IowaJones/Biographies/C. Crane

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C. Crane–G. W. Curtis

Carso Crane
Born 1837

CARSO CRANE, farmer, Cass Twp., Sec. 17; P.O. Anamosa; was born in Seneca Co., N.Y., in 1837; his parents removed to Orleans Co. when he was about 12 years of age; he came to Jones Co. in the fa11 of 1856; in 1860, he crossed the Plains to Colorado, returning the same year. He enlisted, in 1861, in Co. D, 9th I.V.I., and served nearly two years; he went into the service as Second Lieutenant and was promoted to the first lieutenantcy in the latter part of August, 1862; he was not commissioned as Captain, but commanded his company in nearly all the battles in which they took part; was engaged in the battles of Pea Ridge, Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post and the siege of Vicksburg; he resigned in March, 1863. He was married to Electa Glidden, daughter of William S. Glidden, of Orleans Co, N.Y.; they have two children—Fred and Lizzie. Mr. Crane's farm contains 135 acres of land. He has been a Justice of the Peace of Cass Township. He and his wife are members of the Congregational Church.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 694.

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Charles F. Crane
Born 1832

CHARLES F. CRANE, farmer, See. 3; P.O. Monticello; was born in Putnam Co., N.Y., in 1832; he came to Monticello Township in the spring of 1855, and settled on his present farm, where he has since resided. He was married to Lucy Battles, daughter of Otis Battles, who settled in Delaware Co., from Massachusetts, in 1851. They have seven children—Eva D., William E., Ida, Flora, Frank, Charles and Orrin. His farm contains 140 acres. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 662.

John A. Crawford
Born 1837

JOHN A. CRAWFORD, farmer, Cass Twp., Sec. 21; P.O. Anamosa; was born in Mercer Co., Penn., in 1825; his parents, Alexander and Rachel Crawford, removed to Illinois in 1838; his mother died in 1844; his father came to Cass Township in 1857 and located in Sec. 8; he died July 6, 1866; he was a soldier in the second war with England; he was married thc second time, and his widow still lives, residing in Rochester, N.Y. Mr. John A. Crawford came to Cass Township in 1855, first settling in Sec. 8; located where he now lives about 1858. He was married to Eunice D. Leonard, a native of New Jersey; at the time of their marriage they were living in Illinois; they have four children—Emma E., Jessie, Leta M. and John; have lost a son and a daughter. Mr. Crawford has 333 acres of land, and is engaged quite extensively in stock-raising; feeds annually about 100 head of cattle and 800 head of hogs. He has been a member of the County Board of Supervisors for two terms, and a Justice of the Peace for many years.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 694.

Orville Cronkhite
Born October 6, 1810

ORVILLE CRONKHITE, deceased; born in Chautauqua Co., N.Y., October 6, 1810; came to Iowa in 1839, and entered 400 acres, and now owns 160 in Sec. 15, on which the improvements of the old homestead are still in good repair. He was Probate Judge, Justice of the Peace, and held other offices. Died April 7, 1875. His wife, Lovina Baugh, was born in Piqua Co., Ohio, in 1814; came to Indiana in 1826; married in 1830, and have had ten children—William (in Jones Co.), Jane, Henrietta, Caroline (deceased), Buell, Emily (deceased), John, Orville (deceased), Emeline (infant).

From The History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Co., Chicago, 1879, p. 644.

W. Cronkhite
Born 1833

W. CRONKHITE, farmer, Hale Twp., Sec. 3; P.O. Hale Village; born in Indiana in 1833; came to Iowa in 1837; in 1874, he bought and owns 283 acres, and made the improvements; has been Road Supervisor, School Director and Justice of the Peace. In politics, he is Republican; in religion, Christian. His wife, Caroline M. Mangold, was born in Switzerland; came to America in 1841; married in 1866; has had six children—Harold, Celeste, Alice (died in 1878), Luvonia (died in 1877), Chase, Luvonia. Enlisted in 31st I.V.I. in 1862; discharged in 1865.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 639.

Benjamin Cruise
Born 1824

BENJAMIN CRUISE, farmer, Hale Twp., Sec. 26; P.O. Clarence; born in Ohio in 1837, and came to Kendall Co., Ill., and in 1842 came to Jones Co., Iowa, and entered 160 acres, and now own 200 acres, on which he has made all the improvements. In politics, Democrat; in religion, liberal. His wife, Eliza Shaft, was born in Ohio in 1847; they were married in Cedar Co, in 1869, and have four children—Freddie, Charlie, Benjamin and Frankie.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 639.

D. Cunningham
Born July 12, 1825

D. CUNNINGHAM agent and dealer in agricultural implements and farm machinery, Main street, Anamosa; is a native of Broome Co., N.Y., and was born July 12, 1825. He grew up to manhood there, and came to Iowa in October, 1850, and engaged in farming. When he came here, the census returns of 1850 showed the exact population of Anamosa to number 180 persons. He continued farming for fourteen years, and, in 1864, he came in town, and engaged in the agricultural implement business with E. B. Halderman, who established the business in 1858; they continued together until 1874, when Mr. Halderman retired from the firm, and since then Mr. Cunningham has conducted the business. It is the oldest agricultural house in Jones Co., and he does the leading trade. He has held the offices of Justice of the Peace, Town Clerk, and school offices. He was united in marriage, May 28, 1850, to Miss Sarah A. Halderman, from Broome Co., N.Y.; she is a native of Springfield, Mass.; they have six children—Sarah L., Emily F., Ellen L. (now Mrs. Ladd, and living in the State of Delaware), Jerome D., Hattie and Fred J.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 552.

