Obituary John A. Crofford

GRAY VETERAN LAID TO REST

John Crofford Fought in Forrest’s Regiment

Funeral services for John Alexander Crofford, 78 were held at the residence, 201 East Street at 3 o’clock this afternoon, the Rev. Dr. T. W. Lewis, pastor of Madison Heights Methodist church, officiating. He was buried in Elmwood cemetery with all honors due a Confederate Veteran

Mr. Crofford died at his home late Sunday afternoon, following an illness of several weeks. His death was due to complications that developed from the flu. On Dec. 4, he injured an eye when a small piece of plaster flew into it off some kindling wood he was chopping. An infection set in which resulted in the removal of the eye. Following this he developed the flu and later was vaccinated against smallpox. It was then that his general condition gradually grew worse.

He had lived in Memphis about 40 years. He enlisted in Company D, McDonald’s battalion of Forrest’s Regiment, and fought in several of the biggest battles of the Civil War, among them being Chickamauga. After that he was transferred to Gen. Joe Wheeler’s cavalry and campaigned in East Tennessee, being transferred back to Gen. Forrest, and at the battle of Okolona, Miss., he captured a Federal flag during the charge of cavalry. He was wounded at Columbia, Tenn., in 1864.

Fifty years ago he married Miss Kate Hill, daughter of Dr. Lafayette Hill, one of the early settlers of Tipton county. He is survived by his widow and three sons, Robert T. Crofford, of Memphis; W. Harry Crofford, of New York, and Bennett H. Crofford, of Chicago.

(b: 21 Jun 1846, d: 6 Apr 1925)

 Source: original newspaper clipping in scrapbook created by Ada Clark Stroup of Saulsbury