Crandall Rosecrans

Crandall was a veteran of the War of 1812, in which he served as adjutant to General William Henry Harrison and then subsequently ran a tavern and store as well as a family farm. He was the father of Maj. General William S. Rosecrans (USA).

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Crandall who was born in 1794, was 14 when the family came to Ohio was very patriotic and comfortable with a gun. Although the Indians traveling through the area appeared to be friendly the settlers in particular the Rosecrans after Capt. Daniel's experience, were familiar with the tales of early settlements in the east.

Captain William Drake formed a group of local men and trained them to keep the Indians away from the settlements. Supposedly one night he decided to play a prank and try his men and crept into the bushes. Firing his gun he shouted, "Indians, Indians!" and incited a major panic among the Delaware County civilians who began to ride and run south for safety. Many had fled south into Berkshire Corners which provided the only safety for the new Kingston Township. Major Brown who owned the house in the corners used as a fortress against Indians became suspicious and ask for a volunteer to investigate. Crandall Rosecrans, about 18, took his gun and took off on foot north to see what was happening. About a mile up the road, he heard a horse coming towards him and hid behind a stump. The rider was a soldier coming to tell the settlement the raid was false. He gave his message to Crandall who returned to the Corners. While the raid was a hoax, it caused much unease among the settlers. Baskin will give you all the details of "Drake's Defeat". Crandall joined the army. Stark Corners built a block house and the settlers lived in fear of a real attack.

Crandall served as a Adjutant of the Columbus Light Horse Battalion in General Harrison’s Brigade during the War of 1812. In 1813 the family moved to Taylor Run in Kingston Township. Sometime between 1816-1818 Crandall married Jemima Hopkins, daughter to Phebe (Nesbitt) and Timothy Hopkins who was reported to be a descendent of Stephen Hopkins a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Timothy served as a Lieutenant in the Pennsylvania line of the Continental army, winning distinction as a brave soldier. Mrs. Hopkins was one of the few who survived the celebrated Wyoming massacre. They moved into a double log cabin on the farm formerly owned by his father. Their first child Chauncey was born in 1817 but did not live long.

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At 14, when the family moved to Ohio, he was very patriotic and comfortable with a gun. Although the Indians traveling through the area appeared to be friendly, the settlers in particular t he Rosecrans after Captain Daniel's experience, were familiar with the tales of the early settlements in the east.

Captain William Drake formed a group of local men and trained them to keep the Indians away from the settlements. Supposedly one night he decided to play a prank ad try his men and crept into the bushes. Firing his gun he shouted, "Indians, Indians!" and incited a major panic among the Delaware county civilians who began to ride and run south for safety. Many had fled south into Berkshire Corners which provided the only safety for the new Kingston Township. Major Brown who owned the house in the corners used as a fortress against Indians became suspicious and asked for a volunteer to investigate. Crandall Rosecrans, at 18, took his gun and went on foot north to see what was happening. About a mile up the road, he heard a horse coming towards him and hid behind a stump. The rider was a soldier coming to tell the settlement the raid was false. He gave the message to Crandall who returned to the Corners. While the raid was a hoax, it caused much unease among the settlers. Crandall joined the army and Stark Corners build a blockhouse and the settlers lived in fear of a real attack. Crandall served in General Harrison's Brigade during the War of 1812. Sometime between 1816-18, he married Jemima Hopkins, a descendant of Stephen Hopkins, a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

Crandall was not happy just being a farmer so in 1821 he moved his family to Homer where his uncle and namesake, Crandall Wilcox lived. He soon ran a tavern, a store, a potash factory and farmed. He also brought several town lots. He was a true patriot and became the arbitrator for the community. WHen the home guard was needed, he drilled the men.