Son of Jarius and Julia Ann (Wells) Crandall.
He was instrumental in gathering genealogical information on the Crandall and allied lines. After his death, his daughter ensured some of his work was incorporated into the 1949 John Cortland Crandall book, Elder John Crandall of Rhode Island and some of his descendants. In 1908, he was one of over 150 attendees of the 1st annual Crandall reunion held at Milton, Wisconsin and became President of an organization representing Wisconsin Crandalls. It was stated after 30 years of work, he and Edwin G. Davis of Rhode Island had collected and classified about 12,000 names of people descended from Elder John Crandall as well as several thousands of others unclassified.
He was a member of the Seventh Day Baptist Church.
He began his higher education at Alfred University in New York; however, this was interrupted by the Civil War and he won the rank of lieutenant. [I believe he was in the 23rd NY; but, not certain.] After his military service he continued his education at Milton college earning a BA in 1873 and an M.A. in 1876 and a Ph. D. in 1885; he was also a professor of geology at that college.
He taught at Big Foot Academy in Walworth, Wisconsin and later entered Harvard - Lawrence Scientific School of Applied Science.
He also was a faculty member of Alfred University.
For 10 years he was assistant geological surveyor of Kentucky.
