Riley Cranford
With the happiness which comes from the possession of a good home, and with a retrospect over a long and varied succession of years, Mr. Cranford resides on section fourteen of Fairmount Township, on the rural mail route number sixteen out of Jonesboro. His residence in Grant County goes back about thirty years and he is especially loyal to this county, because here he has won his real prosperity and enjoyed many of the pleasantest associations of his life.
Riley Cranford was born in Randolph County, North Carolina, December 3, 1836, a son of Leonard and Naomi (Riley) Cranford. Leonard Cranford was a son of Kidd Cranford, who married a Miss Hull, both of whom were natives of North Carolina, where they lived and died, farmers by occupation, and Methodists in religion. So far as known no members of the family ever held a slave, and there was a disposition on the part of the early members to oppose the institution of slavery. Leonard Cranford and wife followed farming all their lives and the former died in his native county about 1870 at the age of seventy-one. His wife had died there when thirty-five years of age. After her death Leonard Cranford married Lucy Nelson, a native of the same county. She survived her husband some years and died aged seventy-four. By the second marriage there was one daughter, who is now married and has a large family. Riley Cranford was the fourth in a family of six children, four sons and two daughters. The sons, besides Riley were: Harris, Elsevan, and Nixon, while the daughters were Adaline and Mary. The sons Elsevan and Nixon were forced into the Confederate Army, and the latter was killed in battle, while the former was in one engagement so severely wounded that he died soon afterwards. Both were unmarried.
Riley Cranford grew up in his native county, and in 1860 was married there. In 1863 he was threatened with the same enforced enlistment which had taken his two brothers away to the front, and as he was strongly opposed to the war in principles, left the country with William Moffitt, and by careful management they succeeded in getting across the lines into the north, crossing the Potomac River and finding refuge in Pennsylvania, among a Quaker settlement. There they were made to feel at home, and were given work. In Pennsylvania, Riley Cranford worked for one year, and then came west to Wayne County in the same state. In 1882 he moved to Grant County, and made a beginning of his prosperity by the purchase of forty acres of land. This was increased subsequently by twenty-tow acres more, and by his thrift and energy the entire farm is highly developed and very profitable. His principal crops are corn, wheat, timothy, clover and practically all his grain is fed on the place so that he maintains the fertility of the soil year after year. His homestead is comfortable both to the outward view and as to its interior furnishings. There is a good white house and a red barn completes the picture.
Mr. Cranford was married in his native county, in 1860 to Miss Laura A. Bingham. She was born in Randolph County, August 22, 1836. After her husband was forced to leave the country and go north, she remained at the old home until the fall of 1865, when he returned and they then moved out to Indiana. Her parents were William and Mary (Lafferty) Bingham, who were born and spent all their lives in Randolph County. They were farmers by occupation, and members of the Methodist Church. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Cranford are as follows:
- Mary is the wife of James griffin, their home is in Marion and they lost their only child, Burr, at the age of seventeen.
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Julia is the wife of William Smith, living in Marion, and their children are Goldy, Delight and Minnie.
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William is now employed in a factory at Gas City, Indiana.
Mr. and Mrs Cranford are Methodists, and in politics he is a Republican.
Submitted by: Gina Reasoner