Horace H. Crane Died Last Night

HE WAS ONE OF THE EARLIEST SETTLERS OF THIS COUNTY AND PROMINENTLY IDENTIFIED WITH ITS AFFAIRS. FUNERAL TOMORROW MORNING.

Horace H. Crane, one of the oldest and most highly respected citizens of this city, died at his home, corner of North Eighth and Chestnut streets, at 9 o’clock last night. Mr. Crane had been gradually failing, the past year or two, and his death was not an event unexpected. Always a man devoted to the active affairs of life, when the weight of increasing years finally confined him to his home, his physical decline was very rapid, although a man of rugged physique and wonderful endurance.

Horace H. Crane was born November 15, 1836, in Shalersville, Ohio, and would have been 78 years of age had he lived until next November. He resided with his parents at the place of his birth until nine years old, when he accompanied his parents to Appleton, Wisconsin, where he was living at the time of the Civil War. In 1862 he answered the call of his country and enlisted in Co. “I”, 3rd Wisconsin Volunteer Cavalry, under Col. Barraton, General Blunt’s division of the Army of the West. In this regiment he saw some active service, participating in the battles of Cane Hill and Pea Ridge, and numerous skirmishes. Much of his service was in escorting government trains through Missouri and Arkansas. He was mustered out at Fort Scott in August, 1863. After being mustered out he purchased a car load of horses in the vicinity of Fort Scott and took them back to Wisconsin and sold them.

He soon however, returned to Kansas and settled on a farm near Leroy in Coffey county, where he married Elizabeth High. Shortly after his marriage, or in 1868, Mr. Crane came to this county with his wife and selected and filed on a quarter of land in section 5-32-15, on which is now located Crane station on the Santa Fe line. At the time of his death Mr. Crane still retained ownership of his original claim, which had been largely increased in acreage by the addition of adjoining land by purchase since, and is recognize as one of the large and valuable farms of the county, on which are not only raised fine crops, but oil and gas have been developed on the tract.

When Mr. Crane settled on the claim in 1868 the Osage Indians were still in possession of all the territory that now comprises Montgomery county. Mr. Crane purchased the protection and right of settlement from the noted Osage Indian chief, Napawalla, for the sum of $100. This guaranteed protection to ten families Mr. Crane wished to settle in that vicinity. Mr. Crane always referred to the fact with satisfaction that while no paper was signed, the chief carried out his part of the program without a breach. There were at the time some 400 Indians in the vicinity, and some of them remained until the government removed them by force.

Horace H. Crane was a good citizen, a kind neighbor and a considerate friend, respected and esteemed by his fellow citizens. He was a number of times mentioned in connection with high positions of public trust, and was at one time a candidate for county treasurer on the Democratic ticket and received a vote far in excess of the regular vote of his party. He was a successful businessman. He experienced all the vicissitudes and trails of pioneer life, and lived to see the efforts of the men who with him blazed the way in a wilderness crowned with the triumphs and achievements of a splendid civilization, replete with the comforts, privileges and benefits that contribute to the richness and fullness of life. A man of rugged character, with faith and confidence in his fellow men and the triumph of right, he practiced in his daily life straightforward honesty and noble charity, and contributed his share towards the building of the solid foundation on which rests the social and commercial greatness that now distinguishes the section to which he came as a pioneer.

Mr. Crane is survived by his estimable wife and four children, one brother and one sister. The four children are Mrs. J. D. Hughes of Vinita, Charles O., of Bristow, and Horace and Frederick of Elgin. The children were all at home at the time of their father’s death. His elder brother, William, resides in this city and his sister, Mrs. Fitch, lives at Winfield. She is expected to arrive today.

The funeral will take place from the family residence tomorrow morning at 9 o’clock, the services being under the auspices of the Masonic order. Mr. Crane was a Knight Templar Mason and a Shriner, also a member of the Elks, the Woodmen of the World, and McPherson Post, G. A. R.

Contributed by Mrs. Maryann Johnson a Civil war researcher and a volunteer in the Kansas Room of the Independence Public Library, Independence, Kansas.