William A. Crane

CRANE, ALLEN, CARPENTER, HARRIS, MILKMAN, BURTON

Posted By: Wee (email)
Date: 3/13/2005 at 04:51:03

Biographical History of Shelby and Audubon Counties, Iowa ... Chicago,
W.S. Dunbar & Co., 1889.

WILLIAM A. CRANE

Senior member of the firm of Allen & Crane, editors and proprietors of the Audubon County Advocate, has been connected with the paper since November, 1887, leasing an interest from R. M. Carpenter, the present postmaster of Audubon. Mr. Crane managed the paper until March 1, 1888, when he formed a partnership with his uncle, the new firm being known as Crane & Crane, the Messrs. Crane having purchased the entire interest of the paper. They conducted the business successfully until October, 1888, when Mr. Allen bought a half interest in the concern, and the firm was changed to Allen & Crane.

William A. Crane was born in Audubon County, Iowa, near Exira, December, 1860. He is the eldest son of John and Mary I. (Harris) Crane. The mother is a daughter of D. M. Harris, the founder of the Audubon County Defender, a paper published at Exira for several years. John Crane was a native of the State of Ohio, being born in Highland County. He was a farmer in early life, but after his removal to Audubon County he was appointed deputy sheriff. He was the first Democratic candidate for office of sheriff in the county, and was beaten in the general election by one vote out of eighty-one votes cast in the county.
The mother of our subject is still living. William A. Crane was reared in Exira and educated in the schools of that place. At the age of eighteen he went west to Fort Collins, Colorado, and entered the office
of the Fort Collins Courier to learn the printer's trade, first serving in the capacity of printer's devil. He remained in the office for some time, and was sent out as a correspondent, to western Colorado and the
Territory of Wyoming; the country then being new and wild, he did not like it, so returned to Exira.

In 1881 he bought an interest in the Audubon County Defender, which was conducted under the firm name of Crane & Milkman. This partnership was of short duration, however, Mr. Crane going south to Atlanta, Georgia, where he was employed in the State printing office. On leaving Atlanta, Mr. Crane went to Chillicothe, Ohio, where he secured a position on the Sciota Gazette, as job compositor, for one year.
He then returned to Iowa and took the foremanship of the Advocate at Audubon, holding this position for twenty months. He was then employed in the office of the Republican, then under the management of Cousins & McClure. He remained there about one year. He then took a trip through the States of Missouri and Kansas. He returned to Audubon and formed the business relation before mentioned.

Mr. Crane was united in marriage July 31, 1884, to Miss Jennie M. Burton, a daughter of Henry Burton, of Exira Township, Audubon County. Mrs. Crane was born in Guthrie County, Iowa. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Crane - Frankie Belle. Mr. Crane is a member of the K. of P., and of the Improved Order of Red Men.