Crane, Hervey N. 1841-1896

ALLEN, CRANE, LEISENRING, ELLIOTT, MORRIS, PENNINGTON, BASS, BEREMAN, BIRD, ROUSE, SHAW, WICKERSHAM, SARGEANT

Posted By: Pat Ryan White (email)
Date: 5/18/2009 at 18:52:23

THE LAST TRIBUTE.
Often a sad pleasure is assigned us, that brings from memories closet, thoughts of pleasures and joys of the past now buried and gone. Thus, when we write of our friend, Mr. H. N. Crane, whose spirit took its flight so quietly and peacefully last Friday morning. He went to sleep on earth at eventide, to waken in the rosy morn in the "Eternal City" and there receive the blessings so richly deserved by a pure and noble life. We have known him since a boy, and we have the privilege of being the first person he ever knew in Iowa.

Hervey N. Crane was born August 2, 1841, in McConnellsville, Ohio. The second son of Rev. and Mrs. Eber Crane. When he was a boy, June 1854, he came with his parents to Iowa, first making a stop of a month for six weeks in Davenport. But Rev. Crane was induced to come to Mt. Pleasant through the influence of the late James B. Shaw, whose acquaintance he made on the journey from Ohio to Iowa, and here have the family remained ever since. Hervey was the master of two trades, first going to Washington and learning the printers trade in "The Washington Press" office, under the supervision of Mr. A. R. Wickersham, who was then owner and editor of that paper. He later returned to Mt. Pleasant and went into the jewelry establishment of Mr. J. F. Sargent, learning the business in all its details, there remained until the breaking out of the late war. He then shouldered a musket and went into service in the 45th Infantry, under Col. Alvah Bereman. When leaving the army he remained in St. Louis a year in the great establishment of Jackards, then coming back to his old home, and in his old place with Mr. Sargent, as a partner in the business, remaining here until April, 1867. He then launched in life's business ship, opening a business in the Brazelton Block. He later branched into a larger field, and for years he did business in the rooms that Crane & Rouse now occupy, when he sold out to Crane & Rouse, he again entered the business world under the head of Crane & Morris in the same room where he first began nearly thirty years before. In March of the present year he closed his active life, not having strength or health to do it or himself justice. He had been an invalid several years.

His father was a Baptist divine, and under his influence he joined the church when a boy, and was a member until his death.

In October, 1870, he married Miss May Allen, of Muscatine, and of this marriage came four promising children, Frank, Mary, Louis and Leigh, who today mourn with their mother for the husband and father whose footfalls will never again reecho on the threshold.

When a young man in society, he with five other young men, Messrs. J. R. Leisenring, W. I. Babb, H. T. Bird, Simon Elliott and C. L. Pennington, formed a club, calling themselves "The Y. B. C." Mr. Crane is the first one to be called by death. Messrs. Babb and Bird live here, the other three have gone to other places to make their home.

We knew our departed friend as a boy, as a favorite in society when a young man, and in maturer years. His life was such as to call respect from all, upright and faithful in business, a gentleman in every respect, ever courteous and kind in all business and social relations, a husband and father to be loved. Mr. Crane will not only be missed in the home circle, but in the community also.

Funeral services were held at the First Baptist church Sunday afternoon, conducted in a brief, solemn manner by Rev. Sarber. The church was filled to overflowing to pay the last sad tribute to a departed friend and neighbor.

['Mt. Pleasant Daily News', Wednesday, October 14, 1896]