Thomas Jefferson Cranford Sabine Parish, Louisiana

Thomas Jefferson Cranford, the present sheriff of Sabine parish, was born near Pleasant Hill, Sabine parish, October 3, 1863, his parents being William H. and Cynthia (Anderson) Cranford. His father, whose death occurred while serving in the Civil War, May, 1864, was a native of Alabama, while his mother was born and reared in Sabine parish, her father being Wade Anderson, a pioneer, whose son, Jeff Anderson, was sheriff of this parish in 1863 and died while an occupant of that office, his father serving the unexpired term.

When old enough to work Mr. Cranford followed the plow and helped to support his widowed mother. There were no schools in the country and he reached manhood with a very limited education. His mother, several years after the war, married C. D. Carroll, to which union two children were born, S. L. Carroll, who is now a prominent merchant of Zwolle, and Annie, who is the wife of John Paul and resides in Texas.

Mr. Cranford followed the occupation of farming until 1902. He served two terms as Police Juror in the '90s and was a member of that body from his old home ward (the Sixth) when the present courthouse and jail were constructed.

In 1901 he moved to Many to accept a position as field deputy for Sheriff Henderson, purchasing a farm just outside the corporate limits. Mr. Henderson resigned his office in November, 1902, and Mr. Cranford was appointed sheriff by Governor Heard. He has occupied the position ever since, having been three times elected. As ex-officio tax collector, he has always collected the taxes and turned same into the parish treasury promptly on the first of July of each year, and has made it a rule to collect more than is charged.

He is also proud of the fact that he has never found it necessary to seriously hurt a prisoner while in the discharge of his duties Mr. Cranford is a genial gentleman and courteous officer.

In 1886 he was married to Miss Cora Hooker and to them have been born four children; Maggie, Rupert (died at the age of 7 years), Lola and Nellie.

Sabine Parish | AHGP Louisiana

Source: History of Sabine Parish, Louisiana, by John G. Belisle, Sabine Banner Press, 1913.