Usage Date: October 7, 1865

Usage Location: Philadelphia, PA

Recipient: Mrs. C. A. (Crusa Ann Cook) Bent

Crusa Ann (Cook) Bent, born in 1839, was the wife of Gilbert Ray Bent, a United Methodist minister and US Christian Commission Delegate in charge of the USCC efforts at Annapolis, MD,  during the war.  Crusa died March 4, 1864, while serving alongside her husband at Camp Parole in Annapolis, MD.  She took ill on March 1st and passed away three days later.  They had one child, Frances Louisa (b. 1859), although Gilbert remarried and had additional children by his second wife.

Author: liekly Gilbert R. Bent (husband)

Gilbert R. Bent was born January 22, 1825 in Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia, Canada.  He served at length with the U.S. Christian Commission in Baltimore, Maryland.  He successfully initiated the USCC work at Camp Parole outside Annapolis, Maryland.  He married Crusa Ann Cook in January 1, 1859 and their daughter was born in September of 1859.  His wife joined him in that ministry, teaching Sunday School to recuperating soldiers.  Following his wife's death at Camp Parole, Gilbert continued to serve with the USCC, moving to the central offices and being listed as a "Captain" in charge of supplies (procurement).  He was married three more times, the third time at age 72 and the fourth time at age 83.  He died at the age of 90 on September 4, 1915.