U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: --------------------------------------------------------------------- Crane, Orlando C. (1874-1910) --------------------------------------------------------------------- A History of Preston County West Virginia Biographical Department, Supplied by J. R. Cole Kingwood, W. Va., The Journal Publishing Company, 1914 by H. S. Whetsell Pages 652-657 ORLANDO C. CRANE. Born July 4, 1874. Died November 12, 1910. Swift as an arrow came death to this young man, who had every hope and natural expectation to round out his life work and live to a mature age. His brief illness overcame him while at the helm of an undertaking for his town and community. He came home Thursday, November 4, prostrated from overwork, seized with pneumonia in acute form, and never again mingled with his fellows. His history is short, but his years were crowded with undertakings great and small, earnest endeavors, ambitions realized and unrealized, for from his boyhood he labored zealously and incessantly to succeed. Orlando C. Crane did succeed, although cut down at the age of 36 years. Somehow, since time immemorial, people like to enumerate the achievements of ambitious men. State and nation extol their leaders. Countries applaud the victorious generals. America, especially, is proud of her successful sons. Yet, alas, human nature is prone to grant grudgingly the full measure of credit and praise to the living. Now that death has taken young Crane from among us, we are astonished at the interesting and almost wonderful events of his short and stir- ring life. But he was not unappreciated. Terra Alta, his home town, looked to him and leaned upon him. Men twice his age counseled with him, and his advice was given freely, fully and carefully. His community is bowed with grief, and no greater tribute could be paid him than the universal sorrow which has come to his own people who lived with him day by day. He was the second child of J. Elliott Crane and Elizabeth Engle Crane, and was born at the old Crane farm near Muddy Creek Furnace, Preston county. His parents are of good Preston county stock, and his childhood days were those of the average farm boy, the home being a comfortable one, without luxuries but surrounded by plenty. It was a Godly home, it was a home where good, wholesome literature abounded, and a home where the parents instilled into the minds of their children the ambition to achieve something. Think of this young man, at the age of 15, teaching school. He attended the county and summer normal schools when most youngsters were in the intermediate grade, and securing a No. 2 certificate taught the Clifton Mills school at the age mentioned. But pedagogy was not to be his lifework. Orlando Crane's entire temperament was contrary to the profession of teaching, for the limitations were too narrow. He taught well, was in demand as a teacher, and he saved his money. But, unknown to his family, he had other ambitions, and on February 1, 1894, accepted the position of bookkeeper in the Terra Alta Bank, being 20 years of age. He was cashier of this solid banking institution when he died, having been first chosen assistant cashier October 5, 1897, and cashier but a few weeks later. These promotions same rapidly, and upon their full merit, from bookkeeper to cashier in three years, and at the head of the same institution for 13 years. He devoted his time, attention, thought and enthusiasm to the bank from the time he became its bookkeeper until his death. He knew banking as few young men do. He studied the question, read about modern methods, made the acquaintance of bankers in the state and in the larger cities, and the prosperity of the institution is due in a large measure to his tireless energy, his acumen, and his affability in making and holding friends, without sacrificing the strict rules of banking. One might wonder why a young man of such ability and promise was content to remain in a small town, when the world holds out such splendid inducements for progressive men. The answer to this is the keynote of his life. He was offered, time and again, splendid positions abroad, with banks, trust companies, with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company and other corporations. His home town was his special delight. His patriotism for Terra Alta surpasses anything in his life except his love of his home and his family. One can readily see that the ordinary salary of a country banker, and the limitations of the plodder, were not to suffice for young Crane, who taught school at 15 and became cashier of a bank at 23. Orlando C. Crane was ambitious to make money, and he did. Saving his salary, investing it carefully until he had a fair capital to go on, he began speculating in coal, timber and real estate. He was so shrewd and successful that older men of means asked to join him. Mind you, he did not neglect his bank work. That was his first ambition, and he never lost interest in it. He employed and paid out of his own pocket, an assistant, so that during his absence his institution was treated fairly. He climbed rapidly after that, and at the time of his death was a rich man, perhaps as rich as any man of 60 years in the county. On September 9, 1895, Mr. Crane married Miss Mollie C. Joyce, of his home town, who for two years before and two afterward was a most competent clerk in his