Vigo County Historical Society
Historical Treasure Article
April 17, 1988
By Susan J. Dehler
Vigo County Historical Society
Cruft more than a Terre Haute street
When we hear such names as Fairbanks, Deming or Rose, we think less of who these men were and more of what the names represent in our community--a school, a city park or an avenue.
More than a century ago, many still were living productive lives in Terre Haute. Prominence and achievement made them a part of our heritage. The mark they left on Terre Haute is more important than a street sign.
Charles Cruft is one such individual. Although family records are not readily available, the life of Charles Cruft can be pieced together from accounts of the Civil War, county histories, city directories, and census records. What emerges is an astounding record of achievement as a businessman, a Civil War veteran and a community leader.
Born in Terre Haute in 1826, Cruft was the son of John F. Cruft, a New England merchant and an early pioneer of the Wabash Valley. Education must have been an important element in Cruft’s life for he graduated from Wabash College in 1843 and returned to Terre Haute to teach. His teaching career was short-lived; he went on to study law under local attorney W.D. Griswold.
By 1848, Cruft was admitted to the bar and eventually practiced law with John P. Baird in Terre Haute. According to accounts, the firm had an excellent reputation: “That the brilliant genius of Col. Baird as a pleader and court advocate, was equaled only by General Cruft’s ability as an advisor and counselor, and to the latter fell all the office detail in the innumerable cases in which they acted.”
Although Cruft’s occupation as attorney would dominate much of his life in Terre Haute, his interest in education and other community pursuits continued. For 11 years (1861-1872) he owned one of the leading newspapers in the area, the Terre Haute Express. He also was one of the original members of the association which founded the Rose Polytechnic Institute in 1874. Cruft gave much support to this institution established “for the intellectual and practical education of young men.”
Although a leading member of the community, perhaps Cruft’s most noteworthy achievement was his service record during the Civil War. In September 1861, he organized the 31st Indiana Regiment at Camp Vigo, “which was located on the site of the old fair grounds, on North Seventh Street, immediately across from what is now known as Collett Park.”
Cruft served as the first colonel of this regiment which participated in several significant battles during the war. After the battle of Shiloh, Cruft was appointed a brigadier general and as assigned to command the 20th Brigade of the Army of Ohio.
Although the report of the adjutant general chronicles Cruft’s service record, some of the local accounts depict a romanticized, legendary version of the Civil War veteran: “Colonel Cruft headed the first regiment which had formed the right wing of General Buell’s army at Calhoun and then on to Fort Donaldson. He was wounded three times. A bullet cut through his shoulder once, and a second time one lodged in his thigh, while a piece of shell stuck fast in his skull. He picked them out without dismounting from his horse, as coolly as a man would draw a splinter from his finger. . .”
A photograph of Gen. Charles Cruft is on display in the museum. Cruft Street, south of College Avenue, still stands as a reminder of a man who, in his way, shaped local and national history.
The
Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 S. Sixth St., is open from 1 to 4
p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.