William A. Cunningham
Born February 21, 1850

WILLIAM A. CUNNINGHAM, ice-dealer, Anamosa; is a native of Randolph Co., Ind., and was born February 21, 1850. When only 4 years of age. his parents came West to Iowa, and located in Jones Co.; they arrived in Anamosa in 1854, and he grew up to manhood here. He has been engaged in the ice business since 1868. He at first began carrying ice to his customers in a basket, and then in a wheel-barrow. He has increased the business until, the present year, he has sold 800 tons, and during the coming year, with enlarged facilities, will put up 1,500 tons. He has held the office of Street Commissioner, and is now a member of the City Council. He was united in marriage to Miss Helen Sales February 8, 1875; she was born June 18, 1855, and is a daughter of Dr. James T. Sales, and is a native of Washington Go., Iowa.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 553.

Many of the business men of Anamosa have come here after the prosperity of the town was assured, attracted by the atmosphere of progress that surrounds it or because of the unusual opportunities here afforded. To their energy and ability all praise is due, save that which belongs to the men who started the town upon its upward career. Among the latter must be numbered William Alexander Cunningham, an ice dealer and the president of the gas company, who has not only watched the growth of Anamosa but has been most active in bringing about its commercial advancement, for many of the industries, in whose flourishing condition the citizens take a pride, were either instigated by him or given that encouragement which insured their development along extensive lines.

Mr. Cunningham was born in Indiana February 21, 1850, his parents being Samuel and Hannah (McQueen) Cunningham, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio. In 1853 they came to Anamosa, where Samuel Cunningham engaged in the mercantile business, conducting a general store until his death, which occurred in 1866, when he was forty-nine years of age. His widow survived him for a long period, for she was not called to her final rest until 1904, when she was in her seventy-fourth year.

William Alexander Cunningham was enrolled as a pupil of the graded school in Anamosa and later attended the Hazel Knowl Academy. His first business venture was in the ice business, on which he embarked in 1868, and although he has still made it his principal concern the conditions connected with it forty years ago were very different from what they are today. Then delivery of ice was made by basket, and only one man is living in Anamosa today who was his customer at that time. For one season after he started in his business the supply of ice gave out, and the price rose to one dollar a hundred, three times the price at which Mr. Cunningham had made his contracts at the opening of the season. Such was his idea of honor, however, that although he might lose money by the transactions, he continued to serve his customers at the stipulated price, and they were permitted to buy as much as they desired. But one competitor, and that for only one season, has invaded the territory which Mr. Cunningham has come to con sider his own, not that the town might not support another, but his patrons have been so well satisfied with his conduct of the ice business that they would need many inducements to bring them to the point of giving their custom to another. He supplies both wholesale and retail orders, but makes a specialty of winter shipments, and were one to inquire for a reason for his success he would undoubtedly modestly disclaim any part in it himself, laying it solely to the excellent quality of the Wapsipinicon ice he handles.

Among the other business enterprises with which Mr. Cunningham has been identified may be mentioned the Citizens' Savings Bank and the People's Gas Company. The former was organized March 14, 1907, with William A. Cunningham as president; William Thomas, as vice-president; F. G. Ray, as cashier; and as directors, William A. Cunningham, William Thomas, F. G. Ray, Colonel William T. Shaw, Dr. Hejinian and J. A. Belknap. The People's Gas Company was organized in 1909, with a capital of thirty- five thousand dollars and with important men of the town as its officers. William A. Cunningham is president. F. G. Ray is vice-president. J. E. Remley occupies the position of secretary, while E. K. Ray is the treasurer. The board of directors number W. A. Cunningham, F. G. Ray, William Thomas, C. L. Niles, J. A. Belknap, E. K. Ray and J. E. Remley. The concern is prospering and gives promise of a successful career, profitable alike to its organizers and those who will share in the Conveniences which it puts within the reach of all.

On the 8th of February, 1875, Mr. Cunningham was united in marriage to Miss Helen Sales, a daughter of Dr. J. T. and Sarah (Fleck) Sales, the former a native of Canada, and the latter of Pennsylvania. Some time in the early '50s they came to Iowa, settling in Brighton, where they passed the remainder of their lives.

Until 1900 Mr. Cunningham voted the democratic ticket but has since that time given his political allegiance to the republican party and has ever taken an active part in local affairs, serving the public well as chief of the fire department, as street commissioner, and for six years as constable. Fraternally he is prominent in the ranks of the Knights of Pythia and has held many offices in the lodge, filling the positions of grand vice-chancellor and trustee, besides serving on numerous committees Among the Mystic Workers of the World he has also been active, for he served as director for six years, and was afterward elected supreme master, in which capacity he served for four years. His religious adherence is given to the Episcopal church.

Liberal and progressive in his ideas, broad minded in his outlook upon life, Mr. Cunningham is one of those men who has let few opportunities slip through their hands. On the contrary he is ever on the alert to benefit through experience, and having discerned a need of the community and a ready means to satisfy it, he has the ability to carry it to its conclusion. These qualities united with a great fund of energy have procured him success, but more than that they have placed him among the important men of Anamosa and of the county.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 136.

George W. Curtis
Born 1829

GEORGE W. CURTIS, farmer, Monticello Twp., Sec. 29; P.O. Monticello; was born in Paulding Co., Ohio, in 1829. He was married to Catharine Clemmer, of Ohio. He came to Jones Co. November 1, 1855, and purchased 80 acres of his present farm; he now has 220 acres. Has nine children—Charles C., Margaret E., Alice A., Florence F., Martha M., Horatio N., Laura L., George W. and Edith E.

From The History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Co., Chicago, 1879, p. 662.