|
|
JAMES A. CRANE
Among the leading citizens of Riverside county, none enjoys wider esteem than does J. A. Crane of Elsinore, whose
untiring labors in behalf of that section have won full recognition in the field of his endeavors. He was born
in Stanford, Monroe county, Ind., December 25, 1872, a son of John Crane, also a native of that state and who for
many years was a prosperous farmer there. He and his wife, formerly Susan Fultz, born in Marysville, Ohio, have
been residents of California since January, 1896, and are now living in San Dimas, where Mr. Crane is interested
in orange growing, banking and in the packing house business.
One of a family of seventeen children, James A. Crane received a common school education in the vicinity of his
birthplace and in 1883 accompanied his parents to Nebraska, where, upon completing his high school course, he became
a teacher in the public schools in that state, continuing for three years during the winter months, while during
the summers he worked on the farm. Deciding to come to California to see if he could not better his condition he
located in Glendora and found employment with the Santa Fe Railroad Company at section work and two years later
he was given station work at Azusa. From there he was transferred to North Pomona in 1900, and the following year
to Oro Grande, where he remained about eighteen months and in March, 1903, he was sent to take charge of the station
at Elsinore. After three years of faithful service at this point, during which time he became closely connected
with the interests of that locality, he resigned and accepted a position as cashier of the Consolidated Bank of
Elsinore, of which he is also a large stockholder. During the time he was agent at Elsinore he also was engaged
in the drug business, having purchased a store and continued the business for three years with success and until
his many other duties made it necessary for him to sell out.
In March, 1910, at the earnest solicitation of his many friends and fellow citizens of the fourth district, Mr.
Crane became a candidate for the office of supervisor and was elected by a large majority at the general election
November 8, 1910. As a member of the board his duties are arduous and he resigned his position as cashier of the
bank to devote his entire time and attention to the duties of hg office. The territory included in his jurisdiction
has three times as much road work to supervise as districts one, two and three combined, and more money is expended
annually, and therefore the greater portion of his time is occupied in repairing and building permanent roads.
He is also on the committee of the county hospital. Always active in politics, he has ever been a supporter of
Republican principles. He has served as a delegate to county, congressional and state conventions, is a member
of the Republican county central committee and served on the executive board of same for a number of years. He
is the representative from Riverside county to the Southern California Panama Pacific Exposition Commission to
arrange for displays at different expositions and fairs; is also one of the committee of seven on the Ocean to
Ocean Highway Commission, and a delegate to the meeting held in Riverside May 10, 1912, of the trustees from different
school districts throughout the county, consisting of all grammar and high schools, for concerted action on various
phases of educational work. During the building of the Elsinore Union high school building, after the contractor
had failed in carrying out the contract, Mr. Crane completed the job by day labor, spending about one hundred days
without compensation. He is secretary and treasurer of the Elsinore Electric Light Company, in which he owns the
controlling interest, clerk of the Elsinore Union high school board and secretary and treasurer of the Elsinore
Land and Water Company.
On February 16, 1900, Mr. Crane was united in marriage with Miss Evangeline Wyman Tooker, a native of Dodge City,
Iowa, who came to California with her parents, John F. and Eugenia Tooker, in 1890. They are natives of Nova Scotia
and are now living in Santa Monica, Cal. Of the marriage of Mr and Mrs. Crane two children have been born, Laura
Eleanor, born in August, 1905, and Susan Patricia, born in 1909. Fraternally Mr. Crane is a member of Elsinore
Lodge No. 289, F. & A. M., Elsinore Lodge No. 140, K. of P., and Riverside Lodge No. 643, B. P. O. E. In all
progressive movements for the general upbuilding of the county he is always found ready to lend his aid and in
many movements he has taken the initiative. As a public spirited citizen he is held in the highest esteem
From:
History of Riverside County, California
With a Biographical Review
History by Elmer Wallace Holmes
And other well known writers
Historic Record Company
Los Angeles, California 1912
Privacy Policy for
OnlineBiographies
|
NAVIGATION
Riverside County, CA
Biographies
Online
Biographies
New York
Histories
New York
Biographies
Maine
Histories
Pennsylvania
Histories
Pennsylvania
Biographies
For all your genealogy needs visit Linkpendium
|