Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 7).djvu/104

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CRAWFORD
CRONIN

treating the Confederate leader generously. Dr. Craven was the inventor of a successful submarine cable for telegraphic purposes, and during the celebration of Cyrus W. Field's success the name of Craven was associated with that of Field on the transparencies carried through the streets of New York. He invented the first gutta-percha covering for the purpose of insulating wires.


CRAWFORD, Thomas Hartley, lawyer, b. in Chambersburg, Pa., 14 Nov., 1786; d. in Washington, D. C., 27 Jan., 1863. He was graduated at Princeton in 1804, studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1807, and began to practice in Chambersburg. Later he was elected as a Jackson democrat to congress, and was re-elected, serving from 7 Dec., 1829, till 2 March, 1833. During 1833 he was a member of the state legislature, and in 1836 was appointed a commissioner to investigate alleged frauds in the purchase of the reservation of the land of the Creek Indians. From 1838 till 1845 he held the office of commissioner of Indian affairs. In 1845 he was appointed judge of the criminal court of the District of Columbia, and continued as such for nearly forty years, until his death.


CRERAR, John, philanthropist, b. in New York city, 8 March, 1827; d. in Chicago, 111., 19 Oct., 1889. He was of Scottish parentage, and was educated in New York, where he engaged in mer- cantile pursuits, un- til his removal to Chicago in 1863. There he became head of the firm of Crerar, Adams & Co., an incorporator and director of the Pullman palace car company, a director of the Chicago and Alton railroad com- pany, and a member of many important civic organizations. In 1888 he was a

presidential elector

for the 1st district of Illinois on the Kepubliean ticket. He was a member of the Kelief and aid society after the great fire of 1871, and rendered much assistance. He left a fortune of ^3,500,000, of which f 1,000,000 was bequeathed to various charita- ble and religious associations in Cliicago. He con- tributed $100,000 for a colossal statue of Abraham Lincoln, for the double reason of friendship and patriotism, and $3,500,000 as an endowiiuMit fnn(l for a public library, organized in 1894 and now in successful operation in Chicago, imder the name of the John Crerar library. He also left a be- quest of $25,000 to the Chicago historical society, and a like sum to the Scotch Presbyterian church established in his native city in 17b6, with which was erected in 1897 a parsonage adjoining the church, known as the "Crerar memorial manse."


CRISP, Charles Frederick, jurist, b. in Shef- field, England, 24 Jan., 1845; d. in Atlanta, Ga., 23 Oct., 1896. His parents, who were American actors, were abroad professionally at the period of his birth. He received a common-school education in Macon and Savannali, entered the Confederate army in May. 1861, serving for three vears. when he was captured. On his release, in June, 1865, he studied law, becoming in 1872 solicitor-general of the southwestern judicial circuit of Georgia, and in 1878 judge of the superior couit of the same dis- trict. Four years later he was elected, holding his seat until his death. In 1891 and 1893 he was elected speaker of the house of representatives, and in 1896 he was a candidate for the U. S. senate, and within a week would have been elected.


CRITTENDEN, Thomas Theodore. statesman, b. in Shelby county, Ky., 2 Jan., 1832; was edu- cated at Centre college, Danville, and adopted the profession of the law. He was lieutenant-colonel of the 7th Missouri cavalry from May, 1862, to the close of the civil war, and was appointed attorney- general to fill the unexpired term of Aikman Welch, deceased. In 1876 he was elected to con- gress, and was re-elected to the 45th congress. Col. Crittenden was governor of Missouri from Jan- uary, 1881, to January, 1885. His two adminis- trations were generally recognized as beneficial to the state, particularly in his enforcement of law and management of its finances, as well as in his vigilant care of the schools and other public insti- tutions. He is a nephew of Senator John J. Crit- tenden, of Kentucky, and a half-brother of Gen. Eli H. Murray, of the same state.


CROKER, Richard, politician, b. in Black Rock, Ireland, 24 Nov., 1843. His grandfather, Maj. Henry Croker, was inspector-general in the British army, one of his uncles was a member of parliament, and another was governor of Ber- muda, He accompanied his father to the United States when three years of age, attended the public schools of New York, and has since resided in that city. His father served in Gen. Siekles's brigade during the civil war, and also in the 10th New York engineers. The son was elected in 1867 al- derman of New York; re-elected in 1869; elected coroner in 1872; re-elected in 1875; again elected alderman in 1883. During the same year he was appointed fire commissioner, and in 1889-'90 was city chamberlain. He early attracted the atten- tion of John Kelly, was prominent in opposition to the Tweed ring, and rapidly advanced in power in the Tammany Hall organization, of which he has been for years the recognized leader. He was active in the political campaign of 1897. which terminated in the elect ion of Robert A. Van Wyck as first mavor of Greater New York.


CROMWELL, Bartlett James, naval officer, b. in Nebraska, 28 March, 1841. He was the first naval cadet appointed from Nebraska, and gradu- ated as a midshipman in June, 1861. The first sea duty of the young officer was seen aboard the receiving-ship " Princeton " at Philadelphia. In 1862 he was promoted to acting master, and was attached to the "Quaker City," cruising in the West Indies and off the blockade. His first ex- tensive trip was when he was commander, and was assigned to the navigation of Admiral Schufeldt's flag-ship, the " Ticonderoga," on its trip around the globe in 1879-"80 and 1881. In September of 1895 he was summoned to Washington as a mem- ber of the examining and retiring board of the navy department, a position he held for two years, being promoted to the rank of commodore, 10 Aug., 1898. He succeeded to the rank of rear- admiral when the naval personnel bill went into force, on 3 March, 1899. Admiral Cromwell is commandant of the naval station at Havana.


CRONIN, David Edward, artist, b. in Greenwich, Washington co., N. Y., 13 July, 1839. He was educated at the Washington academy, and subsequently studied art in Europe, at Brussels. Antwerp, and Dilsseldorf. He enlisted in the National army during the war, and rose to be captain in the 1st New York mounted rifles, serving from August, 1863, till November, 1865. During that period he was judge-advocate of Gen. August V.