No history of the pioneer development of Racine County would be complete were there failure to make reference to Augustus B. Crane, who arrived here in 1839 and continued to make his home within the borders of the County for nearly seven decades. He was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1823, and at an early age was left an orphan, after which he was reared by an uncle. Attracted by the opportunities of the growing west, he came to Racine County in 1839, and throughout his remaining days was closely identified with the agricultural progress of his community.
It was at the Rapids, in January, 1843, that Mr. Crane was united in marriage to Lavina Baldwin, who was born in the state of New York, near Syracuse. With her parents she removed westward to Michigan, the family home being established at Kalamazoo, and later they came around the Lakes to Racine County, Wisconsin, making the journey with ox teams. It was in 1842 that they arrived in the County, and the next year Lavina Baldwin became the wife of Augustus B. Crane. They began their domestic life upon a farm in Mount Pleasant Township and there continued to reside throughout their remaining days. It was a tract of new land covered with timber which Mr. Crane had to clear away before he could turn the furrows and plant the seed. In time, however, his labors wrought a marked transformation in the appearance of the place and as the years passed on he converted this into a valuable farm property from which he derived a gratifying financial income. Wherever known he was held in high esteem and most of all where he was best known. His fellow townsmen, appreciative of his worth and ability, frequently called him to public office and he made an excellent record in the positions which he filled. He died on the 15th of February, 1908, and his widow survived him for a year, passing away in April, 1909, their remains being interred side by side in the Mound cemetery.