Carroll-Grant-Elkhart County IN Archives Biographies.....Crampton, Adelbert Bernard 1843 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/in/infiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com March 27, 2006, 11:42 pm Author: John C. Odell (1916) COL. ADELBERT BERNARD CRAMPTON. Col. Adelbert B. Crampton, governor of the national home for disabled volunteer soldiers near the city of Marion, in Grant county, this state, for many years actively and honorably connected with the newspaper profession at Delphi, this county, editor of the Carroll County Citizen-Times, who now occupies the distinguished position of dean of the Indiana newspaper fraternity, being the oldest newspaper editor in point of continuous service in the Hoosier state, is a native son of Indiana, a fact to which he ever has pointed with pride. He was born in the city of Elkhart, in the northern part of the state, March 8, 1843, son of Henry and Sally Ann (Keltner) Crampton, natives, respectively, of Vermont and Pennsylvania, the former of whom was the son of Ezekial Crampton, a Vermonter, of Scottish parentage, a soldier of the War of 1812, whose father was a soldier in the patriot army during the Revolutionary War, and the latter of whom was the daughter of John Keltner, a Dunkard preacher, of Pennsylvania-Dutch stock, several of whose sons also were ministers of the same simple faith. Henry Crampton moved from Lockport, New York, to Elkhart, Indiana, in the middle thirties of the last century, and in the latter place was engaged in bridge- and boat-building, being the owner of several boats that plied the waters of the St. Joseph river between Elkhart and St Joseph, Michigan, in the days before the construction of the old Michigan Southern & Northern Indiana railroad, now the Lake Shore road, put a stop to the once thriving river traffic. He was made foreman of carpenters in the employ of the above railroad company and in that capacity constructed the first locomotive turn-table ever built in Chicago. The surviving children of Henry and Sally Ann (Keltner) Crampton are William H. Crampton, of Streator, Illinois; Mrs. Mary A. Olmstead, of Carthage, Missouri, and Col. A. B. Crampton, governor of the national soldiers' home at Marion, this state. Adelbert B. Crampton left school at the age of eleven years to learn the printer's trade and never thereafter entered a school room as a student; but in the universal schooling of the print-shop, "the poor man's college," acquired a variety of learning and a breadth of understanding which for many years nave caused him to be known as one of the best-informed men in Indiana. He began his apprenticeship in the office of the Elkhart Herald in the spring of 1854, he then being eleven years of age, and served there for three years, becoming an adept printer, swift, accurate and intelligent He then worked for awhile in the office of the St. Joseph Valley Register, Schuyler Colfax, editor, and in the office of the Goshen Democrat, Robert Lowry, editor, after which he moved the plant of the Elkhart Herald to Three Rivers, Michigan, and assisted in the publication of the Three Rivers Herald, the first newspaper published in that city. In the meantime Mr. Crampton had been developing a forceful, fluent and entertaining style as a writer of terse, expressive newspaper English and was becoming widely known among the younger newspaper men of northern Indiana. In September, 1861, he responded to the nation's, call to arms, enlisting as a private in Company A, Forty-eighth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served valiantly with that regiment until the close of the war. Mr. Crampton was a fine figure of a soldier, his more than six feet of height his singularly erect bearing and graceful carriage distinguishing him above most of his comrades from a physical point of view, and he was straightway elected color-bearer of the regiment. He presently was promoted to the rank of orderly sergeant of Company A and not long thereafter was advanced to the rank of first lieutenant of that same company, which was his rank when he received his honorable discharge, a veteran soldier, when the regiment was mustered out on July 15, 1865, the war then being over. Lieutenant Cranipton's knowledge of printer's ways and his ability as an editor obtained for him several commissions to interesting special service during the war and he became one of the best-known men in the army to which his regiment was attached. After the fall of Vicksburg, in the accomplishment of which signal victory the Forty-eighth Indiana had participated conspicuously, Lieutenant Crampton was detailed by General Grant to take charge of the office of the Vicksburg Citizen, as printer to the army, and it was while thus engaged that he issued the famous wall-paper edition of the Citizen, which made a tremendous "hit" with the army and which rarely fails to receive mention, even to this day, whenever survivors of that army get together and begin exchanging reminiscences of the war times. Lieutenant Crampton left Vicksburg with his regiment and after the battles of Missionary Ridge and Lookout Mountain went with the regiment to Huntsville, Alabama, and while the regiment was stationed there was detailed by General Sherman to conduct the office of the North Alabamian at that place, as a government printing office. Upon the close of his military experience Lieutenant Crampton returned to Indiana, locating in July, 1865, at Logansport, where he entered the service of the Logansport Journal, Col. Thomas H. Bringhurst, editor. Later he went to Wabash, where for awhile he was connected with the office of the Wabash Plain Dealer, Samuel Hibben, editor, after which he returned to Logansport and took service with the Logansport Pharos, Samuel A. Hall, editor, and remained with that paper, through several changes of ownership, until January, 1879, at which time he bought the Delphi Times, at Delphi, this county, and established his permanent home here. In 1892 Mr. Crampton founded the Carroll County Citizen, which, in 1900, he consolidated with the Times, under the name of the Carroll County Citizen-Times, of which paper he ever since has been editor, as well as president of the company which publishes the same. Mr. Crampton ever has been an ardent Democrat