in the summer of 1866.
His first employment here was with
Co. in the Pequot building on Central
wharf, where machine tools were
manufactured. The Potter printing
press was manufactured here, but he
had nothing to do with it until that
line of work was taken up by ]. NJ.
Huntington & 20, wien he became
identified with that concern and had
charge of the building of those presses
at Thamesvil1e as long as the business
was done mere. When the concern
moved away. Mr.. Cranston refused to
go and spent the next rev years get
ting -out designs and patterns for
press which later bore his name and
became. known all over the country.
He started in business for himself
in 1876 using the same shop and put
ting on the market a press which bore
a number of improvements and pat
ented devices, and the reputation of
the press. bearing his name steadily
grew, the workmanship being big
feature of the product, and his repu-
tation as q designer and manufacturer
of first class machinery became firmly
established. Mr.. Cranston studiously
consulted the requirements of the
printer and put his practical ideas into
use for their advanccrnens. SO that
durability and simplicity characterized
the press. He was never willing TO
deteriorate the standard of his press
es. 1t was only within the past few
years thu he received letter from an
old customer, telling of purchasing one
of the Cranston presses 81 years ago
and adding that he haG operated it
steadily since then and it was then in
excellent condition.
The business was taken over by a
stock company. which was fncorporat-
ed in 1891 and continued by that com
pany for period of about five years
and closed out about 1896.
Following that, Mr.. Cranston was
with the c. B. CottreH & Sons Co.
of Westerly, acting as their New Eng
land representative until he was taken
sick five years ago, when he was oblig
ed to give UP active duties and since
then he has led a retired life.
For years Mr.. CranSton was q prom
inent member of the Central Baptist
church, having been deacon for a long
term and was sentior deacon at the
time of his death. He was deeply in
terested in all lines of church work,
having taught a class in the Sunday
school for years, while for a long Pc
Rod he was chorister there, and was
also member of the chorus choir of
the church when that was maintain
ed. He was a member of Somerset
lodge, No. 81, F. and A. NJ Franklin
chapter and Franklin council, and of
Columbian commandery, No. 4, K. T.,
of this city, He was identified for
many years with the West Chelsea
of the board OF education and also
acting school visitor of the district
Both in business and public life Mr.
Cranston was highly esteemed. He
had been the employer of many men
and possessed that faculty which made
and there We're many who had long
terms of service under him. He was
a thorough mechanic and a skilled
workman, who took pride in his work
He possessed a sympathetic DISPOSE
ton, was tender hearted and sincere
in his friendships. and lived up to
his noble ideals. He was very fond
of music Mr.. Cranston was in every
sense a true Christian gentleman, and
his home life was one of devotion
His death marks the passing of an ex
emplary citizen. He was the last of
his immediate family.
At Mystic, September 10. 1865, Mr.
Cranston, was united in marriage with
Annie r. Denison, by whom he is sur
vived together with two of their five
children, Mrs. Adrian J. Parsons of
Providence and Frederic II. Cranston
Of this city. He leaves one grand
daughter, Miss Doris C-l'anston Parsons
of Providence.
Matthias Boyer.
The death of Matthias Boyer, at the
age of Al occurred on Tuesday after
noon at hospital in Cambridge
Mass, where he had been operated
upon at 9 o'clock in the morning for
cancer of the throat and tongue. Mr..
Boyer was harness maker of this