Obituary of Lewis Wesley Crain, Labette County, KSGenWeb Digital Library

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PARSONS SUN, 29 June 1923

Obituary of LEWIS WESLEY CRAIN

Well known Pioneer, Labette County
Citizen and One of the Few Remaining Boys in Blue Died at
Home in Labette Last Saturday
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WAS ONE TIME PROBATE JUDGE
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Came to County in 1867 and Homesteaded Farm still owned at death.
Is survived by Widow and Nine Children-All Present at
Funeral
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Judge L. W. Crain of Labette City, well known pioneer resident of Labette county and one of the very few remaining Union Soldiers of the Civil War in this county, died at his home in Labette, Saturday morning, June 23, 1923, at two-thirty o'clock. He was aged 76-years seven months and three days. He had been ailing but a few hours prior to his death, and death is presumed to have been caused by paralysis of the heart. In his usual Robust health, with Mrs. Crain he had been out to his farm in Montana township a few miles east of Labette, during the day Friday, supervising the work of harvesting which was in full blast, and looking after other little details about the farm. The day was hot and returning home in the evening, he complained of feeling badly. When they
reached the house, he started to unhitch the horse and put it the barn, but was unable to complete the task and was barely able to stagger into the house. Mrs. Crain hastily summoned the physician at Labette, but his condition was getting rapidly worse. Dr. P. S. Townsend of this city, was called in consultation. All that could be done was done but the family was informed by the physicians that there was no chance to save his life.
The funeral service was held at the Baptist Church in Labette, Wednesday afternoon, June 27, at two o'clock, conducted by the pastor, Rev. Vernon Cloninger, who in an impressive sermon stressed particularly the intense patriotism of the deceased and the fine influence he had wielded in the communities in which he had lived. Judge Elmer C. Clark of this city, an almost life long friend of Judge Crain, also paid a beautiful tribute to the deceased, and spoke feelingly of the intimacy of their acquaintanceship and his many fine and wholesome traits, his love for family and children and the fact that he had been both parent and pal for the nine fine children in his own family, who had grown to manhood and womanhood. The Parsons Grand Army of the Republic, of which
Mr. Crain was a member, attended the service in a body, and several of the members from Oswego were also in the ranks. The G. A. R. had charge of the service at Labette cemetery, where internment was made, and where C. M. Birt, Commander of the Parsons Post, delivered the ritualistic service, a very impressive one. A double mixed quartet furnished the music at the church, singing three of the favorite hymns of the deceased. The funeral was one of the most largely attended that has been held in the county in recent years, attesting the general esteem in which the departed was held.
Lewis Wesley Crain was born November 20, 1846, in Washington County, Illinois, and died June 23, 1923. He was united in marriage to Sarah Jane Hamblin, January 10, 1875. To this union ten children were born, six sons and four daughters, all of whom are living, with the exception of one daughter, who died in infancy.
They are Mrs. W. A. Mears, of Newton, Kansas; Will Crain of Missoula, Montana; Mrs. Mayo Crum of Dallas, Texas; Mrs. Lula Crain of Labette; Orville Crain of Labette; Obed Crain of Parsons; Kenneth Crain and Leo Crain of Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Cleo Crain of Eufala, Oklahoma. These with eight grandchildren and the widow and many other relatives, survive. All of the children were present for the funeral, and one of the most impressive features of the funeral service, was the
fact that six sons were the active pall bearers.
During the Civil War he enlisted in the Fifth Illinois Cavalry at Springfield, serving with that company throughout the great conflict and at its close receiving an honorable discharge, one of the most highly prized achievements of a real patriot.
In 1867, with another brother, he homesteaded the farm, upon which he lived for many years and which he still owned at the time of his death. This farm was the family home continuously until 1898 at which time he was honored with the election to the office of Probate Judge of Labette County, and moved to Oswego. He served in this office for one term and in 1902 moved back to the farm, and lived there until 1910, when for the purpose of better educating their children, the family moved to Parsons, Kansas. When this was accomplished they moved to
Labette City where they might spend their declining years, be closer to the farm, which had been their home for almost a century, and be among the old friends and scenes they had known and loved.
Judge Crain was one of the best known and loved men of the county. He was a man of force and of convictions and wielded much influence not only in the communities in which he had resided, but all over the county. In politics he was a Republican, and a most ardent and enthusiastic one and always took an active part in the campaigns.
He was a big and generous heart, easily touched by those in need or in distress and he was never daunted by any obstacles where the opportunity to extend a helping hand to a friend or one in need, was offered. Labette County is much the gainer by the fact that Judge Crain spent his life here and although he has gone, his memory will linger long and the splendid precepts he has left will live on and bear good fruit.

Transcribed and Contributed by dcrain@brookings.net