This is data from Willodean Cranford Brumbachs

book on TM or MT Cranford.

 

Thomas Cranford, Thomas was the last of the South Carolina-born

children. He was in reality a transition child born in Chester District,

South Carolina. In 1820, he was brought to Morgan County, Alabama in early

youth. There was no doubt a big change happened when the Alabama venture was

made. There were more conveniences and luxuries in South Carolina. Still

another change came for small Thomas. His grandmother, Martha Wilkes,

married her neighbor and left the Wilkes-Cranford home and in 1838 came the

uprooting of the family home in Morgan County and Thomas found himself in

the hilly red-clay district of Walker County.

 

The four chattering girls: Malinda, Emily, Minerva, and Lydia were

constantly busy and giggling. Little John Monroe was at an awkard age but

baby, Chesley Cranford, five years old, haunted his big brother's pathway.

Thomas noted with concern that his parents, John and Elizabeth, were walking

slower and resting after, and were not so lively after the hard day's work.

 

Thomas reacted in a typical manner. He went a-wooing and eventually married

pretty Caroline Townley of a well-known Walker County family. No date for

the marriage has been presentlly established. Land grants and deeds have

caused some confusion about Thomas. Some of his credentials are recorded as

Matthew T. or T.M. His cousin, Carlin Armstrong Cranford, made the same

procedures when he signed some deeds Armstrong Cranford, rather than Carlin

Cranford.

 

Thomas and Caroline Cranford listed themselves as farmers in the 1850

Census of Walker County. Thomas was 30, his wife Elizabeth(Caroline) was

listed erroneously as Elizabeth, 30. Their children were listed as

Ellizabeth 7, Wesley 6, Marian 4, Martha Ann 3, Robert 2, and Lucinda 1.

 

The Townley family branch in Walker County started with Daniel Townley who

entered land in 1822, and Richmond Townley who also entered land in 1822.

John Townley also entered land in 1822 and Richmond Townley entered

additional land in 1823. The little town of

Townley, Alabama was first called Holly Grove, then Pleasantfield.

Robert Townley was the first postmaster of Townley, and, when the town was

incorporated in 1895, John W. Guttery was its first Mayor.

Townley, Alabama has given the country two Congressmen; Carter Manasco and

Tom Bevill our present represenative.

 

Through oral history and family tradition it seems that Thomas Cranford came

to Arkansas from Alabama when little Lucinda was between 6 and 9 years of

age. In the 1860 census of Montgomery County, Arkansas, South Fork Township,

the Thomas Cranford family is listed as: M.T. Cranford b. in South Carolina,

age 40; Caroline, 37; Wesley 18; Polly Ann 13; Robert 12; Lucinda 11 and

Eliza C. 7. The six above were listed as born in Alabama and Lewis F. 3; was

listed as born in Arkansas. By this time it is assumed that Elizabeth, the

oldest daughter, had married and left home. Elizabeth married a Sanders or

Saunders and she and her daughter Tennessee, were killed in Webbers Fall,

Oklahoma.

 

It is through the family of Lucinda Cranford that we have gained information

regarding the Thomas Cranford family. Lucinda first married a Denny and

second William B.McKnight. Lucindas children were: Jim Denny, Leoma Denny,

Jack Denny, Washington (William)

McKnight, Columbus Houston McKnight, and Eudora McKnight.

 

Eudora (Dora) married a John Holtz in 1898. After John's death Dora

married C.H. Griffis by whom she had: Alda, Charles Howell, Velma,

Winford Eldon, Orville Kenneth, Brice Townley, Dale Stuart, Cleda, and

Hattie.

 

Mr. Winford Eldon Griffis very graciously has sent a copy of the photograph

of his mother's 75th birthday dinner. Dora sits at the

attractively-appointed table surrounded by her handsome sons and daughters.

(Does anyone have this photo?? I would really like to add it)

 

 

 

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Thanks Kennye!!!

 

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