Charles Crane - Bishop Post, G.A.R.

Charles Crane was an adventurer in many ways, including serving an extended term with the U.S. Cavalry, and settling in the Ohio Veterans' Colony in Georgia.  Born in Warren County, Ohio, to Elihu Crane and Malinda Snook on April 20, 1845, his father died sometime between 1850 and 1860.

In the 1860 census of Union Township, Warren Township, Ohio, Charles Crane, 14, lived with his widowed mother, Melinda, 43, and seven siblings, ranging from age 23 to age 1.  It must have been a very difficult life for the family.  Perhaps out of sense of duty or maybe to help his family, Charles Crane enlisted at the age of 15 or 16 into the Second U.S. Cavalry as a Private.  He was definitely underage.


Enlisting on December 19, 1862, he served in Company L of the U.S. Artillery until July, 1864, reenlisted into Company A of the Second Cavalry and served there until November, 1865.  He served throughout the East, attached to different units. In July, 1863, the cavalry would be found in Gettysburg. On July 3rd, they attacked the Confederate right and rear for four hours before a heavy rain stopped the action.  A monument stands in Gettysburg honoring their participation.

At the end of the war, the U.S.4th Cavalry beckoned him to join on December 2, 1866 into Company I where he served until October 2, 1871.  The 4th Cavalry was sent to Texas where they protected the mail riders and helped settle the Indians.  In February, 1871, they fought against the Commanches and Kiowa in Indian Territory, hoping to place the Indians on their reservations.

On November 25, 1872, Charles enlisted into the 6th Cavalry, Company B and served until November 25, 1877, then reenlisting for the last time on January 2, 1878, and serving until September 8, 1878. Some of his enlistments were in the infantry; he was dedicated to being a soldier. He served sixteen years in the U.S. Cavalry, Infantry and Artillery through war and Western living, and he reported no disabilities on the 1890 Veterans Census.

Charles moved back home with his mother in Warren County, and that's where the census enumerator found him in 1880.  Charles was reported as 35, and he was not working at the time.  His brothers, Irwin, 31, and Walter D., 26, both worked as farmhands and also lived at home.

He married Rea Young on April 1, 1884, in Warren County, Ohio.

Charles signed his mark, not his signature.

This marriage was short-lived, as Rea apparently died sometime before 1886. On May 20, 1886, Charles married Margaret (nee Corrigan) Conway, a widow with children, in Warren County. 

Charles moved to Defiance before 1890, when he appeared in that veterans census.  Always the adventurer, he learned of a colony being formed in Georgia for Union veterans where they could clear land and probably obtain it cheaply.  Called the Ohio Colony, it appealed to the veteran who came home with little to build a life with, as it held promise for the ownership of a nice farm.  On October 15, 1895, the Defiance Daily Crescent reported:

"Charles Crane left this morning for Swan, Ga. where he joins the Ohio colony and will make his future home.  While enroute, he will stop at Atlanta and visit the Exposition.  Mr. Crane's many friends wish him success in his future home."  

His wife, Margaret joined him in early 1896.  The colony eventually failed because, despite all of the promises of the paradise of the south, the northern soldiers soon found out that the land was very poor, some swampy, the insects were a huge detriment to work, and it was expensive to clear the land and build. Mr. O. Dyerman and family of Defiance also went to this Ohio Colony, with Mr. Dyerman as the person in charge.

By 1900, Charles and Margaret were back in Defiance, living at 415 Summit Street.  She had six children and four living.   Charley Crane, 55, and Margaret, 53, were joined by Margaret's children - Mollie Conway, 30, a milliner; George Conway, 27; and Eddie Conway, 23.  Margaret died in 1905 and her obituary appeared in the Defiance Express on February 27, 1905.

"MARGARET CORRIGAN CONWAY CRANE. 

DEATH OF MRS. CRANE OCCURRED SUNDAY AFTERNOON. 

 Mrs. Margaret Crane, wife of Charles Crane, died Sunday afternoon at her home on Summit street in the city.  She was born Margaret Corrigan in King's County, Ireland, in 1845.  When five years of age, with her parents, she moved to the United States, going immediately to Lebanon, Warren County where she resided for many years.

In 1862, she was married to Mr. Conway by whom she had five children, all now living.  They are Mrs. Charles Riley and Edward Conway of Youngstown, George Conway of Ashland, Wisconsin, and Mrs. Margaret Conway of Chicago.*

A sister, Miss Mary Corrigan, of this city, also survives her.

She was married to Mr. Crane eighteen years ago at Lebanon, but for fifteen years, they resided in this city.

Her death occurred after four months of suffering from a complication of diseases.  The funeral will be held tomorrow at. St. John's Catholic church.  Rev. Gloden will conduct the service.  The interment will be in Riverside Cemetery."

In 1908, Charles married Orpha (nee Todd) Roberts, another widow with children.  They settled into 624 Ravine Avenue, Defiance.

Charles and Orpha lived, in 1910, with her children, Orea E. Roberts, 20, who worked in a steel factory; Delia N. Roberts, 15, who was a turner in a mattress factory; and Lawrence Roberts, 12.  Charles had no occupation listed.

Charles Crane died the next year on July 28, 1911. His obituary could not be located. A funeral notice related his service was held at his home and then at the U.B. Church, with interment at Riverside Cemetery.  Pall bearers were Adam Hall, W. H. Ashton, C. G. Robinson, N. Hardesty, P. Osborne, and J. Krontz.

His third wife, Orpha Todd Roberts Crane married again at fifty to William E. Garrett on May 2, 1914, in Mt. Pleasant Michigan. 

(This is part of a series on Civil War veterans of Defiance County who were part of the G.A.R., Bishop Post, that headquartered in the city.  Formed in 1879, the post was named after a local man, Captain William Bishop, Company D, 100th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Army who died as a result of wounds received in battle.  The veterans' photos are part of a composite photo of members that has survived.  If you have other information or corrections to add to the soldiers' stories, please add to the comments!)