At 28 years old Henry enlisted at Brooklyn, N.Y. on 4/18/1861 as a quartermaster sergeant.On 5/23/1861 he was mustered into Field and Staff,84th N.Y. Inf. (14th Brooklyn S.M."the red legged devils" )He was discharged for promotion on 3/23/1862 at Pratt's landing, Va. He was then mustered into the U.S. Volunteers Commissary Dept.on 3/23/1863. His promotions include 1st Lieut. 5/23/1861, 1st Lieut. and Quartermaster on 2/20/1862,Captain on 3/23/1863 (commisary and subsistance), and finally, Major (by brevet) 7/5/1865. He was mustered out on 7/6/1865. He died at Brooklyn on 8/23/1896, and was interred on 8/25/1896.
Major Henry L. Cranford, president of the Cranford Paving Company, died yesterday afternoon, shortly after 3 o’clock at his residence, No. 1534 Park Avenue, Mt. Pleasant. He was taken down several weeks ago with an infection of the liver which resulted fatally. His wife and his two sons were at his bedside when the end came. Major Cranford was born in Newfoundland, May 10, 1833. He was taken to New York by his parents when a child and educated at the Mechanics’ Institute in that city. At the age of fifteen he entered the dry goods house of Grant & Barton, and remained two years in their service, and then went to sea for five years, the first voyage being two years in a whaler. Afterward he was in the merchant service, sailing from the port of New York. At the age of twenty-one he was second officer of the clipper ship “Panama.” At the age of twenty-two he gave up going to sea and entered into mercantile pursuits in New York, traveling for a house extensively in the west and south. In 1857 he embarked in the wholesale dry goods business with his brother, the firm name being J. P. and H. L. Cranford, whose store was at the corner of Broadway and Duane Street. The business was successfully conducted until the breaking out of the war in 1861. April 18 of the same year he entered the federal service as first lieutenant of Company G, 14th New York State Militia (84th New York Volunteers), generally known as the Brooklyn 14th. He participated with his regiment in the first battle of Bull Run, and the next spring in the taking of Falmouth and Fredericksburg. In May 1862, he was detailed by Gen. C. C. Augur on his staff, and shortly afterward on the staff of Gen. John P. Hatch, who succeeded Gen. Augur. He participated in the engagements (August 20 to 30) of Rappahannock Station, Sulphur Springs, Gainesville, Groveton and Second Bull Run, and on September 14 in the Battle of South Mountain. He served as acting assistant adjutant general through the campaigns and battles of Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville.
Early in 1863 he was appointed by the President as captain and commissary of subsistence, and continued to serve as such until the close of the war. He served on the staff of Gens. John F. Reynolds and Abner Doubleday at the Battle of Gettysburg. In the spring of 1864 he was ordered to the cavalry corps, and with it went to the Shenandoah valley and served throughout that campaign on the staff of Gen. Wesley Merritt.
In July, 1863, he resigned his commission and returned to his home in Brooklyn, NY. Shortly after, he accepted the position of general manager of the Black Heath Coal Company in Pennsylvania and served as such two years. He returned to Brooklyn and went into the asphalt paving business. In June, 1871, he came to this city where he at once engaged as general contractor. The streets of the city were then unpaved, and the dumping ground for refuse of all kinds, and full of mud holes and filth always after a rain. At this time various unscrupulous paving companies came into existence, with the sole purpose of making what they could out of the stimulus that Maj. Cranford gave the street paving business, with the result that only pavements lad by him were lasting, and this because the honesty, integrity, skill and perseverance which have characterized his whole life were dominant.
Major Cranford was married April 28, 1861, to Margaret J. Munn of Montclair, N.J., granddaughter of Capt. Joseph Munn of the war of 1812. He has had born five children, of whom two survive, Joseph H. and H. Percy, who are both associated with him in his business.
--The Evening Star (Washington, D.C.) August 24, 1896 p. 3.
