Hiram Cronk

Hiram Frank Cronk
Born	(1800-04-19)April 19, 1800 Frankfort, New York
Died	May 13, 1905(1905-05-13) (aged 105) 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 19, 1800 – May 13, 1905) was the last surviving veteran of the War of 1812 at the time of his death.^[1] 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 14, 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.

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, 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[]

External links[]

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

Media[]

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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.

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