Cranford

   


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CRANFORD
GENEALOGY
LINE

The
CRANFORD
Family
Tree


Laura
Rossie
Cranford

(1855 - 1909)

Manley
Wilson
Cranford Sr.

(1821 - 1889)

William
Cranford
(1765 - 1843)

Leonard
Cranford
(1745 - 1830)

Jonas
Cranford
(1720 - 1768)

James
Cranford
(1700 - 1???)

_______
 

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FAMILY
NAMES

LOFTIN:
Beatty
Corzine
Cranford
Fisher
Givens
Harwell
Kaiser
Lanier
Lomax
McCorkle
Rudisill
Sherrill
Upright
Washington
Work


SETZER:
Aderholdt
Barringer
Bovey
Bushart
Deal
Heavner
Herman
Ikert
Miller
Motz
Rankin
Witherspoon

GOBLE:
Babst/Bobst
Douglas
Faber
Fink
Fulbright
Hefner
Meinhert
Miller
Muller
Pabst/Bobst
Robinson

JOHNSON:
Corzine
Fink
Hamilton
Kaiser
Leslie
Lewis
Moore
Sherrill
Upright
Wilkinson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

             

 

   

Laura Rossie Cranford

     
 

 

Born: 02 Jan 1855
Died:  05 Mar 1909, Catawba County, NC

 
 

Laura Rossie Cranford was the first child born to Manley Wilson Cranford and Mary Martha Lomax.  Laura was born 02 Jan 1855.

In the past it has been believed that Laura's middle initial was "W", although there was no explanation of the middle name.  Son, Arthur Lee Loftin's marriage license to  Josephine Gilleland lists her name as "L. R. Loftin".  Daughter, Zettie Wilson Loftin's marriage license to Charles Drum lists her mother's name as "Rossie" Loftin.  The 1880 Census also lists her name as Laura R. Loftin.

Wilson & Martha Cranford and their family lived in the Mountain Creek section (Sherrills Ford) of Catawba County.

The photo of Laura at the right is from a faded tin-type that belonged to Cordie Loftin Wilson, Laura's daughter

In 1870, Laura was 15-years-old and still living at home with her family.  Wilson was 47 and Martha was 40.  The other children living at home were Mary, Nancy and Manley.  Wilson's occupation is listed as "Farmer", but he was also a "Preacher".

 
                             

1870 Catawba County, NC, Census

                             
Last Name First Name Age Sex Race Occupation Real Estate Personal Estate Birth Males 21+
Cranford Wilson 47 M W Farmer $500 $200 NC X
------- Martha 40 F W Keeping House     "  
------- Laura 15 F W At Home     "  
------- Mary 13 F W "     "  
------- Nancy 11 F W :     "  
------- Manley 9 M W       "  
                             
On 28 Jan 1875, Laura married William Alexander Loftin, the son of James Franklin Loftin and Frances Elizabeth Fisher.

The following year after their marriage, their first child, Alonzo Lester Loftin, was born on 05 Feb 1876.  In 1878 daughter Frances Ivey was born.  In time Laura would give birth to a total of seven children.
                             

1880 Catawba County, NC, Census

                             
Last Name First Name Race Sex Age Relation Single/
Married
Occupation Birth
Loftin William A. W M 28   M Farmer NC
------- Laura R. W F 24 Wife M Keeping House NC
------- Alonzo F. W M 4 Son S At Home NC
------- Frances J. W F 1 Daughter S " NC
                             
According to the 1880 Catawba County Census, William Alexander was 28 and Laura was 24. 
 
 
Children of Laura Rossie Cranford and William Alexander Loftin
Name Birth Date Death Date Spouse
Alonzo Lester Loftin 05 Feb 1876 04 Feb 1937 (1) Cornelia Estelle Lowrance
(2) Ida Lillian Setzer
Frances Ivey Loftin 19 Sep1878 15 Jun 1958 Wesley Drum
Zettie Wilson Loftin 25 May 1881 22 Apr 1956 Charles McCulloch Beatty
Arthur Lee Loftin 20 Jun 1884 30 Jun 1950 (1) Alice Josephine Gilleland
(2) Bertha Kale
W. Garland Loftin 23 May 1887 02 Aug 1912 Rose Wike
Hattie Pearl Loftin 09 Jul 1890 04 Aug 1966 (Never Married)
Cordie Bland Loftin 26 Aug 1894 06 May 1981 Thomas Robinson Wilson
                             

The William Alexander Loftin and Laura Rossie Cranford family

(Left to Right) W. Garland, Alec holding Hattie Pearl, Arthur Lee, Laura holding Cordie Bland, Frances Ivey, Alonzo Lester, Zettie Wilson, Cornelia Estelle Lowrance Loftin

This was more than likely Alonzo & Cornelia's wedding photo, 23 Dec 1894

                             
1890 North Carolina Federal Census Records were destroyed in a 1921 fire and only small fragments survived for South Point and River Bend Townships in Gaston County AND Township No. 2 in Cleveland County.
 

1900 Catawba County, NC, Census

                             
Last Name First Name Relation Race Sex Birth Month Birth Year Age Occupation Read Write
Loftin Elizabeth Head W F Aug 1830 69 Farmer No No
Loftin Alexander Head W M Oct 1851 49 Farmer Yes Yes
------- Laura Wife W F Jan 1855 45   Yes Yes
------- Lee Son W M June 1884 15 Farm Laborer Yes Yes
------- Garland Son W M May 1887 13 Farm Laborer Yes Yes
------- Pearl Daugher W F July 1890 9      
------- Cordie Daughter W F Aug 1894 5      
                             
According to the 1900 Catawba County Census, Alec and Laura were living in the Catawba Precinct of Catawba County, near his mother Elizabeth.  Alonzo, Frances & Zettie had married and left home, but Lee, Garland, Pearl and Cordie were still living with their parents.

The nice thing about this Census is that it verifies the birth month, birth year, as well as age.
                             
Laura's daughter-in-law, Cornelia (wife of Alonzo) died from pneumonia on 11 Feb 1904 leaving Alonzo with five small children to raise.  Since Alonzo couldn't work and care for his children at the same time, the decision was made to send them away to an orphanage in the mountains until Alonzo could bring them back home.

Laura and Alec decided to bring Alonzo and Cornelia youngest daughter, Verdie Lee, home to live with them.
                             
Laura died five years later on 5 Mar 1909.  She and William Alexander are buried at Center Methodist Church in Catawba County, NC.
 

 
 
 
If you have additional photo or information about Laura Cranford or her family, please contact me.
A special thanks to Peggy Loftin Brotherton for the photos of Laura & her family.