Robert Carran
A remarkable life, identified with Cleveland and Environs by a residence of over eighty years, came to a close with the death of Robert Carran on November 16, 1914.To live more than a century is of itself a distinction that constitutes a matter of general interest everywhere. But Robert Carran was more than a centenarian, he was a thoroughly useful worker and citizen and a man whose interests and sympathies touched nearly every point of Cleveland's life and history from the time it was a village until it ranked as one of the foremost cities of the country. It was only a proper tribute to the worth and significance of his noble life that at the time of his death all the flags over the new and old city hall and on the public square were set at half mast.
During the span of this one man's life the world was practically made and remade. He was born on the Isle of Man December 11, 1812. He was nearly three years old when the battle of Waterloo was fought. That closed one era of attempted domination and imperial control of Europe, if not the world, and only a few weeks before Robert Carran died at Cleveland, November 16, 1914, and nearly a century after the battle of Waterloo, the world was again thrown into tumult and confusion by another imperial clique which aspired to world domination not less than Napoleon. Robert Carran during his youth on the Isle of Man learned and followed the trade of miller. He came to America early in life, lived at Buffalo, New York, and in 1834 came to Northern Ohio and settled at Warrensville. He bought a large farm in that vicinity. Cleveland at that time had less than 5,000 population, and was divided into three villages, Ohio City, now the West Side, Newburg and Cleveland. Land in Cleveland itself could be bought for $5 an acre. For a number of years Mr. Carran was connected with the firm of Seaman & Smith, shoe merchants, but finally retired and worked his farm. For twenty-four years he held the office of justice of the peace at Warrensville. Every case that came before him he settled without recourse to the routine of law and financial penalty, and did an untold amount of good in that way. For fifty-eight years he served as a school director of his district. He was a man of almost perfect physical habits, and these no doubt contributed to his long life. He never smoked in al his years and a well balanced will and intellect and useful work no doubt enabled him to pass the century mark and lack only a month of the age of a hundred two years.
In politics he was a democrat. For a great many years he attended stated conventions of his party, and beginning to vote in the time of Andrew Jackson he cast his last ballot for Woodrow Wilson in 1912. At that time he remarked it would be his last presidential election.
Robert Carran was prominent in Scotch and Manx societies and on December 11 of each year his birthday was celebrated by Cleveland Manxmen. Early Settlers' Day, September 10, 1914, he celebrated the occasion by dressing, as was his custom, in a Price Albert coat and a silk hat, and with his own hands he raised the old flag at the public Square in Cleveland. He had been a participant in flag raising exercises for many years. Thirty years before his death he and Rev. Harris R. Cooley stood side by side with bowed heads while the old flag rose to the masthead at one of the meetings of the Early Settlers' Association. The duty devolved upon Rev. Mr. Cooley to preach the funeral services over his comrade's body. At the time of his death Robert Carran was the oldest member of the Early Settlers' Association of Cuyahoga County.
He died at the home of his son, Charles H. Carran, 1496 West Clifton Boulevard, and his funeral was conducted at the home of his son, Lewis C., 1963 East Seventy-third Street. He was laid to rest in Highland Park Cemetery, Kinsman Road, in Warrensville. As a young man Robert Carran had helped clear the land and lay out this cemetery. He was the father of eleven children, and was survived by three sons and a daughter: Charles H., Lewis C., Robert A. and Mrs. Nattie Carr, all of whom reside in Cleveland.
In commemorating the memory of Robert Carran, resolutions adopted by the Council of the City of Cleveland at the time of his death are here inserted:
"File No. 35034.
"Mr. McGinty.
"Whereas, Robert Carran, the oldest resident of Cleveland dies this day in the hundred and
second year of his age; and
"Whereas, Robert Carran has for years represented to old and young alike in this community that
sturdy, pioneer type of citizenship which has made both the material progress and the idealism of the ciy
possible; now, therefore,
"Be it Resolved: That the Council of the City of Cleveland does hereby extend to the family of
Robert Carran its respectful sympathy and by this resolution records upon its official proceedings the
respect and affection of the people for this pioneer, early settler.
"Adopted by a rising vote November 16, 1916.
"Approved by the Mayor November 18, 1914.
"I, Richard E. Collins, Clerk of the Council of the City of Cleveland, do hereby certify that the
foregoing is a true and correct copy of resolution (File No. 35034) adopted by the council of the City of
Cleveland on November 16, 1914.
"Witness my hand and official seal at Cleveland, Ohio, this 3rd. day of January, 1914. (sic)
"Richard E. Collins,
"Clerk of Council."
From Cleveland - Special Limited Edition, The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago & New York, 1918 v.1