Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 811
STEPHEN W. CRANE

Stephen W. CRANE of Little Sioux Township, came to Harrison County in 1884. He was born in Newark, N.J., April 30, 1841, and is a son of Ambrose and Lydia (PIKE) CRANE. On the paternal side Nehemiah J. CRANE and Polly (WARD) CRANE were the grand-parents, and were of English descent. The great-grandfather was one of the early settlers in New Jersey, and farmed the land hwere now stands the city of Newark. On the mother's side they were of Scotch descent. Zebulon Montgomery PIKE was a general in the Continental Army, and was killed at the battle of Morristown Heights.

Our subject is the youngest of a family of five, four of whom still survive. His early life was spent in New Jersey, and he was educated at the High Schools of Newark. In 1860 he began to learn the coach painters trade, and worked at it until he enlisted at Trenton, October 15, 186(?), as a member of Compnay K., Ninth New Jersey Infantry. He participated in twenty-six battles during the Civil War, the chief of which are follows -- Roanoke Island, Newburn, Fort Macon, Kingston, Whitehall, Goldsboro, Dureys Bluff, Cold Harbor, Southwest Creek, both engagements at Petersburg, at Free Bridge, Hills Bridge, and Cherry Grove. He was discharged December 7, 1864, at Trenton, N. J., after which he returned home and remained until March 1865, and then came to Sycamore, Ill., and while there accidently shot himself while hunting ducks, which compelled him to go home, which, to an old soldier who had faced the grape and canister shot of the Rebel army during twenty-six engagements without ever receiving a wound, seemed not a little laughable as well as mortifying.

He remained at home this time about a year, and then went to Lisbon, Kendall County, Ill., where he farmed until he came to Harrison County in 1884, when he settled on section 4, of Little Sioux Township, where he owns two hundred and seventeen acres, for which he paid $6 per acre. His success as a farmer is due principally to the fact that he pays special attention to cattle, horses and hogs, while his chief crop is corn.

He was united in marriage in 1870, at Lisbon, Ill., to Miss Ida SUYDAM, the daughter of John and Eliza J. (WHITE) SUYDAM. By this marriage union two children have been born -- Mattie P., of Little Sioux; and Harry, at home. Mrs. CRANE died January, 1886, and was buried in the Little Sioux Cemetery.

For his second wife our subject married Mary Frances BARKER, February 14, 1889. Her home was at Onawa, Iowa.

Politically, our subject is identified with the Republican party. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and is looked upon as a representative man in the community in which he lives.

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