Gardner Cranston   GARDNER CRANSTON, one of the experienced farmers of Plainfield township, Kent county, Mich., and one of the brave men who served with the Michigan volunteers during the late Civil war, was born in Tompkins county, N. Y., August 24, I838, and is a son of Thomas and Betsey (Eldred) Cranston. Thomas Cranston was a native of Rhode Island, was born in I80i, and after several migrations came to Michigan in 1838 and located on section No. I5, in Plainfield township, Kent county, where his summers were passed in clearing up his land, and his winters in the manufacture of shingles, for many years. His death occurred in i888. His wife was born in Vermont about I81I, and her death took place, also on the old homestead in Plainfield township, in I88o; their remains now rest side by side in Hall cemetery; but their memory is still fondly cherished by their children and the many warm friends they had made during their long years of life in Kent county. Of their family of ten, three only survive: Gardner, Samuel C. and Alice, wife of Alfred Pixley, at the old homestead. Gardner Cranston was reared to agricultural pursuits on his father's farm, which he assisted in his boyhood days in clearing up from the wilderness, but was accorded a fair district-school education. He began his business life on his own responsibility, about 1867, by purchasing a farm now containing seventy six acres in Plainfield township, adjoining the old homestead, and here prosperity has ever since attended him. He was united in marriage, April 7, 1867, with Miss Sarah Ann Wells, who was born in Plainfield township January 27, 1848, a daughter of Robert and Laura (Richardson) Wells, and to this union have been born four children, viz: Clyde D., a farmer of California; Clarence A., of Grand Rapids, Mich., and George, at home, but who is a carpenter and cabinet maker, and Laura, who is a music teacher. Robert Wells, the father of Mrs. Cranston, was born in Madison county, N. Y., about I809, came to Plainfield, Mich., in I847, and here followed his trade of blacksmith until his death, in I886. His wife was also a native of Madison county, N. Y., was born about 1814, and died in I889, her remains now lying interred beside those of her husband in Hall cemetery. The war record of Mr. Cranston may be briefly given as follows: In September, I862, he enlisted in company F, Sixth Michigan volunteer cavalry, under Col. Gray, and left for the front December 6, of the same year. He participated in all the marches, skirmishes and engagements of his regiment, and gallantly and unflinchingly served until wounded at the battle of Falling Waters, which wound necessitated his confinement in hospital about three months. On recovering, he rejoined his regiment, and underwent all the arduous services of a soldier's life, and fought in every battle in which his regiment took part until the close of the war. He participated in the grand review, after which the regiment was sent to Powder River to attend to the Indians, and there they erected Fort Conner. Mr. Cranston received an honorable discharge November 24, 1865, and now receives from a grateful country a pension of $12 per month for his valiant services. He is a member of Webber post, G. A. R., at Rockford, and in politics is a prohibitionist. Mr. and Mrs. Cranston are active members of the Free Will Baptist church, and by their straight walk through the paths of morality, and their uniformly kind and amiable conduct in life, have won the warm friendship of all who know them.