Major Henry L. Cranford, president of the Cranford Paving Company, died yesterday afternoon, shortly after 3 o’clock at his residence, No. 1534 Park Avenue, Mt. Pleasant. He was taken down several weeks ago with an infection of the liver which resulted fatally. His wife and his two sons were at his bedside when the end came. Major Cranford was born in Newfoundland, May 10, 1833. He was taken to New York by his parents when a child and educated at the Mechanics’ Institute in that city. At the age of fifteen he entered the dry goods house of Grant & Barton, and remained two years in their service, and then went to sea for five years, the first voyage being two years in a whaler. Afterward he was in the merchant service, sailing from the port of New York. At the age of twenty-one he was second officer of the clipper ship “Panama.” At the age of twenty-two he gave up going to sea and entered into mercantile pursuits in New York, traveling for a house extensively in the west and south. In 1857 he embarked in the wholesale dry goods business with his brother, the firm name being J. P. and H. L. Cranford, whose store was at the corner of Broadway and Duane Street. The business was successfully conducted until the breaking out of the war in 1861. April 18 of the same year he entered the federal service as first lieutenant of Company G, 14th New York State Militia (84th New York Volunteers), generally known as the Brooklyn 14th. He participated with his regiment in the first battle of Bull Run, and the next spring in the taking of Falmouth and Fredericksburg. In May 1862, he was detailed by Gen. C. C. Augur on his staff, and shortly afterward on the staff of Gen. John P. Hatch, who succeeded Gen. Augur. He participated in the engagements (August 20 to 30) of Rappahannock Station, Sulphur Springs, Gainesville, Groveton and Second Bull Run, and on September 14 in the Battle of South Mountain. He served as acting assistant adjutant general through the campaigns and battles of Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville.
Early in 1863 he was appointed by the President as captain and commissary of subsistence, and continued to serve as such until the close of the war. He served on the staff of Gens. John F. Reynolds and Abner Doubleday at the Battle of Gettysburg. In the spring of 1864 he was ordered to the cavalry corps, and with it went to the Shenandoah valley and served throughout that campaign on the staff of Gen. Wesley Merritt.
In July, 1863, he resigned his commission and returned to his home in Brooklyn, NY. Shortly after, he accepted the position of general manager of the Black Heath Coal Company in Pennsylvania and served as such two years. He returned to Brooklyn and went into the asphalt paving business. In June, 1871, he came to this city where he at once engaged as general contractor. The streets of the city were then unpaved, and the dumping ground for refuse of all kinds, and full of mud holes and filth always after a rain. At this time various unscrupulous paving companies came into existence, with the sole purpose of making what they could out of the stimulus that Maj. Cranford gave the street paving business, with the result that only pavements lad by him were lasting, and this because the honesty, integrity, skill and perseverance which have characterized his whole life were dominant.
Major Cranford was married April 28, 1861, to Margaret J. Munn of Montclair, N.J., granddaughter of Capt. Joseph Munn of the war of 1812. He has had born five children, of whom two survive, Joseph H. and H. Percy, who are both associated with him in his business.
--The Evening Star (Washington, D.C.) August 24, 1896 p. 3.
At 28 years old Henry enlisted at Brooklyn, N.Y. on 4/18/1861 as a quartermaster sergeant.On 5/23/1861 he was mustered into Field and Staff,84th N.Y. Inf. (14th Brooklyn S.M."the red legged devils" )He was discharged for promotion on 3/23/1862 at Pratt's landing, Va. He was then mustered into the U.S. Volunteers Commissary Dept.on 3/23/1863. His promotions include 1st Lieut. 5/23/1861, 1st Lieut. and Quartermaster on 2/20/1862,Captain on 3/23/1863 (commisary and subsistance), and finally, Major (by brevet) 7/5/1865. He was mustered out on 7/6/1865. He died at Brooklyn on 8/23/1896, and was interred on 8/25/1896.
Major Henry L. Cranford, president of the Cranford Paving Company, died yesterday afternoon, shortly after 3 o’clock at his residence, No. 1534 Park Avenue, Mt. Pleasant. He was taken down several weeks ago with an infection of the liver which resulted fatally. His wife and his two sons were at his bedside when the end came. Major Cranford was born in Newfoundland, May 10, 1833. He was taken to New York by his parents when a child and educated at the Mechanics’ Institute in that city. At the age of fifteen he entered the dry goods house of Grant & Barton, and remained two years in their service, and then went to sea for five years, the first voyage being two years in a whaler. Afterward he was in the merchant service, sailing from the port of New York. At the age of twenty-one he was second officer of the clipper ship “Panama.” At the age of twenty-two he gave up going to sea and entered into mercantile pursuits in New York, traveling for a house extensively in the west and south. In 1857 he embarked in the wholesale dry goods business with his brother, the firm name being J. P. and H. L. Cranford, whose store was at the corner of Broadway and Duane Street. The business was successfully conducted until the breaking out of the war in 1861. April 18 of the same year he entered the federal service as first lieutenant of Company G, 14th New York State Militia (84th New York Volunteers), generally known as the Brooklyn 14th. He participated with his regiment in the first battle of Bull Run, and the next spring in the taking of Falmouth and Fredericksburg. In May 1862, he was detailed by Gen. C. C. Augur on his staff, and shortly afterward on the staff of Gen. John P. Hatch, who succeeded Gen. Augur. He participated in the engagements (August 20 to 30) of Rappahannock Station, Sulphur Springs, Gainesville, Groveton and Second Bull Run, and on September 14 in the Battle of South Mountain. He served as acting assistant adjutant general through the campaigns and battles of Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville.
