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Laura Rossie
Cranford |
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Born: 02 Jan 1855 Died:
05 Mar 1909, Catawba County, NC |
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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". |
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1870 Catawba County, NC,
Census |
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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 |
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" |
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------- |
Laura |
15 |
F |
W |
At Home |
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" |
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------- |
Mary |
13 |
F |
W |
" |
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" |
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------- |
Nancy |
11 |
F |
W |
: |
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" |
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------- |
Manley |
9 |
M |
W |
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" |
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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. |
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1880 Catawba County, NC, Census |
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Last Name |
First Name |
Race |
Sex |
Age |
Relation |
Single/
Married |
Occupation |
Birth |
Loftin |
William A. |
W |
M |
28 |
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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 |
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According to the 1880 Catawba County Census, William Alexander
was 28 and Laura was 24. |
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The William Alexander Loftin and Laura Rossie Cranford family |
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(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 |
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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. |
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1900 Catawba County, NC, Census |
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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 |
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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 |
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Cordie |
Daughter |
W |
F |
Aug |
1894 |
5 |
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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. |
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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. |
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Laura died five years later on 5 Mar 1909. She and William
Alexander are buried at Center Methodist Church in Catawba
County, NC. |
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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. |
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