and during the campaign in which Joseph E. McDonald was chairman of the Indiana state Democratic committee he bought the Winamac Democrat at Winamac, this state, in the interests of harmony and during that campaign conducted both papers. In 1901 Mr. Crampton was also part owner and editor of the White County Democrat, at Monticello, in the neighboring county of White, and has for many years occupied a high place in the councils of the Democratic party in this state, having been long recognized, also, as one of the ablest editorial exponents of the principles of that party in Indiana. No man in Hoosier newspaper circles occupies a higher place in the esteem of his confreres than does "Del" Crampton and all delight to honor him as the dean of the profession in this state, he now holding the distinguished position of being the oldest newspaper editor in point of continuous service in Indiana. Colonel Crampton is a former president of the Northern Indiana Editorial Association, former president of the Indiana State Democratic Editorial Association and for six years rendered valuable service as a member of the executive committee of the National Editorial Association. From the days of his youth Colonel Crampton has given a good citizen's attention to the political affairs of his state and nation and for many years has been active in civic affairs, ever an ardent exponent of the principles of good government. During his residence in Logansport he was elected a member of the city council' for three terms, serving from 1873 to 1879, resigning his seat in that body upon his removal to Delphi in the latter year. While in Logansport he also served for six years as chairman of the Cass county Democratic central committee, and for six years was a member of the Indiana Democratic state central committee, two years under Eb. Henderson's chairmanship; two years under the chairmanship of Joseph E. McDonald and two years under the chairmanship of William E. English, and during the first Cleveland administration served very acceptably to the patrons of that office as postmaster at Delphi. On June 1, 1915, the appointment coming without previous knowledge or request of Mr. Crampton or any of his friends and thus being based, supposedly, wholly upon merit, Mr. Crampton was commissioned colonel and was appointed by the national board of managers to the important and highly responsible position of governor of the national home for disabled volunteer soldiers near Marion, this state, and has since then been performing the duties of that position, making his home at the governor's house at the home. In addition to his life-long activity in the newspaper business Colonel Cranipton has been active in various other forms of enterprise. Besides being president and stockholder of the Citizen Printing Company at Delphi and editor of the Carroll County Citizen-Times, he is a stockholder in the following concerns: Citizens National Bank of Delphi, this county; Carroll County Loan and Trust Company, Delphi; Rockfield Bank at Rock-field, this county; State Bank of Burrows, at Burrows, this county; Farmers and Merchants Bank of Logansport at Logansport, this state; Farmers State Bank of Camden, at Camden this county; Camden Grain Elevator and Supply Company, at Camden; Carroll County Loan, Trust and Savings Company, of Flora, this county; Peoples Life Insurance Company, Frankfort, Indiana, and the State Savings and Trust Company at Indianapolis. On September 5, 1856, at Logansport, Indiana, Adelbert B. Crampton was united in marriage to Lovisa Emmaline Alford, who was born at Meadville, Pennsylvania, daughter of Dr. Loyal A. and Elizabeth (Butler) Alford, prominent and highly respected residents of Logansport. The former was a native of New Hampshire and the latter of Pennsylvania, both long since deceased, and they were the parents of four children, Corrington L., Annette Cecelia, Mindwell and Lovisa, the latter of whom is now the only survivor. Doctor Alford was a scholarly gentleman of rare intellectual attainments, possessed the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws, in addition to his degree as Doctor of Medicine; was a member of numerous learned societies, including the Society of Science, Letters and Art, of London, England, and was the author of several books which attracted wide attention in scholastic circles. To Adelbert B. and Lovisa E. (Alford) Crampton four children were born, as follow: Adelbert B., who died at the age of seven years; Mrs. Lovisa E. Caulkins, Ph. G., a widow, mother of two children, Tom and Debetha, born, respectively in 1905 and 1902; Mrs. Mindwell Wilson, B. S., A. M., one of the best-known newspaper women in Indiana, who now is acting editor of the Carroll County Citizen-Times, and Charles C. Crampton, Ph. G., M. D., late president of the Association of Surgeons of the Monon Railroad Company. In his religious persuasion, Colonel Crampton is a Baptist of the Dunkard faith, the faith in which he was reared, but is not now actively affiliated with any church organization. He is past commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, department of Indiana; past commander of Boothroyd Post No. 31, Grand Army of the Republic, at Delphi; honorary member of the United Spanish War Veterans and companion of the Loyal Legion of the United States. Colonel Crampton is a Freemason, his membership in that ancient order including connection with the chapter, Royal Arch Masons; the council. Royal and Select Masters, and the Knights Templar. He also is an active member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Knights of Pythias, his connection with the latter order including membership in the uniform rank, and in the affairs of all these fraternal organizations he takes a warm interest. Additional Comments: Extracted from: HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY INDIANA ITS PEOPLE, INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS BY JOHN C ODELL With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families ILLUSTRATED 1916 B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY, Inc. Indianapolis, Indiana File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/in/carroll/bios/crampton137bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/infiles/ File size: 12.7 Kb