Crayne, J.B.

CRAYNE, BELL, WALTON

Posted By: mjv (email)
Date: 9/9/2020 at 15:02:14

.B. Crayne, farmer, stock-raiser and dealer in grain and stock, West Chester, Iowa, was born in Greene County, Pa., Feb. 14, 1840, and is the son of Elihu and Mary (Bell) Crayne, who were also natives of the Keystone State. The family came to Washington County, Iowa, in 1855, and settled on section 35, Franklin Township, where the father bought 200 acres of raw land which he improved and on which the family lived until 1866, J.B. cutting and splitting the rails with which to fence it.

In 1861, the subject of this sketch bought sixty acres of land in Marion Township, which he improved, and on which he lived two years. His father then being taken sick, he returned and took charge of the home farm, where he remained two years. He then bought 160 acres on section 8 Franklin Township. On this place was a small house, and there had been about sixty acres of land broken. He improved this farm and there lived till 1876, when he rented the same and commenced buying grain and stock in West Chester. He continued to rent his farm until 1875, when he sold it and bought 210 acres of land on sections 30 and 31, Cedar Township, adjoining the village of West Chester. He now owns 230 acres of land with a good residence property on lots 11 and 12 on block 2 in the village of West Chester.

In 1859, Mr. Crayne was united in marriage with Miss Keziah Walton, a native of Pennsylvania and daughter of Jonathon Walton. They are the parents of nine children, all of whom are living: Dora E., wife of Frank Bean, of Cedar Township; Elmer Ellsworth, now residing in Lane County, Kan.; Carrie B., the wife of F. Coffman, of West Chester; Milton E., Annie, Lizzie, Almeta May, Bessie Lee and Bertha. The father of Mr. Crayne died in Dallas County, Iowa, in 1871, aged fifty-five years and eleven months. His mother is still living in West Chester, and is now sixty-four years of age. She is a member of the Baptist Church, of which body her husband was also a member. Elihu Crayne was a soldier in the Mexican war, but did not get to the front till the war closed.

The subject of this sketch is still engaged in the stock and grain buying in connection with farming. Religiously, he is a Baptist, and he is also a strong temperance man. In his farming operations he makes a specialty of fine stock, having on his place a number of head of imported horses as well as imported cattle. A short account of his stock will be found elsewhere in this volume. Politically, he is a Democrat. Although not numbered among the very earliest of Washington County pioneers, Mr. Crayne came to the county when it was comparatively new, and during his residence of almost a third of a century, he has made many strong friends, and enjoys the respect and confidence of all who know him.
Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington County, Iowa (1887). Excerpt from Biographical Sketch of J.B. Crayne, page 549.