Bio: Crane, Allen B. (Commemorative Bio - 1895)

Poster: Crystal Wendt

Allen B. Crane

Allen B. Crane was born in Eddington, Maine, in November, 1831. His paternal grandparent, Elijah Crane, was a resident of Massachusetts, and by trade was a cooper. He married and became the father of eight children, viz.: Allen, Priscilla, Nancy, Anna, George, Ezekiel, F. and Eliza. Both grandparents died in Maine.

Allen Crane, the father of our subject, was born in Massachusetts in 1790, where for many years he was a prominent farmer and lumberman, and was also a soldier in the war of 1812. Mr. Crane was united in marriage with Mary Coggshall, who was born in Taunton, Mass., in 1793; her father was a sea-faring man, and the owner of several vessels. Mrs. Crane had but one sister, Nancy, and one brother, Timothy. Allen Crane’s family consisted of ten children, viz.: Timothy E., Francis (who died in infancy), Samuel C., Francis, Allen B., Mary, Susan, Charlotte, and Celia, another child, Celia, dying when quite young. Only two are now living, Allen B., and Samuel C., the latter now residing in Potsdam, N. Y. Allen Crane’s death occurred in Maine March 8, 1859. The mother died in New London, Wis., in 1867. 

Allen B. Crane, a gentleman introduced at the commencement of this sketch, received a good education in Maine, and afterward assisted his father in the running of a large lumber mill. At the age of twenty-two he was married to Anna M. Miller, daughter of William R. and Ann (Simonton) Miller; she was born in Howland, Penobscot Co., Maine, in 1833, and was one of seven children, viz.: Albert, Walter, William E., Frank, Anna M., Mary L. and Rebecca. Mrs. Crane’s father was a resident of Massachusetts, and a lumberman by occupation; her mother was born in Portland, Maine. After his marriage Mr. Crane moved to Potsdam, N. Y., and engaged in the lumber business, but only remained there for one year. In the fall of 1856 he came to Oshkosh, Winnebago Co., Wis., where he remained for some time, looking over the country, and in 1857, he moved to Rock Island, Ill., and operated a mill, afterward going to Missouri, where he engaged in the manufacture of ties for the Hanniba & St. Jo Railroad, remaining there nearly a year. He then returned to Maine and engaged in logging, which pursuit he followed until 1865; then came west and eventually settled in Oshkosh. Mr. Crane’s eldest brother, Timothy, whose death occurred January 6, 1893; had always been interested with him in his different enterprises, and after coming to Wisconsin the second time they were actively engaged in the manufacture of lumber, building their first mill at Gagen, Forest Co., Wis., which, in 1890, they moved to Tomahawk.

To Mr. and Mrs. Crane was born three children, viz.: Fannie S., Edward M., and William A., who died June 25, 1890, aged thirty-three years. The mother’s death took place December 3, 1893. Mr. Crane is an ardent Republican, and takes an active interest in all political affairs of the State. Socially he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, Royal Arcanum, and the Legion of Honor. His home is virtually at Oshkosh, where he is the owner of considerable property, but his business interests are principally in Tomahawk. Mr. Crane is an able, scholarly man, and for five years he was a teacher in a public school in his native State.

---Source: Commemorative Biographical Record of the Upper Wisconsin Counties of Waupaca, Portage, Wood, Marathon, Lincoln, Oneida, Vilas, Langlade and Shawano. publ. 1895 by J. H. Beers & Co., Chicago 1110 pages, illustrated; Page 534-535