Saturday, August 8, 2015

Research Day - Henry Cronk Family

Henry A. Cronk
Born:  1833 in Vermont
Died: March 5, 1862 in the Mounds City, Illinois Civil War hospital of volnus sclopeticum otherwise known as a gunshot wound which he sustained at the Battle of Fort Donelson on Feb. 14, 1862.  Pneumonia fever from wounds received is also listed as a cause of death in the widow's pension papers filed on behalf of Hannah and the children.

Buried: Unknown, it is possible that Henry is one of the unknown soldiers buried at the Mounds City National Cemetery.  It is possible that his body was taken back to Macoupin County, IL.  The third possibility is that he is buried in Farnsworth / Mt. Zion Cemetery in Wayne County, IL where hannah is buried, but I'm beginning to think that isn't the case as Hannah and the children were living in Macoupin County during the war.  No military service tombstone has ever been applied for under his name.

Occupation: Farmer



Married: Hannah Carpenter Robertson September 5, 1859 in Macoupin Co., IL

Hannah Carpenter Robertson
Born: April 19, 1834 in Lawrence Co., Ohio
Died: Dec. 21, 1916 in Keenes, IL.

Buried: Farnsworth / Mt. Zion Cemetery in Wayne Co., IL

Daughter of David & Rebecca (Clark) Robertson.

Military Service: Henry joined the Union Army as a private in Company G of the 49th Illinois Infantry Nov. 2, 1861.  He was described as being age 28, 5'10" tall with light hair, blue eyes and fair complexion.  His occupation was farmer.  Henry joined for a three year term and mustered in at Camp Butler near Springfield, IL on December 31, 1861, the day his second daughter was born.

The regiment moved out on Feb. 3, 1862 to Cairo, Illinois.  From there they moved on to Ft. Henry, Tennessee.  They engaged the Confederates at Ft. Donelson on February 14th where Henry was shot and was missing in action.  On the May & June muster roll he is reported sick in the hospital back in Mounds City, Illinois.  The July & August muster roll reported that he died in Mound City Hospital on March 5th 1862.

Census & Records:
1840 - Henry - undetermined, there are several Cronk families in several states that he could belong with.  Hannah's parents were in the process of leaving Ohio and moving to Illinois


1850 - Henry - undetermined, a family in Fountain Co., IN and several in New York.  Hannah living with her parents in Jefferson Co., IL age 16.

1855 - a Henry Cronk living in Aurora, IL aged between 20 & 30.  There is female in the household 10 to 20.  It is possible this is the same Henry as he would have been 22 in 1855.  It's possible that Hannah was his second wife.

There is also an M. Cronk listed in Macoupin Co., IL listed as Irish, 1 male -10, 1 male 10-20, 1 male & 1 female 20-30.

I've not been able to find Hannah's family on the 1855 census.  Some are very difficult to read.

1857 - David Robertson bought land in Brighton Twp. in Macoupin Co., IL.

1859 - Henry and Hannah marry in Macoupin Co., IL on Sept. 5.

1860 - I've not been able to find Henry and Hannah on the census.  Their daughter Mary is born in Macoupin Co., IL in September according to the affadavits of Rebecca Robertson and Susannah Conrad.  Hannah's parents are living in Macoupin Co., IL. 

1861 -
  •  November 2 - Henry enlists in U.S. Army in Macoupin Co.
  • December 31 - Athalia T. born in Macoupin Co. and Henry mustered in at Camp Butler near Springfield. 
1862 -
  • February 3 - Henry's company leave for Cairo, IL about 250 miles probably by train to East St. Louis and then on to Cairo 
  • February 8 - the company moved to Ft. Henry on the Kentucky River about 95 miles just two days after the Battle of Ft. Henry
  • February 11-16 - engaged the Confederates in the Battle of Ft. Donelson on the Cumberland River.  The forts are about 18 miles apart.  
  • March 5 - Henry dies at the army hospital in Mound City, IL. 
  • The document at right documents Henry's last days:
Hd. Qrs. Camp "G" 49th Regt. Ills Inft. Vols.
Memphis Tenn. December 5th 1863
This  is to certify that Henry A. Cronk late Private in Camp. "G" 49th Regt. Ills. Vols. died at Mound City Hospital, Mound City, Ills. on the 5th day of March A.D. 1862 of Pneumonia & Fever and deceased, contracted (?) with line of his duty as a soldier in  the army of the U.S. while stationed at or on Battlefield of Donelson on or about the 14th day of February A.D. 1862.
Lewis W. Moore, Capt. Commanding Officer, Co. G, 49 Regt.
  • November 14 - Hannah files application for widow's pension in Macoupin Co., IL.  Her brother A.S. Robertson signed as a witness.  The second witness is a W.J. Robertson.  I do not know his relationship to the family
  • November 24 - Hannah's application becomes Pension Certificate 13777 No. 6587
  • December 6 - a form letter from the Adjutant General's Office is placed in the file verifying Henry's death.  It contains the following information:
March & April 1862 muster roll Henry is reported as missing in action at Fort Donelson Feby. 14th, 1862
May & June 1862 muster roll he is reported, sick in hospital
July & August 1862 muster roll he is reported died in Mound City  Hospital, date or cause of death not stated
1863 - Nov. 12 - Macoupin County Clerk George Holliday files proof that Henry & Hannah were married Sep. 8, 1859 by Luke Dillard a minister of the Gospel.

