Transcription contributed by Arne H Trelvik 3 June 2005

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897

CALEB M. CRANE, farmer; P. O. Ridgeville; born on the place where he now lives, Dec. 13, 1820; is a son of Judge Daniel and Elizabeth (Merritt) Crane, he a native of Vermont and she of Pennsylvania. The grandparents were Amos and Huldah Crane. natives of New Jersey, where they lived till about 1790; they removed to Vermont; thence, about 1802, they returned to New Jersey, and in 1803 came to Warren Co., Ohio, and here resided till their death. He died Sept. 4, 1818, aged 54 years, dying suddenly of apoplexy; his wife died June 7, 1834, aged 68 years. Judge Daniel Crane was the third child and second son of Amos and Huldah Crane; was born in Vermont Sept. 21, 1792, and was 11 years of age when brought to Warren County; here be grew to manhood under the sturdy influences of pioneer life, receiving a very meager education - such as those log-cabin days afforded, but he was a man of more than ordinary ability, and held many of the highest positions in the county; was a Justice of the Peace thirty years, and during that long period of service there were but two of his decisions ever reversed, showing the strong mind and correctness of his judgment; was Representative to the Legislature and an Associate Judge of the court for seven years, and in his official life his labors were characterized with great proficiency and justness. His integrity of character and honesty of life stood so high in the estimation of his fellow-men that he was intrusted with a great amount of public business; probably settled up more estates than any other man of his day in the county, and in his death was lost one of Warren County's ablest and truest men. The Judge was thrice married, first Oct. 31, 1818, to Elizabeth Merritt, by whom he had seven children, four now survive-Caleb M.; Amos; Emiline, now Mrs. Plunkett; and Joseph J. His wife died July 29, 1833 aged 33 years. On March 3, 1835, he married for his second wife Elizabeth Carter, by whom he had two children (deceased). She died July 8, 1840, aged about 40 years. He married for his third wife Lewezer Warton, by whom he had five children, three now survive - Huldah, now Mrs. Burnett, Susan, and Lester. His last wife still survives, aged 63 years. The subject of this sketch was the second child of his father by his first wife; was married March 22, 1844, to Phoebe, daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth Hathaway, he a native of Kentucky and she of Pennsylvania, but who became pioneer settlers of Warren County about 1800. By this union Mr. Crane and wife have had six children - Elizabeth H., born July 10, 1846, married C. M. Earnhart; Daniel, Dec. 16, 1848, married Elizabeth Rosier; Benjamin H., born May 12, 1851, married Addie Lewis; Mary E., Sept. 21, 1854, married Charles Cafferty; Dora M., Dec. 28, 1859; and Amos McClellan, born Sept. 1, 1862. Mr. Crane has made agricultural pursuits his business through life; has never held or sought office, but has refused the earnest solicitations of his many friends, to accept many local offices; is a very social, congenial man in his nature and in honor and integrity sustains well the character of his noble lather; is an excellent neighbor and a most worthy citizen. We would add that Judge Daniel Crane served in the war of 1812, entering the war as a substitute two different times daring the campaign.