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- ?Benjamin F. Crane is one of the later generations of farmers andstock raisers of Fountain County, native and to the manor born, whoform an important element in the maintenance of the prosperity of thecounty and are helping greatly to extend its wealth. He is the son ofan early pioneer of this part of Indiana who played an important partin developing the agricultural resources of this region. He is theproprietor of two farms in Shawnee and Vanburen Townships, and makeshis home on the one situated on Section 29, Shawnee Township.
Mr. Crane is a son of James Crane, a native of Warren County, Ohio,and grandson of Jonathan Crane, who was born in the same county in thevery earliest years of its settlement. His parents, who were fromEngland, were among its first pioneer citizens. His brother, Sam,served as a scout through the Revolution, and on the mother?s side twobrothers were killed during the struggle for independence. JamesCrane was married in his native county to Ann, a daughter of JacobShnorf, who was a Pennsylvania Dutchman, and one of the heroes of theRevolutionary War. After marriage the Cranes set out on horseback fortheir future home in the wilds of Indiana, his father having been toFountain county the year previous and entered land from theGovernment.
Mr. and Mrs. James Crane?s first home in the state was near StoneBluff, where they lived but a short time, and then removed to themouth of the Shawnee, where James and his father operated a mill.They afterward sold out and James bought a farm on Lopp?s Prairie,which he increased in size from time to time by further purchase untilhe became the owner of six hundred acres of fine land. His fatherspent his last days on Osborne?s Prairie, where he was instrumental ina large degree in the up building of the Christian Church, of which hewas a devoted member until death closed his eyes to the scenes ofearth at the venerable age of eighty-nine years. His wife departedthis life at the age of eighty-two years.
The father of our subject continued to live on his farm in ShawneeTownship until six weeks before his death, when he took up hisresidence at Covington, where he and his wife died shortly after in1875, his death occurring July 16. He was one of the early members ofthe Christian Church at Osborne?s Prairie and used his influence topromote its growth spiritually and in numbers as one of its deaconsuntil death called him hence.
His good wife was also an earnest working member of that church. Inhis political convictions he was a sound Republican. He was thefather of eleven children, of whom three sons and three daughters grewto maturity, Benjamin F. and his brother John D., the proprietor ofthe Revere House at Attica, being the only survivors of the family.Their brother William lived to be some thirty years old.
Benjamin F. Crane was born May 14, 1850, on the old family homesteadon Lopp?s Prairie, Shawnee Township, and his education was conductedin the local district school. He became thoroughly familiar withfarming in all its branches, and when he arrived at years ofdiscretion he selected agriculture as the calling most suited to histastes. After his marriage he located on the home place, his fatherdeeding him one hundred and eighty acres of land. He subsequentlybought land of the other heirs of the estate, and had three hundredand fifty acres of the old homestead. He sold two hundred and fifteenacres of it at a good price, and buying two hundred and twenty-fiveacres, at the rate of $80 an acre, moved upon it in the spring of1886, and now has under his management two finely appointed and highlycultivated farms which he devotes to general farming, raising a goodclass of stock. He has a fine farm residence, which is well kept up.Everything about the place is neat and orderly, making it one of thepleasantest of the rural homes of this district.
November 14, 1874, is the date of the marriage of Benjamin Crane withMargaret E., daughter of William and Mary (Hawk) Irvine. Her fatherwas born in one of the early pioneer homes of Indiana, and lived hereuntil his removal to Ford County, Ill., where he died. Mr. And Mrs.Crane have been blessed in their happy wedded life with the followingchildren: James w., who is fifteen years old; Frank, who died at theage of two and one-half; Myrtle, who is eleven years old; Zua, agednine years; Pearly, six years old; Ruth, four years of age, and babyJulia.
Mr. Crane is numbered among our best citizens, and whatever concernsthe well being of his native county is of deep interest to him. He isa well-known figure in its religious and social circles, and theRepublican Party finds in him a steadfast advocate. The Osborne?sPrairie Christian Church, with which his father?s name is so closelyassociated, has in him one of its most estimable members, and he hasserved it as Trustee for a number of years. He is also one of thetrustees of the cemetery. He has recently been elected CountyCommissioner.? Source: Fountain County, Indiana History (Book), 1823- 1880; Page?s 425-426. Taken from records provided by Joyce LorraineClore Elkins. [Transcribed 28 Dec 2005, by Compiler SLJuhl]
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