1864 -
  • February 1 - form letter  from Surgeon General's Office stating that Henry died on March 5, 1862 of vulnus sclopeticum the Latin term for gunshot wound.
  • February 8 - Hannah filed a Claim for Increase of Widow's Pension, she gives her address as Long Prairie, Wayne Co., IL.  I'm not sure when she moved south. 
1865 - Hannah not found on census in Wayne or Jefferson County, IL

1866 - Oct. 25 - Hannah filed a Widow's Claim for Increase of Pension, this document states that both children were born in Macoupin Co., IL.  Her brother James H. and sister Mary E. signed as witnesses.

1867 - Oct. - Hannah's paperwork was transferred to the Centralia, Illinois office from the Springfield, Illinois office.

1868 -
  • February 12 - Hannah's mother Rebecca Robertson's affidavit that she was present at Mary Cronk's birth. The affidavit was taken in Wayne Co., IL where Rebecca was living at the time.
  • February 22 - Susannah Conrad gave testimony that she witnessed the birth of Mary Elzada Cronk. Susannah was living in Macoupin Co., IL when she gave her affidavit.
  • December 1 - Hannah's brother Dr. Amos Robertson swore an affidavit that he was present at the birth of Athalia T. Cronk's birth.  His statement was taken in Wayne Co., IL where he lived.
  • December 15 - Hannah appears to have received an increase in her pension
1870 - Hannah and her children were living with David & Rebecca Robertson in Wayne Co., IL.  Hannah is 36, Mary 9 and Athalia 8.

1879 - Nov. - Athalia Cronk died of consumption.  She is buried in Farnsworth / Mt. Zion Cemetery.

1880 - Hannah age 46 and Mary age 19 lived in Wayne Co. Mary is listed as keeping house and indicates that her father was born in Vermont.

1900 - Hannah age 66 lived in Wayne Co. with her daughter Mary and two granddaughters Rose Zella Barnes and Annie Hale

1910 - Hannah age 76 is listed as a farmer with a general farm in Wayne Co.  Her daughter Mary and grandchildren Rose and Annie were living with her.

1916 -
  • July 8 - Hannah wrote to the Pension Bureau regarding an increase in her pension.  Pensions were to be raised to $20 per month
  • December 21 - Hannah Cronk  died in Keenes, IL.
  • December 29 - Rose Zella Barnes wrote a letter to the Pension Bureau informing them of Hannah's death.  In the letter she states "Hannah C. Cronk the widow of Henry A. Cronk who was a private in Co. G 49th Regiment Illinois died the 21th of Dec. 1916 at 11 p.m. at the age of 82 years, eight months and two days and if she had a lived she would a drawed sixty dollars the 4th of January 1917." Rose Zella requested the money in order to pay for Hannah's burial.
1917
  • January 7 - Stella Faulkner, post mistress at Keenes returned Hannah's pension check to the Pension Bureau with a cover letter stating that Hannah died Dec. 21, 1916.  This letter is dated 1/7-1916.  This is the kind of mistake I make every January when I write a date out of habit. 
  • January 9 - Pensioner Dropped paperwork filed in the Pension Bureau which indicates that Hannah received a check for $20 on Oct. 4, 1916.  It is stamped:  "Check No. 3389637 Dated Jan. 4, 1917 Canceled $60."  
  • January 12 - Rose Zella Barnes filed an Application for Reimbursement.  In this document she states that Hannah owned real estate valued at $200 and personal estate valued at $25.  Hannah owned lots 35 and 36 in Keenes which were assessed at $75.  Hannah's last illness is said to have begun on Oct. 1, Dr. W.A. Dulany was her attending physician and Bertha Solomon nursed her.  Her burial place is listed as Mt. Zion Cemetery.  Dr. Dulany received $20; Bertha Solomon received $6; Keen & Co. O.E. Williams undertaker was waiting to be paid $55 as was William Wood & Son for the tombstone which cost $16.75.  N.R. Mandrell and J.W. Painter were witnesses to this information. 
  • January 12 - Rose Zella filed a Reimbursement Certificate.  This document is a single sheet financial statement indicating the same costs as were laid out in the Application for Reimbursement. 
  • February 12 - Pension Bureau Commissioner wrote a letter rejecting Rose Zella's claims on the basis of Hannah's asssets.
  • March 1 - Rose Zella wrote a letter requesting to draw Hannah's pension. She states that she is an invalid who suffers with asthma and is unable to work.  Rose Zella goes on to say that she "had allways depends on my gran[d]mother for all my [illegible]" . . . "my gran[d]mother Hannah C. Cronk had to care for me even bought the first clothes I had and the last ones and now she is gone I can't see how I am to live."
  • March 16 - Commissioner G.M. Saltzgaber wrote to Rose Zella stating that there was no law providing a pension to soldier's grandchildren.



Children:
Mary Elzada, b. 9/17/1860 in Macoupin Co., d. ?  md. 1) ? Barnes and 2) John  Hale 7/1/1894 divorced before 1900
  • Rose Zella Barnes b. 3/1887, living 1917
  • Annie Hale b. 4/1895
Athalia T. b. 12/31/1861 in Macoupin Co., d. 11/1879 in Wayne Co., of consumption at age 17.

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