John Wesley Crandell
 

Death Summons J. W. Crandell of Castleton

     John Wesley Crandell was born in Peoria, February 27, 1848, and passed away at his home in Castleton, Ill., Sunday morning at 10 o'clock, aged 78 years, 10 months and 29 days. At the age of 15 he enlisted in the 139th Illinois Infantry as a fifer and drummer, and later re-enlisted in the 108th Illinois Volunteer Infantry and later served to the end of the civil war in the 47th regiment infantry.
     Mr. Crandell's death removes from this community the last civil war veteran. The Crandell family has reason to be proud of a certificate of thanks received by Mr. Crandell from Abraham Lincoln, president of the United States, for distinguished services in the civil war. Following the war he took up the trade of builder and contractor, which vocation he followed the rest of his life, and there are many farm buildings in Peoria county standing today that were erected by him.
     At the age of 42 he was married to Lydia Jackson, who survived him. To them were born four children, as follows, John Wesley Crandell, Jr., of Kewanee, Ill.; William Crandell of Atlantic City, N. J.; Leora Bernice Crandell of Castleton and Moses Crandell of Enid, Okla. Leora, the only daughter, married Emmet Malamphy and she passed away in 1917, leaving one son, Walter J. Malamphy, who has made his home with his grandparents. There are also four other grandchildren. He also leaves one brother, William, of Wyoming, Ill.
     Mr. Crandell was converted and joined the Methodist Protestant church several years ago and attended church whenever able.
     His funeral services were held in the Methodist Protestant church in Castleton, Tuesday morning at 10 o'clock, conducted by Rev. Story. The burial was in the Toulon cemetery in the family lot beside the daughter and was under the direction of the Wyoming American Legion, with full military honors.
     A male quartet, Wilbur Dawning, Carl Snare, Harry Thurston and A. A. Webber, accompanied by Mrs. Atalie Sterling at the piano, sang. The pallbearers were all world war veterans, Earl Carroll, Gaius Crum, Noble Malone, Claude Cunningham, Oscar Leadley and Devo Sturm.
     Mr. Crandell always led an honorable and upright life and was a good, king neighbor and had no enemies, and will be greatly missed in this community.