Bio: Thomas Jefferson Cranford, Sabine Parish, Louisiana

Source: History of Sabine Parish by John G. Belisle, The Sabine Banner Press,

1912 (Page 286)

Submitted: by : Kay Thompson Brown
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THOMAS JEFFERSON CRANFORD



Thomas Jefferson Cranford, the present sheriff of Sabine parish, was born near

Pleasant Hill, Sabine parish, October 3, 1863, his parents being William H.

and Cynthia (Anderson) Cranford.  His father, whose death occurred while

serving in the Civil War, May, 1864, was a native of Alabama, while his mother

was born and reared in Sabine parish, her father being Wade Anderson, a

pioneer, whose son, Jeff Anderson, was sheriff of this parish in 1863 and died

while an occupant of that office, his father serving the unexpired term.  When

old enough to work Mr. Cranford followed the plow and helped to support his

widowed mother.  There were no schools in the country and he reached manhood

with a very limited education.  His mother, several years after the war,

married C. D. Carroll, to which union two children were born, S. L. Carroll,

who is now a prominent merchant of Zwolle, and Annie, who is the wife of John

Paul and resides in Texas.  Mr. Cranford followed the occupation of farming

until 1902.  He served two terms as Police Juror in the '90s and was a member

of that body from his old home war (the Sixth) when the present courthouse and

jail were constructed.  In 1901 he moved to Many to accept a position as field

deputy for Sheriff Henderson, purchasing a farm just outside the corporate

limits.  Mr. Henderson resigned his office in November, 1902, and Mr. Cranford

was appointed sheriff by Governor Heard.  He has occupied the position every

since, having been three time elected.  As ex-officio tax collector, he has

always collected the taxes and turned same into the parish treasury promptly

on the first of July of each year, and has made it a rule to collect more than

is charged.  He is also proud of the fact that he has never found it necessary

to seriously hurt a prisoner while in the discharge of his duties.  Mr.

Cranford is a genial gentleman and courteous officer.  In 1886 he was married

to Miss Cora Hooker and to them have been born four children: Maggie, Rupert

(died at the age of 7 years), Lola and Nellie.



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