Wilford W. Crandall (1833 - 1901)

Born 3 Jun 1833 in Spring Mills, Allegany County, New York, USA

Died 18 May 1901 at age 67 in Whitesville, Allegany County, New York, USA

Biography

• Fact: Burial Whitesville Rural Cemetery , Whitesville, Allegany County, New York, USA
  

  Sgt. Wilford Crandall served in the United States Civil War.
  Side: USA
  Regiment(s): Company F, 4th Regiment, Iowa Infantry

Occupation: Wagoner

Union Army veteran, Company F of the 4th Iowa Infantry. Entered service as a Wagoner. Just prior to the end of his enlistment he was captured and spent 13 months at the infamous Andersonville prison in Georgia.

"Whitesville - Wilford W. Crandall, one of the best known and highly respected citizens, died in his home in this village, Saturday, May 18, 1901, aged 68 years. He has been in very poor health for a number of years, having suffered attacks of la grippe, which resulted in a general breaking down. He leaves many friends to mourn besides a wife, one adopted son, Wilford B. and two brothers, Alburn of Olean and Silas of Rockford, Illinois. Wilford W. Crandall was born near Spring Mills, June 3, 1833 and lived with his parents twenty years, attending school and obtaining a fair education according to the opportunities then offered. He also taught several terms. Previous to the breaking out of the rebellion, he made several trips across the western plains, going with ox-teams and loads of provision for the miners. He stopped at Denver, Colorado, when that city was only a small hamlet. He continued in this business until the Civil War, when he enlisted as a solider for three years. Just be the expiration of his time, he was captured and sent to Andersonville prison where he was retained for thirteen months, witnessing all the horrors of that prison and suffering with the others until the close of the war. After his discharge and soon after he returned home, he was called on by the government to witness against Captain Wirz, who was in command at Anderson and who was executed for his cruelty and murder of Union soldiers. Mr. Crandall then went to Illinois where he acted as an insurance agent for two years, returning to Whitesville in 1867. About one year later he was married to Lydia A. Chase with whom he has lived for over thirty-three years. The funeral services were held from the Baptist church, Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock, Rev. C. B. Perkins of Wellsville officiating, assisted by Rev. Osborne. Sawyer Post G.A.R. of which the deceased was a member, attended in a body. Interment was made in the Baptist cemetery." (May 23, 1901, The Whitesville News, NY)

Sources

• SGT Wilford W. Crandall (1833-1901) on Find A Grave: Memorial #201147031 retrieved 24 February 2020