From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Carol, this is a transcribed copy of the xerox copy I received from a Cronk descendant. The ----'s indicate letters and/or words that I couldn't make out since it was a copy of a copy of a copy. Hope it helps someone. Sue Stahr THE ONLY SURVIVOR OF THE WAR OF 1812 IS HIRAM CRONK, OF DUNN BROOK, N.Y. Interesting Career of the Man Who Saw the Opening and the Close of the 19th Century and Who, at 102 Years, Is Able to Read Without Glasses In the little hamlet of Dunn Brook, Oneida county, N.Y. lives a centenarian who is undoubtedly the last survivor of the war of 1812. That Hiram Cronk is now the only living person who participated in that last great struggle between England and the United States is proven by the fact that his name is the only one appearing on the pension rolls at Washington as a pensioner of the war of 1812. Bent with age, this venerable patriarch now speaks of the incidents of his youth which to those of the present generation seem to belong to a far distant past. What mighty changes has this man witnessed in the space of his life. He has seen the very face of nature changed by the genius of man. What were once sleepy villages are now great bustling cities. He has seen dense forests give way before the advance of the white man and the log cabin of the pioneer to the modern structures of brick and stone. MARVELOUS CHANGES CRONK HAS WITNESSED When Hiram Cronk was a boy, the Union was made up of ( ) states, now there are 45. He saw the opening and close of the 19th century, the greatest era of time in history He has seen the old sailing ships give way to the floating palaces now -------the ocean powered by steam. The lumbering stagecoach which jolted is passengers over -----------succeeded by -------- equipped trains which ------- --------distances bringing cities wh-- ----- ---------- far apart--------------. In Mr. Cronk's youth the only method of communication with the pacific coast was furnished by vessels which sailed around Cape Horn. He saw the most marvelous of all inventions, the telegraph brought to perfection. During Mr.Cronk's life might changes have also taken place in the governments of the world. Queen Victoria was born, reared, ruled the earth's mightiest empire and has passed away. In the United State President after President has occupied the White from Andrew Jackson to Roosevelt. Napoleon, Bismark, Gladstone have come and gone and still Hiram Cronk lives on. During Mr. Cronk's life the United States has passed through four wars - that of 1812, the Mexican, civil and the Spanish-American wars, besides the Indian campaigns on the frontier. To few men has been given the privilege of witnessing the marvelous changes wrought by time and genius as has been afforded Hiram Cronk during his 102 years of life. Mr. Cronk is the last of a family of nine children. He was born in Frankfort, Herkimer county, N.Y. April 29, 1800. His father, James Cronk, and two brother came to this country from Holland early in the 19th century. One of the brother amassed a fortune in America and returned to Holland. Later his estates passed into the hands of the government. For many years his descendants in this country have tried to recover the estate from Holland, but so far they have been unsuccessful. When still a child Mr. Cronk's father removed his family from Herkimer county to Oneida County. After living at Wrights' Settlement for several years the Cronks removed to ----- --------Western where ---------resided ever since. IN THE WAR OF 1812 In his 15th year Cronk, in company with his father and two brothers enlisted in the United tate Army. His country was then at war with England and the Cronks were stationed at Sackets harbor with a force held at that point to repel an invasion from Canada. At the time of his enlistment Hiram was of small stature, and, owing to his build, he was often the butt of the soldier's jokes. They told Hiram that his father would have to carry him when they went into battle. But upon that score his comrades were mistaken for in the first engagement young Cronk acted with such gallantry that he was publicly commended by his commander. At the close of the war the Cronks returned to their home and Hiram became an itinerant shoemaker. In 1837 he purchased the farm upon which he now lives. Mr. Cronk's memory has of late become quite weakened, and it is but occasionally now that he can recall incidents of his young. When the work of excavation for the Erie canal was begun in 1817 Mr. Cronk went to Rome, N.Y. and secured a position in that undertaking. MET LAFAYETTE Mr. Cronk also remembers when Gen. Lafayette stopped at Rome. It was upon the completion of the Erie canal that the distinguished Frenchman was transported along the great waterway on a barge. The citizens of Rome had ------ ------- streets through which the general had to pass. Cronk was one of the committee of citizens ---------- ----- ----- Lafayette upon his --------to the city. It is only about two years ago that Mr. Cronk was granted a pension for his services in the war of 1812. The pension amounted to $8 a month. Through the efforts of Congressman Sherman the pension has been increased to $25 a month. The old man now makes his home with his daughter, Mrs. Sarah A. Rawley. He needs constant care of late years. During the day he sleeps continually, while he spends his nights sitting in a chair. He is a great lover of tobacco, which he has used since he was a boy. Mr. Cronk comes of a long-lived family. His sister, Mrs. Betsey Fuller, lived to be 98 years old, his brother Casper 97; another brother 75, and two brothers Eber of Omro, Wis. and Rev. Jarvis Cronk of Houseville, N.Y. lived to be 98 and 94 respectively. Mr. Cronk has always been a Democrat. He cast his first vote for Andrew Jackson and voted for every Democratic candidate for President down to Grover Cleveland. He is a devout Methodist and spends much of his time reading the Bible, which he can do without the aid of glasses. Many people call at the Cronk homestead to see the old man. He is very much adverse to having his picture taken. He always assures himself that his visitors are not armed with a camera before he ventures to talk to them. The picture of Mr. Cronk which is presented in this issue of the Globe was taken by Photographer Moore, of Boonville, N.Y. and was made especially for the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.