Vermilion county Illinois, JOHN B. CRANSON ==================================================================== Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives Joy Fisher ==================================================================== p. 239-240 JOHN B. CRANSON. It is a homely and time-worn adage that "virtue brings its own reward," but the truth of it is frequently brought to mind, as in contemplating the career of Mr. Cranson, which has been that of an honest man and a good citizen, and in which he has performed life's duties in a creditable manner, with the exception that he is still plodding along life's road single-handed and alone, although having passed the fifty-second year of his age. While he may not be the hero of any very thrilling event he has seen much of life in its different phases, and during the Civil War gave his services to assist in the preservation of the Union. His army record is a creditable one, as has been that of his life after leaving it, when he settled down to farm life again in 1878 on his present farm, and has now one of the attractive homesteads in his township. His specialty is Jersey cattle, and he is likewise interested in the chicken industry, having a goodly number of fine fowls in which he takes a pardonable pride. The subject of this notice is a native of Lockport, N. Y., and was born April 15, 1837. His parents, Joel and Rhoda (Gray) Cranson, were natives of Massachusetts and Vermont respectively, and lived in New York until 1854, then removed to Michigan, and from the Wolverine State to Indiana, and from there came to Illinois in 1864, where their death occurred; the father died in 1875, and the mother in 1882. They were the parents of six children, three of whom besides our subject are still living. The union school at Lockport furnished young Cranson with his early education, which was completed at the age of fifteen years. He then began an apprenticeship at the trade of tinsmith, which he followed two years, and after the removal of the family to Michigan he engaged in the lumber business. After their removal to Indiana he became interested in farming. Upon the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted in 1861 in Company B, 29th Indiana Infantry, and six months later was promoted to the post of Orderly Sergeant. The regiment was organized at La Porte, Ind., was assigned to the command of Gen. McCook, and afterward participated in the battle of Pittsburg Landing, after which he fell and was hurt. Upon recovering sufficiently he was transferred to the veteran reserve corps, in which he remained until the expiration of his term of service. He received his honorable, discharge in September, 1864, and after a brief visit to his old home in Indiana set out for Illinois with the view of permanently establishing himself in this State. Prior to entering the army he had purchased a farm in Indiana and sold it before coming to Illinois. The domestic arrangements of our subject are presided over by his two sisters, and he has one of the pleasantest homes in the county. The sisters are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, while Mr. Cranson is identified with the Cumberland Presbyterian. The three operate together in the business of raising chickens which is carried on by the natural process and by incubators. They market about 800 per year, and have all the modern conveniences for hatching and taking care of the chickens. The whole process is so systematized that the industry is pleasurable as well as profitable. Their cattle are grade Shorthorn and full-blooded Jerseys. In politics Mr. Cranson uniformly votes the straight Republican ticket. Socially, he is a member of Homer Post, G. A. R., and as a Mason belongs to Blue Lodge and the Chapter in Homer, in the latter of which he is Master of Third Veil. Both in social and business circles he occupies an enviable position, and is one of those men whose word is considered as good as his bond.