The death of Clark Crandall which occurred last Friday, Dec. 18, removes from among us one who has been a resident of Wisconsin and for the greater part of the time, of Milton, for the last seventy years. He was born in Allegany Co., N. Y., Feb. 23, 1825, and came with his father's family to Wisconsin in 1838. He was the second son of Henry B. Crandall in whose family there were five sons and five daughters. Five of these, two sons and three daughters are still living.
In youth and early manhood Mr. Crandall was a man of strong, vigorous constitution, active and alert in body and mind. He was ambitious for College training with a view to entering one of the learned professions; but some defect of eyesight forbade the study necessary to such an attainment and he turned his attention to farming. In 1847 he was married to Susan Lacy Stillman, daughter of John Stillman of Rock River who was also one of the early settlers in this country.
Shortly after his marriage he joined a company of gold seekers and with them made the long journey to the newly discovered mining regions of California. The rough experiences of this journey and of the mining camp were congenial to his vigorous hardy nature. In the camp, also was proven the value of his literary tastes and of the store of good reading which he had acquired. His favorite author was Sir Walter Scott; and his reading of Marmion and the Lady of the Lake, and the thrilling adventures of the heroic characters of Ivanhoe and other of the historic tales relieved the tedium of many a long evening and brightened the life of men so far separated from home and friends.
After a year or two spent in this way he returned to Wisconsin and with his young wife again took up the work of the farm with a good measure of success both in the town of Milton and on Albion Prairie. During these years there were born to them six children, four of whom died in infancy or early childhood and in such succession that their home was three times left childless.
These sorrows with the increasing burden of years and the death of his wife, followed by property losses broke his constitution and changed the once social nature to that of a recluse. In this broken down condition his son, Charles H. Crandall, now of Boulder, Colorado, and his daughter Harriet, at teacher in Chicago have done all in their power to brighten his declining years.
The funeral service was held on Sunday afternoon in the Seventh-day Baptist church of Milton Junction conducted by his life-long friend, Dr. Platts, assisted by his pastor, the Rev. T. J. Van Horn of Albion, and the Rev. A. J. C. Bond of Milton Junction.
Beautiful music was furnished by the Milton College Male Quartet.
