CRARY, Elisha A. 1834-1893

CRARY, BREWSTER, BROEL

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 10/17/2016 at 10:24:00

Captain E. A. Crary of Felix Township.

Elisha Avery Crary was born in New London county, Connecticut, January 28, 1834, and died near Whitten, Iowa, September 16, 1893.

His father was Elisha Avery Crary; his mother was Elizabeth Brewster, a descendant of Elder Brewster of Colonial fame. Young Crary was educated after the New England fashion in Bacon Academy, Colchester, Conn. He came to Clayton county, Iowa, in 1857, and engaged himself principally as a school teacher until the uprising to crush rebellion in 1861. On the 14th day of September of that year he enlisted in a command which became Co. E, of the Ninth Iowa Infantry Regiment. His training and literary qualifications were in demand, and he was commissioned as a lieutenant, December 27, 1861, and was promoted to captain, April 15, 1863. He served faithfully and well three years, four months and nine days, being mustered out and discharged at Beanfort, S. C., January 23, 1865; his last service being as a participant in the famous "Sherman's March to the Sea." He participated in twenty-three battles, and skirmishes almost innumerable. As a soldier he was quiet and undemonstrative, and rigidly faithful to every duty. His record as a patriot and a soldier does honor to his name and is a priceless legacy to his family and kindred all. After his honorable discharge from the service he returned to Clayton county, where he was married to Miss Catherine Broel, December 19, 1866. One son, Elisha Avery Crary, and four daughters, with their mother constitute the household which now deeply mourns his departure to the beyond. In the winter of 1866 he came to Felix township, Grundy county, where he settled on a tract of land, which by his earnest toil and good management has been brought to a high state of cultivation and provided a home and a competence for those dependent upon him. As a token of the esteem in which he was held by his fellow citizens, it may be noted that he served the county as surveyor for several times, was kept in the office of Justice of the Peace continually for several years, besides service as a township trustee and member of the school board for many years. He was a member of A.F. and A.M. and G.A.R. His obsequies took place Tuesday, 19th inst., at the M.E. church in Whitten, Rev. J. C. Magee, D.D., of Cedar Falls, officiating by request of the family, he having served as a private soldier in the same regiment in which Captain Crary served as an officer. Rev. W. H. Clement of Whitten, assisted in the services. The interment was conducted by the masonic fraternity, Sheriff John T. Boylen of Eldora, master of ceremonies. A detail of comrades of the Grand Army Post acted as pall-bearers. A large concourse of people attended the occasion, thus bearing tribute to departed worth. Captain Crary was quiet, firm, intelligent, industrious and upright, and has made a record of noble manhood and good citizenship, and as a faithful husband, thoughtful parent and staunch patriot.

"Soldier rest thy warfare o'er,
Sleep the sleep that knows not breaking,
Dream of battle fields no more,
Morn of toil or night of waking,
No rude sounds shall reach thine ear,
Armor's clang, or war steed champing,
Guards nor warders challenge here,
Shouting clans, or squadrons stamping."

--Grundy County Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 28 September 1893, pg 5