Biography of John W. Crane
FROM OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE
A DESCRIPTIVE AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
OF SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK
PREPARED AND PUBLISHED UNDER THE
AUSPICES OF THE SARATOGIAN
THE BOSTON HISTORY COMPANY, PUBLISHERS 1899
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JOHN W. CRANE. HON. JOHN W. CRANE, ex-county judge of Saratoga county, was born in the town of Milton, September 30, 1827,
a son of Justis and Betsey (Bridges) Crane. The family is of English origin and its representatives were early
settlers in New England. James Crane, grandfather of Judge Crane, was a veteran of the Revolutionary war and lived
to the age of ninety years. His son, Justis Crane, was born in New Hampshire and in 1820 came to Saratoga county.
For ten years he was engaged in farming in the town of Milton, and then moved to the village of Saratoga Springs,
where he resided until his death, which occurred in 1860. He was a successful farmer and a Democrat of strong partisanship.
He married Betsey Bridges, a nafive of Boston, Mass., and of their union were two sons and one daughter. Mrs. Crane,
who died in the eighty-fifth year of her age, October 20, 1884, was a daughter of William Bridges, who was of English
descent and settled at Baliston Spa in 1810.
Until he was sixteen years old John W. Crane lived on the farm, and since then has resided in Saratoga Springs.
He was well educated in the public schools and academies of this section, and in 1847 began the study of law in
the office of Hon. William A. Beach, under whose excellent instruction he remained until his admission to the bar
in 1852. In 1854 he became a member of the law firm of Avery, Hoag & Crane, which later became Hoag & Crane,
and as such continued in successful practice until January 1, 1859, when Mr. Crane withdrew to take his seat as
county judge. At the expiration of his term of four years he returned to. private practice. From 1876 to 1880 he
served a second term as county judge.
Judge Crane is considered one of the best counsellors and conveyancera in the county. He was admitted to practice
in the United States Supreme Court in 1861. In politics he has been a strong Democrat. He has held various town
and village offices and served as supervisor in 1863, 1868 and 1869. Although twice in nomination for the county
judgeship by the minority party, his popularity has been such that he has each time been elected by a good majority.
He retired from the bench with the respect, and esteem of the bar and public. Judge Crane has contributed much
to the prosperity of the village. He was a member of the board of commissioners which introduced the Holly system
of water works; a building commissioner of the town hail, and chairman of the building committee which erected
the Convention Hall. He is a stockholder in the First National Bank, the United States Hotel, and Congress Spring
Companies.
He married, October 4, 1852, Mary E. Martin, daughter of Daniel Martin of Granville, Washington county. Of this
union is one son, George M. Crane.
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