Biographical Sketch of David Cranor, Gentry County, Missouri

>From "History of Gentry and Worth Counties", Biographical Sketches of
the Bench and Bar, St. Joseph, Mo.: National Historical Company, 1882.

**********************************************************************

Major David Cranor is one of the earliest settlers of Gentry County,
whither he came in 1844, from Indiana, locating in Jackson Township,
on Island Branch.  He is the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Cranor, and
was born in 1826.  He began the study of law in 1838, with James Rari-
ton, Esq., at Centerville, Indiana, and continued his studies until
1840, when he was admitted to the practice.  Just after being admitted
to the bar, he was employed in two cases, and losing both, the major
says he became disgusted with his chosen profession, and abandoned it
for a number of years.  He went to Kansas in 1854, locating first at
Junction City, and afterward at Ogden City, where he remained until 
the spring of 1861, when he returned to Gentry County, Missouri.  
Shortly afterwards he enlisted in the Union army, remaining in the
service four years, performing his duty as a soldier with alacrity and
great fidelity.  Although not in any ver sanguinary engagements, he 
was constantly on the outposts of danger, where he did service as an
officer in command of a skirmish line.  For his gallantry and skill as
an officer, he was promoted to the rank of major.  In the spring of 
1865 he was mustered out of the army under Colonel John F. Williams,
who was at one time speaker of the lower house of the legislature of
Missouri.  In 1864, during his absence from home, he was elected to
the lower house of the legislature, but preferring to remain upon the
field of danger until the close of the war, he did not serve the people
by taking his seat in the legislature.  Since his return from the war,
the major has been actively engaged in the prosecution of his profess-
ion, which he at one time gave up in disgust, and is regarded as one of
the best criminal lawyers in this section of Missouri.  He married Miss
Julia A. Cook.  They have five children living, to wit: Hiram, John D.,
Morris, Dewilda and Kenyon.

====================================================================
     USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing
         free information on the Internet, data may be used by
         non-commercial entities, as long as this message
         remains on all copied material. These electronic
         pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit
         or for presentation by other persons or organizations.

         Persons or organizations desiring to use this material
         for purposes other than stated above must obtain the
         written consent of the file contributor.

         This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb
         Archives by: Joe Miller <mio@netins.net>
		      Penny Harrell <Incog3678@aol.com>

====================================================================