CRANE, Thomas (1844-1926)

CRANE

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 12/18/2018 at 12:50:56

Thomas Crane
(March 25, 1844 - July 22, 1926)

Thomas Crane was born on the Isle of Man, March 25, 1844. His father, William Crane, was a soldier in the British army and died of cholera while in the Indias when Thomas was 18 months old. His mother, Catherine (nee Faragher), was born on the Isle of Man. His brother was William Crane and they lived in a sod house thatched with straw and had an earth floor. At the age of eleven, Thomas came with his uncle, C. Faragher, to America, landing at New Orleans after a voyage of 6 weeks and 2 days. They then went up the river to Dubuque, Iowa, and across the country with oxen to Monticello, Jones County, Iowa. He married Miss Elizabeth Jones, a native of Kentucky, on December 25, 1864.
Thomas came to Ida County in 1877 with his capital consisting of two teams and wagons, five cows and six shotes, and settled on 160 acres of land in Maple Township, Ida County, Iowa. The land cost him $17.50 per acre. He built a house and for a time used his wagons for stable and granary. He tied the cows with hay ropes and made a pen for his shotes with willow bark. For many years, he successfully practiced as a veterinary surgeon dehorning the first 6,000 cattle in Ida County. He had a farm of 320 acres in Section 14, Maple Township, Ida County, Ia.
Mr. & Mrs. Crane had eight children: Elmer Ellsworth, Frank Siegel, George Henry (born Sept. 23, 1868, died Mar. 31, 1931), William Wesley (born April. 5, 1870), Jennie Frances, Charles Enoch (born Nov. 23, 1873, died May 16, 1961), Ed Harrison, and Eudell Thomas. He served as a member of the School Board and as a Township Trustee.

Source: Biographical History of Crawford, Ida, and Sac Counties, Iowa, 1893, p.257
Thomas Crane
born Mar 25, 1844
Thomas Crane, one of the prominent citizens and early settlers of Maple Township, Ida County, resides on a farm of 320 acres in section 14. He has been a resident of Iowa since 1855, and of his present locality since 1877. Briefly, a sketch of his life is as follows:
Thomas Crane was born on the Isle of Man, March 25, 1844. His father, William Crane, was a soldier in the English army, and died of disease while in the Indias, his death occurring when Thomas was eighteen months old. His mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Faragher, was born on the Isle of Man, her parents being descendants of the first families of the island. After the death of her first husband she married Solomon Manley, by whom she had three children. She had two children by Mr. Crane, William and Thomas. The former is now a resident of Corwin Township, Ida County, Iowa. Her death occurred when Thomas was seven years old. At the age of eleven the subject of our sketch came with his uncle, C. Faragher, to America, landing at New Orleans after a voyage of six weeks and two days; thence up the river to Dubuque, Iowa, and from there across the country with oxen to Monticello,
Jones County. In this State he was reared and educated. Some years afterward he heard of the location of his step-father and half sister, Lizzie, and visited them at Mineral Point, Wisconsin. This sister became the wife of Squire Lammon, and died in South Dakota. At the time Mr. Crane landed in Ida County, in 1877, his capital consisted of two teams and wagons, five cows and six shotes, and upon his arrival here he settled on 160 acres of land, built a house, and for a time used his wagons for stable and granary. He tied the
cows with hay ropes, and made a pen for his shotes with willow bark. The first money he received was for veterinary work, and for many years he has successfully practiced as a veterinary surgeon. He dehorned the first cattle in Ida County, 6,000, and has probably dehorned more cattle than any other man in the county. For the first land he bought, 160 acres, he paid $17.50 per acre, making payments of $500 annually. He now owns 320 acres, one of the best farms in the township. His residence, a frame house containing ten rooms, is nicely furnished throughout. Its pictures, its musical instrument, and its library, together with the general appearance of this home, at once indicate the family to be not only people of wealth but also of culture and refinement. From the beautiful building site on which the residence is
situated a magnificent view of the surrounding country is obtained. A grove and orchard of four acres, plenty of small fruit, large barn, other farm buildings, modern windmill, etc., etc., are among the other improvements
Mr. Crane has put here. He keeps a good grade of both horses and cattle. In October, 1891, he made a sale, which amounted to $2,700. Mr. Crane was married December 25, 1864, to Miss Elizabeth Jones, a native of Kentucky and a daughter of Enoch and Elezon (Lightfoot) Jones, residents of Battle Creek,
Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Crane have eight children: Elmer Ellsworth, Frank Siegel, George Henry, William Wesley, Jennie Frances, Charles Enoch, Ed Harrison and Eudell Thomas. George H. was educated at the State Normal at Cedar Falls.
Mr. Crane votes with the Democratic Party. He has served as Township Trustee
and also as a member of the School Board. He is a Methodist and his wife is a member of the Advent Church. Both socially and financially he is ranked with the best citizens of the county.