Roswell A. Crandall 1831-1913
"The Journal-Telephone", Milton Junction, Wisconsin, Thursday, Feb. 6, 1913, p 1.
Roswell A. Crandall, son of Welcome B. and Emily Dowse Crandall, was born in Brookfield, N. Y., October 15, 1831, and died at Milton Junction, Wis., January 31, 1913, being in the eighty-second year of his age.
He was married September 3, 1853, to Juliette Crandall of Brookfield, and there they first made their home. When their first child was about two years old they came west, settling at Walworth, Wis. During the Civil War they started for Minnesota but owing to the unsettled condition of the country, they thought it not wise to continue the journey at that time; so they halted in the Rock River vicinity and spent a year or so on a farm there. At the close of the war they proceeded to Minnesota where Mr. Crandall took up a homestead. After six or eight years residence there, where they endured the hardships of pioneer life incident to those early days on a Minnesota prairie, they again came back to Walworth to live. In 1890 they removed to Milton Junction, where they have since made their home, surrounded by their children and grandchildren who have comforted them in their declining years by their love and care.
Mr. and Mrs. Crandall lived together nearly sixty years, maintaining a christian home which has always been an influence for good in the community, and which has stamped its character upon the homes established by their children.
In early life Mr. Crandall was baptized and joined the Seventh Day Baptist church. Wherever he went he joined the local church of that faith, assisting in the organization of a church in Minnesota. He died in the fellowship of the Milton Junction church. He was a good citizen, quiet and law abiding. He was one of that class of sturdy, honest pioneers which settled this Middle West. A class which is rapidly passing on; men who wrought well in their day, and who set a standard of citizenship which the present generation should seek to maintain.
For many years Mr. Crandall has been in feeble health, and in his last sickness he expressed repeatedly his desire to go. He had his desire. His form so erect and straight, will be seen on our streets no more. His death is the first break in his immediate family, and of his twenty-nine descendants but two have died, a grandchild and a great-grandchild. His children are Mrs. E. O. Crandall, Mrs. O. G. Crandall, Mrs. Geo. E. Coon, and John B. Crandall, all of Milton Junction, Mrs. F. O. Burdick of Boulder, Colo., and Sherman Crandall of Brodhead. He is also survived by two brothers, William C. Crandall of Boulder, Colo., and Paul B. Crandall of Walworth.
Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon in the Seventh Day Baptist church conducted by the pastor, Rev. A. J. C. Bond. Interment was made in the Milton Junction Cemetery.
