Adam Cratsenberg

Chaumont, May 2 – Adam I. Cratsenberg, who died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Duane
Hilts, of the Morris Tract, April 24, was born in Johnstown, April 6, 1817, the son of John A. and
Mary Grems Cratsenberg. When a young man he came to Watertown, where in 1838, he
married Miss Esther Averill. He followed the occupation of tanner and currier until the breaking
out of the civil war, when he enlisted for two years. He was a 1 st sergeant during the greater
part of his enlistment.
He was in the battles of Rappahannock Station, Antietam, Fredericksburg, the Wilderness,
Spotsylvania Court House, and Cold Harbor. At Cold Harbor, June 2, 1864, he lost an arm.
During his service he was captured and confined in Libby Prison 2 months and 11 days. In
1866, he went to keep the light at Tibbett’s Point, at Cape Vincent, serving the government
faithfully for 20 years. Since then he resided with his daughter, Mrs. Duane Hilts. An almost
helpless cripple for 15 years past by reason of a broken hip, Mr. Cratsenberg has borne his
sufferings with Christian cheerfulness and resignation.
He was a member of the Presbyterian Church of Cape Vincent, where his funeral was held April
26. He was a member of the G.A.R., and also of the Watertown I.O.O.F. since his early
manhood. The former bore his body to the grave, the latter conducted the funeral. Of the 12
children born to him, but three survive. Mrs. Hilts and Miss May, of Chaumont, and Mrs. Amos
Jones of Owosso Mich. He was also survived by two brothers, Conrad of Natural Bridge, and
Andrew of Burr Oak, Ia. Mr. Cratsenberg was a member of the fire department of Watertown
village from 1859 to 1865 from which he had an honorable discharge. He was faithful to duty,
whether home or country, and has rounded out a long well-spent life and goes to his reward.