Rodolph Crandall Explained

Rodolph Crandall
Office:Mayor of Hillsboro, Oregon
Term:January 2, 1882  - December 13, 1882
Preceded:P. M. Dennis
Succeeded:Thomas H. Tongue
Office2:Mayor of Hillsboro, Oregon
Term2:December 7, 1884  - December 14, 1885
Preceded2:A. M. Collins
Succeeded2:William D. Hare
Birth Date:February 19, 1832
Birth Place:Watson, New York, US
Death Place:Hillsboro, Oregon, US
Nationality:American
Spouse:Elizabeth Shannon
Children:Four

Rodolph Crandall (February 19, 1832 – October 23, 1922) was an American politician and soldier. A native of New York, he served in the American Civil War before settling in the state of Oregon. There he held several offices in Washington County, as well as serving twice as mayor of Hillsboro.

Early life

Rodolph Crandall was born on February 19, 1832, in Watson of Lewis County, New York.[1] The family moved to Ohio,[2] and Crandall later moved to Minnesota where he married Elizabeth Shannon (born 1847) in December 1862 in South Bend.[1] [3] In Minnesota, he joined the United States Army as the Civil War broke, and was transferred to the Fifth Iowa Cavalry where he rose to the rank of captain of L company before he was mustered out of service in January 1865.[1] [4]

Oregon

In 1876, Crandall moved his family that then included four children – Max, Robert, Jesse, and Avery – to Oregon.[1] The family settled in Washington County at the county seat of Hillsboro where Rodolph served as the county's treasurer for four years, as county assessor for four years, and as the county judge for eight years.[1] [3] He was one of the original members of the Hillsboro Fire Department when it was founded in 1881.[5] In 1891, the cornerstone to the Washington County Courthouse was laid, which included a time capsule that had a picture of then judge Crandall inside.[6]

On January 2, 1882, he was elected to the Hillsboro Board of Trustees (now City Council) to replace A. Finney, and was then also elected as president of the board to become mayor.[7] He served as mayor until December 13 of that year when Thomas H. Tongue was elected as mayor.[8] Crandall served a second time as mayor from 1884 to 1885, replacing A. M. Collins, who was his brother-in-law.[2] [8] William D. Hare replaced Crandall as mayor on December 14, 1885.[8] His son Max also later served as the county's assessor and on the Hillsboro City Council.[1]

Later life

In civic affairs, Crandall was a member of the Free Masons, even serving time as the secretary of the local Tuality Lodge in Hillsboro.[9] He was also an active member of the Washington County Veteran Association, serving in a leadership role for the group.[10] Rodolph Crandall died on October 23, 1922, in Hillsboro at the age of 90 and was buried at the Hillsboro Pioneer Cemetery.[11]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Gaston, Joseph. George H. Himes . The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912. S.J. Clarke Publishing Co.. 1912. 2. 814.
  2. News: Mrs. Collins Laid to Rest. April 7, 1912. The Oregonian. 11.
  3. News: Early Residents of Hillsboro Observe Their Golden Wedding Anniversary. December 12, 1912. The Oregonian. 16.
  4. Book: United States Adjutant-General's Office. Official Army Register of the Volunteer Force of the United States Army for the Years 1861, '62, '63, '64, '65. 7. 1865. Washington, D.C.. 235.
  5. News: Hillsboro Firemen Gay. March 10, 1911. The Oregonian. 7.
  6. News: Old Papers Disclosed. April 21, 1928. The Oregonian.
  7. http://www.ci.hillsboro.or.us/CityCouncil/History/CouncilorHistory.aspx City Council: City Councilor History.
  8. The Hub; Mayors: City of Hillsboro. The Hillsboro Argus, October 19, 1976.
  9. 1893. Forty-Third Annual Communication. Proceedings of the M.W. Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Oregon. F. W. Baltes & Company Printers. Portland, Oregon. 381.
  10. News: Veterans Elect Officers. July 6, 1908. The Oregonian.
  11. http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/washington/cemeteries/hill-c-d.txt Hillsboro Pioneer Cemetery Inscriptions: Surnames C to D.