"Nothing can happen more beautiful than death. " ~ Walt Whitman
For most if not all Americans today the name of Hiram Cronk isn't familiar. For most Americans living during the turn of both the 19th and 20th centuries the name likewise wouldn't register either. Yet the name of Hiram Cronk, in its own unique and special way, connect Americans living now as well as in 1800 and 1900. Hiram Cronk is known to history as the nations last surviving veteran of the War of 1812, commonly called the second American War of Independence. While serving in a conflict that is largely forgotten, his name is largely lost to history outside obscure archival records books.
Others have relayed much of his life, I only serve to reflect again hopefully some due attention onto the man and his life. Born in Frankfort New York in April of 1800, Cronk took his first breath to a country of 16 states and John Adams in its presidency. The young Cronk was born into a population of only 5,000,000 souls and while playing in those early years heard debates over the wisdom of the Louisiana purchase. Not yet 15, he enlisted and fought alongside his two brothers and father in August 1814, two weeks before the country's capital would be set ablaze by the British. Napoleon was not finished fighting and King George III still sat on the throne of England. Serving and training around Lake Ontario, the young man endured the wrath of the Royal Navy during the bombardment of Sackett's Harbor later that year. Quietly being mustered out of service just weeks after that, he must have thought this to be his life's high moment of fame.
After returning home and settling down as a Shoe maker, (also at some point working on the Erie Canal) Cronk married in 1825 to his wife of sixty years Mary Thornton. He first voted for Andrew Jackson and continued voting along that party line until after Grover Cleveland. During those years he earned a pension around $10 per month before a few increases later in his life. Some detail of those years can be found in this article. Known well in New York, it was near the end of his life that he became a national figure as it became known that he was the last surviving link and soldier from that era and conflict. The New York Times among other media outlets began following him closely near the later years of his life. In an April article from 1901 reporting on his 101st birthday the story informs us that he's in very good health, even appearing as if only 75 years old. The only ailments mentioned are near deafness and the recently needed use for glasses and some battles with insomnia. A story in 1902 ominously declaring in the headline 'Veteren of 1812 Dying' we find him still doing well although beginning to show signs of decline 2 years later we find him living with his surviving daughter, sleeping much more, and sadly seemingly struggling to keep up with the mortgage on his old farm. In an article from CHRISTmas eve 1904 the Pittsburg Press declares that his life is "ebbing away" in an article that informs us that the state and governments have and are making grand preparations for the expected funeral in the near future. Just a few months later in May 1905, the tired body of Hiram Cronk gave out and he entered his place in history. The country he left now had over 80,000,000 souls and 29 states were added during his lifetime.He was living in Ava New York at the time. There is little more than a worn marker in the area today. Stories from the country detailed his funeral arrangements which included full military honors and the crowds (Est. 50,000+)stopped all traffic on the Brooklyn Bridge as his body was lying in state in NY City Hall. Over 10,000 people passed during the noon hour alone. The casket was escorted by his surviving children. Following his burial in Cypress Hills cemetery there was some minor legal issues over his will, and even talk of a monument being erected to his memory. Amazingly, here is video footage of the funeral procession. It's one thing to read about the length and time frame involved in this mans life, it's another to have the footage to view. Try to let that sink in for a second. We have video of a man (granted his funeral) who fought in the War of 1812 ... now that's pretty fantastic. The video link is below.
Lastly, I just wanted to link a couple stories concerning a bit of the legacy of those involved in War of 1812. From these two stories we can stretch out the timeline even further as we can read that in 1923 there were still 41 widows of veterans receiving pensions. Interestingly it also tells us that there were still 57 veterans of the Mexican American War alive and that the last widow receiving a pension from the Revolutionary war only died in 1906 just months after Cronk. By 1931 only nine remained yet alive. Closing out this chapter in history we see that the last widow passed away in June of 1938! The mind just has to jump over some hard coded logic nerves to force that to register. RIP Mr Cronk! Almost 200 years after you fought for your country, and over a century after your passing ... there are those who still salute the name of Hiram Cronk. This simple post is meant as simply that.
