Hiram Cronk

Hiram Cronk
Born	(1800-04-29)April 29, 1800 Frankfort, New York
Died	Ava, New York
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1814
Rank	Private
Battles/wars	War of 1812

Hiram Cronk (April 29, 1800 – May 13, 1905) was the last surviving veteran of the War of 1812 at the time of his death. He lived to the age of 105.

Life and career

Born in Frankfort, New York, Cronk enlisted with his father and two brothers on August 4, 1814. He served with the New York Volunteers in the defense of Sackett's Harbor, and was discharged November 16, 1814. For his service, he received a pension of $12 per month. In 1903, the United States Congress increased it to $25 per month. He also received a special pension of $72 per month from the State of New York.

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Hiram Cronk, Pensioner of 1812, in The Broad Ax newspaper June 2, 1900

Cronk spent most of his life working as a shoemaker. He married Mary Thornton in 1825, with whom he had seven children. At the time of his death, he had 14 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. (His great-granddaughter Jane lived to over 100 years of age herself, making the two "serial centenarians").

Cronk died in Ava, New York in May 1905 at the age of 105. After his death, his body was displayed in the main lobby of New York City Hall. An estimated 925,000 people paid their respects. He is interred in the Mount of Victory, Cypress Hills National Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York.

See also

• Last surviving United States war veterans

References

• Hiram Cronk
• Article written by the Utica Sunday Journal to Celebrate the Veteran's 103rd birthday
• Find-A-Grave

Media

• Film clip of the hearse procession for Hiram Cronk (including the carriage for NYC Mayor McClellan) on its way from Grand Central Station to New York City Hall, taken May 17, 1905.