James H. Crane, son of Augustus B. Crane, was born in Mount Pleasant Township, July 7, 1848, and between the ages of six and seventeen years attended the public schools. He afterward became a pupil in Rochester, where he continued his studies for a year and a half, and for one term he was a student in the high school at Racine. He then concentrated his energies upon farm work and remained at home until he reached the age of twenty-four years, when he went to Chicago, where he spent two years engaged in the bakery business. On the expiration of that period he returned to Racine County and has since been upon the farm. He now cultivates twenty-two acres, most of which is devoted to truck farming, and annually he produces a large amount of vegetables for which he finds a ready sale in the city market.
On the 6th of January, 1873, Mr. Crane was married to Miss Clara A. Cogswell, a daughter of A. W. and Eustatia Ann (Conner) Cogswell, who were natives of New York and in the ’40s arrived in Racine. Mr. and Mrs. Crane have become parents of four children: Orton Albert, who married Grace Dickinson and died leaving three children – Ella Leona, James Orton and Frances Mildred, all living in Racine; Archer B., who married Frances Parks and has one child. Clara Eleanor Walter S., who married Katherine Dean and has three children-Margaret Leonore, Loretta and Walter Dean and Martin Elwin, who is living at home.
While Mr. Crane’s political views accord with the principles of the Republican Party, he does not hold himself bound by party ties and votes for the candidate whom he considers best qualified for the office. For thirteen years he filled the position of clerk of the town and for five years was assessor. For twenty-nine years he served as school officer and for eight years occupied the position of trustee of the County asylum. He attends the Freewill Baptist church at Mygatts Corners and he has ever so lived that his life reflects credit upon that organization and its teachings.