Early in 1863 he was appointed by the President as captain and commissary of subsistence, and continued to serve as such until the close of the war. He served on the staff of Gens. John F. Reynolds and Abner Doubleday at the Battle of Gettysburg. In the spring of 1864 he was ordered to the cavalry corps, and with it went to the Shenandoah valley and served throughout that campaign on the staff of Gen. Wesley Merritt.
In July, 1863, he resigned his commission and returned to his home in Brooklyn, NY. Shortly after, he accepted the position of general manager of the Black Heath Coal Company in Pennsylvania and served as such two years. He returned to Brooklyn and went into the asphalt paving business. In June, 1871, he came to this city where he at once engaged as general contractor. The streets of the city were then unpaved, and the dumping ground for refuse of all kinds, and full of mud holes and filth always after a rain. At this time various unscrupulous paving companies came into existence, with the sole purpose of making what they could out of the stimulus that Maj. Cranford gave the street paving business, with the result that only pavements lad by him were lasting, and this because the honesty, integrity, skill and perseverance which have characterized his whole life were dominant.
Major Cranford was married April 28, 1861, to Margaret J. Munn of Montclair, N.J., granddaughter of Capt. Joseph Munn of the war of 1812. He has had born five children, of whom two survive, Joseph H. and H. Percy, who are both associated with him in his business.
--The Evening Star (Washington, D.C.) August 24, 1896 p. 3.
Major Henry L. Cranford, president of the Cranford Paving Company, died yesterday afternoon, shortly after 3 o’clock at his residence, No. 1534 Park Avenue, Mt. Pleasant. He was taken down several weeks ago with an infection of the liver which resulted fatally. His wife and his two sons were at his bedside when the end came. Major Cranford was born in Newfoundland, May 10, 1833. He was taken to New York by his parents when a child and educated at the Mechanics’ Institute in that city. At the age of fifteen he entered the dry goods house of Grant & Barton, and remained two years in their service, and then went to sea for five years, the first voyage being two years in a whaler. Afterward he was in the merchant service, sailing from the port of New York. At the age of twenty-one he was second officer of the clipper ship “Panama.” At the age of twenty-two he gave up going to sea and entered into mercantile pursuits in New York, traveling for a house extensively in the west and south. In 1857 he embarked in the wholesale dry goods business with his brother, the firm name being J. P. and H. L. Cranford, whose store was at the corner of Broadway and Duane Street. The business was successfully conducted until the breaking out of the war in 1861. April 18 of the same year he entered the federal service as first lieutenant of Company G, 14th New York State Militia (84th New York Volunteers), generally known as the Brooklyn 14th. He participated with his regiment in the first battle of Bull Run, and the next spring in the taking of Falmouth and Fredericksburg. In May 1862, he was detailed by Gen. C. C. Augur on his staff, and shortly afterward on the staff of Gen. John P. Hatch, who succeeded Gen. Augur. He participated in the engagements (August 20 to 30) of Rappahannock Station, Sulphur Springs, Gainesville, Groveton and Second Bull Run, and on September 14 in the Battle of South Mountain. He served as acting assistant adjutant general through the campaigns and battles of Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville.
Early in 1863 he was appointed by the President as captain and commissary of subsistence, and continued to serve as such until the close of the war. He served on the staff of Gens. John F. Reynolds and Abner Doubleday at the Battle of Gettysburg. In the spring of 1864 he was ordered to the cavalry corps, and with it went to the Shenandoah valley and served throughout that campaign on the staff of Gen. Wesley Merritt.
In July, 1863, he resigned his commission and returned to his home in Brooklyn, NY. Shortly after, he accepted the position of general manager of the Black Heath Coal Company in Pennsylvania and served as such two years. He returned to Brooklyn and went into the asphalt paving business. In June, 1871, he came to this city where he at once engaged as general contractor. The streets of the city were then unpaved, and the dumping ground for refuse of all kinds, and full of mud holes and filth always after a rain. At this time various unscrupulous paving companies came into existence, with the sole purpose of making what they could out of the stimulus that Maj. Cranford gave the street paving business, with the result that only pavements lad by him were lasting, and this because the honesty, integrity, skill and perseverance which have characterized his whole life were dominant.
Major Cranford was married April 28, 1861, to Margaret J. Munn of Montclair, N.J., granddaughter of Capt. Joseph Munn of the war of 1812. He has had born five children, of whom two survive, Joseph H. and H. Percy, who are both associated with him in his business.
--The Evening Star (Washington, D.C.) August 24, 1896 p. 3.
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