James Crane
James Crane, hotel proprietor, Kent, was born in Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, August 6, 1830; son of Ira R. and Lucy B. (Rawdon) Crane, natives of Connecticut. His father settled in Warren in 1824, where he embarked in the boot and shoe trade, which he carried on there for twenty years. He then located in West Farmington, and continued in the same business until his death. He died September 17, 1884, at the age of eighty-two. Our subject was reared in his native town and in West Farmington, and was educated in the schools of the latter place, and clerked for his father for many years. In 1852 he embarked in the dry goods trade in West Farmington, in which he engaged up to 1857, when he removed to Illinois, where he resided three years. In April, 1861, he enlisted in the three months' service, in the late war of the Rebellion, being the first man to enlist in Geauga County, Ohio, He was Orderly Sergeant of Company E, Nineteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served his time. He re-enlisted March 12, 1862, and was appointed Captain of Battery E, Fifth New York Artillery. He participated in both battles of Winchester, Va., Fishers Hill, Va., at the evacuation of Harper's Ferry, and in the battle of Cedar Creek, where he was captured October 19, 1864, and taken to Libby, and from there to Danville Prison. He was paroled March 12, 1865, and was honorably discharged from the service the same date at Annapolis, Md. He then returned to West Farmington and re-entered the dry goods business, in which he was engaged up to 1879, when he located in Kent, and with his brother-in-law, F. K. Lewis, Esq., rented the "Continental Hotel," the principal hotel of the place, which, under the excellent management of Crane & Lewis, has become widely known throughout the State. Mr. Crane married Amelia E., daughter of Leonard and Mary (Smith) Lewis, of West Farmington, by whom he has two children: Minnie and Jay. Capt. Crane is one of the live, enterprising citizens of Kent. He is a F. & A. M., a member of the K. of P. and G. A. R. In politics he is a stanch Republican.
From History of Portage County, Ohio, Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, 1885