John F. Cromley

John F. Cromley - We have with us today a youngster who will celebrate his 95th birthday anniversary December 17th, and who is also this community's only surviving Civil War Veteran.

'Neighbor' cromley was born in Sandusky county, Ohio and moved to Indiana when he was nine years old. For five or six years he lived on a farm near Monterey and then came to Culver

. After operating a meat market. Mr. cromley served 15 years as town constable, and one term as deputy sheriff.

He was 17 years old when he joined the 53rd Indiana Volunteer Infrantry Company H, and served for two years. with the boys in blue. His service ranged along the Atlantic seaboard, from Washington D.C. to Charlestonw, S. C.

'Neighbor' carried his years well and is sill more active than many a man 30 years his junior. his favorite hobby is fishing and his skill has earned him the title of Culver's no. One angler.

The above picture was unposed, and was taken as Mr. cromley was sunning himself in the front yard of the home of his son, Roy Cromley, with whom he makes his home. From One townssteryears:

"Neighbor" CROMLEY homestead, gone now, which stood on Main Street where RECTOR's Pharmacy is now. It was still there around 1898, as a number of people recollect, an old frame house, which sat back from the street a bit and had a yard a round it. The yard was fenced. -

Of the five children, John F. known in later years as "Neighbor" CROMLEY, was the senior. He was born December 17, 1845, and in 1934 is still living. At the time this is written, he approaches his eighty-ninth birthday, which will be celebrated in December. Although he has just been through a spell of disability in the hospital, his physical condition is promising and his indomitable spirit is unshaken. For he is made of the real old pioneer stuff. He resides on Lake View Street in Culver. "Neighbor" CROMLEY is one of the of the veterans of the Civil War in this part of the county, and practically the last remaining in the township. Only two answered the roll call in 1934.

1940 - Dec 18 - Community Honors G.A.R. Veteran On Ninety Sixth Birthday

"Neighbor" Cromiey, Marshall County's last surviving member of GAR, was honored at a testimonial dinner Tuesday night at Maxinkuckee Inn. The occasion was Mr. Cromley's birthday, and the dinner was attended by members of the American Legion and other well-wishers from the community. Colonel Robert Rossow acted as toastmaster and presented the old soldier with a gold watchchain as remembrance from the local Legion Post. Speaker of the evening was General L. R. Gignilliat, who paid tribute to Neighbor Cromley's long eventful life. In speaking of Neighbor's Civil service, General Gignilliat that the tribute to the old soldier held special significance this time because he belonged a war that "didn't murder women and children." "It was a war," the general said, "that was frightful in its being, but one that resulted in a national solidarity, while the war today is resulting in tearing a world apart." As is the case with many old soldiers Neighbor Cromley had very little to say, but as one observed him one felt that the mere presence of the old soldier was a speech in itself. The aged veteran is by no means senile. He still has a keen sense of humor and a fluidity of tongue that brought many outbursts of laughter from his well- wishers. As one sat there one could not help thinking about the many experiences of the old soldier and about the long span of life that he has covered in his 96 years; the things that he had seen, and the strange panorama of life that had passed before him. He is truly a living spirit of the early American who has seen much of the development of our Middle Western country. The Neighbor, born in Sandusky County, Ohio, in 1844, came to Culver when he was ten years of age, and with his parents cut his way overland in a covered wagon to take up his new home along the shores of Maxinkuckee. He was here at Culver as a young boy long before the last of the Indians folded up their tepees and headed deeper into the Western wilderness. He has seen Culver and the surrounding country grow from a struggling frontier settlement to a typical American area of homes and activity. He has seen the great growth of the United States during his many years and he has taken an active part in local developments. As a young soldier in the 68th Indiana Infantry during the Civil War he was among those who saw Lee and Grant and who, after the war, came home to help build America into a bigger and better land where national solidarity was the main hope of all who had fought in the internal struggle. Today the Neighbor is known to all in this section of the country. His main suggestion to all who would live a long and useful life is simplified in his favorite suggestion -"'Don't work too hard." As a fitting climax to the evening tribute to the old soldier the group gathered in a circle and, following an old English army custom, joined hands and sang the famous army song "Old Soldiers Never Die." Others present for the birthday party were
Ivan Walker,
John Wagner,
Roy Cromley,
Colonel Allen Elliott,
Colonel H. R. Bull,
Robert Rust
,
Hugh Harper,
Dr. H. H. Tallman,
Colonel W. R. Kennedy,
Major J. T. Stinchcomb,
Captain C. H. Dayhuff Jr.,
Major I. L. Kitts,
Will Easterday,
Dr. G. C. Mackey,
John Mitchell,
Val Herrmann,
Major Ralph Leonard,
Colonel L. R. Kellam,
Captain Lewis Stone,
Colonel John Henderson,
Bert Ivey,
John Mitchell,
A. J. Hewes, and
Major Jerry Whitney.

Wednesday, March 12, 1941 Rochester Sentinel

Plymouth, Ind., March 12. - died yesterday of pneumonia. Born in Ohio, he moved to Culver at age ten. He operated a meat market at Culver for many years. Three sons survive.

County's Oldest Veteran Dies; Was Last Member of G.A.R.

[Culver Citizen] John F. "Neighbor" Cromley, age ninety-six, last of the Civil War Veterans in this community, died of pneumonia early Tuesday morning in the Kelly hospital, Argos, where he had been taken Sunday afternoon.

He had been ill for four days.

It is believed that he is the last member of the G. A. R. in Marshall county.

Mr. Cromley was born in Sandusky county, Ohio, in 1814, and came to Culver when he was ten years of age. With his parents he cut his way overland in a covered wagon to take up his new home along the shores of Lake Maxinkuckee.

He was here as a young boy long before the last of the Indians folded up their tepees and headed deeper into the Western wilderness.

He saw Culver and the surrounding country grow from a struggling frontier settlement to a typical American area of homes and activity.

He saw the great growth of the United States during his many years and he had participated in much of the local development.

It is impressive to pause and think of the many inventions Mr. Cromley had seen come into actuality and the marked change in the way of living he had experienced.

He was a rugrged individual, remaining active until the last. He adhored being dependent due to any physical weakness, and he could be seen trudging uptown every day through all kinds of weather.

His rounds and habits were almost routine. For years he was one of the most enthusiastic and skilled fishermen on Lake Maxinkuckee.

As a seventeen-year-old soldier in the 6Sth Indiana Infantry Co. H., during the Civil War, Mr. Cromley was among those who saw Lee and Grant, and who after the war came home to build America into a bigger and better land.

His two years of, service in the war ranged along the Atlantic Coast from Washington, D. C, to Charleston, S. C.

During his years in Culver he operated a meat market, served fifteen years as town constable, and one term as deputy county sheriff. - Brene Enquirer - Mar 20 1941