Hiram Silas Cronk
     April 29, 1800 - May 13, 1905

Pensioner of War of 1812

Last Surviving American Veteran of That War

His Birthday Occurs Next Wednesday

A Lifelong Democrat

Cast His First Vote for Andrew Jackson

To Hiram Cronk of the quiet hamlet of Dunn Brook, eighteen miles from Rome, Oneida county, belongs the distinction of being the last surviving pensioner and the last American veteran of the War of 1812. His name is the only one that appears on the rolls at Washington as a surviving pensioner of that war. He was born in Frankfort, Herkimer county, April 29, 1800, so that on Wednesday next, if he lives, he will have attained the remarkable age of 103 years.

He was one of nine children, and is the only one living. His father was James Cronk who with two brothers, came to America from Holland early in the history of the country. When Hiram was still a child the family moved to the town of Western, where Hiram has ever since lived. His claim to be the last pensioner of the War of 1812 is authenticated by the report of the former United States Commissioner of Pensions.

His daughter, Mrs. Sarah A. Rowley, worked hard to get her father a pension, but it was not until about two years ago that she succeeded in securing for him an honorarium of $8 a month. The small pension carried no back allowances with it. It seemed an injustice, and again the daughter went to work trying to interest others in the old soldier's welfare. Last April Congressman Sherman succeeded in having the pension increased to $25 a month. Tobacco, wine and milk are the old gentleman's steady diet.

He has used tobacco since his boyhood, and even now chews from five to ten cents' worth of the weed daily. A gallon of wine lasts him about two weeks. A very strange fact about this old man's life is that he has turned his nights into days and days into nights. He sleeps all day and is awake all night, passing the greater part of the night walking the floor.

It was near the close of the War of 1812 that Hiram Cronk, his father and two brothers, John and Jephtha, enlisted in the army. He served at Sackett's Harbor between three and four months and was so young and slender that the other soldiers cracked jokes about him. Still, in a skirmish with the British, his conduct was so brave that Capt. Davis, who was in command, expressed a wish to have a regiment of men made of the same fighting spirit as Hiram Cronk.

In politics he is a Democrat having cast his first presidential vote for Andrew Jackson and his last for Grover Cleveland. He is a Methodist, and can read his Bible unaided by glasses. Mr. Cronk's mind is clear, and he loves to relate incidents long gone by. He met Gen. Lafayette when he passed through New York State, and he was present when the Erie Canal was formally opened. Of Governor DeWitt Clinton, who was inspecting progress on the canal work, Mr. Cronk relates this incident: "In looking about, the Governor stepped upon a board, that gave away, and his excellency was precipitated into the ditch, which contained quite a little mud and water. He was wet through to the skin and his clothing was badly soiled. His friends assured him that on his return to Albany he could say he had had a bath in good old Federal water.

SOURCE: Sunday Utica Journal, April 26, 1903, p. 6

More articles about Hiram Silas Cronk

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Fulton County Republican - Sept 1, 1904

Washington Post, April 30, 1905

Obituary: Washington Post - May 14, 1905

Obituary: Fulton County Republican - May 18, 1905