bank. They were married in Grafton, by Rev. A. S. Baumgardner, a relative of his. Her parents were Edward and Ellen Joyce, the latter now living. She made her home with Mr. and Mrs. Crane, and was particularly fond of her son-in-law, who by his courtesy, affection and good disposition became like a son to her. No one, perhaps, more sincerely mourns his death than Mrs. Joyce. His parents are also living in Terra Alta, the father, aged, being too feeble to attend the funeral. Their natural pride in this son has been a joy and blessing in their advancing years, and his untimely death a blow from which they are not likely to recover. To the widow who survives him, Mr. Crane always attributed a large share of his success. She was a trained business woman, and her advice and counsel were a great aid to him. Having established a home, Mr. Crane erected his altar there. He began humbly, but of his earnings and profits a certain generous share was spent to enlarge his house and grounds, to beautify within and without. No close friend could help but admire the enthusiasm he had for his home, and which he displayed to his intimates. Temperate in his habits, if he had any dissipation it took the form of lavishly providing for his family, for his house and grounds, yet always in good taste and always within his resources. He was most hospitable, and a guest never left his home without feeling that he would enjoy a return visit. His pride in these things was almost boyishly enthusiastic, and, of course, highly commendable. He would travel all night to get back to Terra Alta and home, finding his own rooftree more enjoyable than the most luxurious of hotels. There are three children: Maxine, Ocelia Elizabeth and Charles Edward. How he did love these children and how he doted upon them. Yet with all this love and all his means, he had mapped out a life of usefulness for them, as well as plans for education, when they grew older. The older children had some daily task to perform about the house. He knew work, and he did not intend to spoil his children, although able to provide them with luxuries which he never knew in his childhood. Thus we have a very fair illustration of the practical turn of the man in this attitude toward his children. Two brothers and a sister also survive this young man — namely, W. Reed Crane, a prominent druggist of Fairmont; Clyde F. Crane, book- keeper for the Miller-Clark Grain Co., Fairmont, and Ada Ellen Welch, wife of Frank D. Welch of Terra Alta. The brothers, one older and one younger, always sought the advice of Orlando in business ventures, and deeply mourn his death, for there has always been a deep family affection among them. Church affiliations and lodge memberships go with the biography of a man, although counting for little compared to the actual deeds in life. As a matter of record, Orlando C. Crane was a member of the Evangelical church, and a trustee of the Terra Alta M. E. church. His townsmen say that he was a regular contributor to every church in Terra Alta, and that counts for so much more, because his contributions were voluntary, of the heart, and an evidence of broad liberality of view, not bound or limited by any isms or orthodoxy. He was a good Mason, having taken 32 degrees, thus belonging to not only the Blue Lodge but all the higher degrees up to the 33rd. His Masonry squared every act of his life. He was also an honored member of the Modern Woodmen, Woodmen of the World and Knights of Pythias orders. Mr. Crane was director of his bank, of the Terra Alta Woolen Mills, and the Englehart Woolen Mills, and held positions on the town council, local board of trade, and was otherwise recognized and honored at home. But what count these things? The cold history of a man's career and his material success weigh lightly against deeds. Perhaps no young man in this county ever climbed more rapidly. He was envied by many, understood by but few. Yet, as one person with one mind, speak his townsmen of all sects, creeds and parties, and their testimony is that Orlando C. Crane was an unselfish man, charitable, ambitious for his town, a leader among men in all good movements, and this is a volume of praise out of many hearts. Each man has some absorbing passion — some for evil, some for good. This passion dominates the life. Aside from the thought for family and friends, even aside from the consideration of making a livelihood, one impulse is almost sure to be uppermost. Orlando Crane's passion was for his home town. He took the lead for civic improvements, every time. Men followed him, too, and while he had no ambition to be a leader, and no ambition for public honors, he stepped to the front when necessary and battled valiantly until success or failure followed — and it was almost always success. He wanted Terra Alta to be a model town — a town with modern improvements, and he believed in the present age and people doing things, and the future age, which would also enjoy such benefits, to help pay the cost. O. C. Crane wanted his town to be made the county seat purely because he sought every advantage for his town that could be obtained. Exposure, overwork and the unseen approach of a death- dealing disease, were results of this ambition and endeavor, and he was honest about every move he made in that direction. He was agreeable, while fighting for this thing, and held no malice whatever. He was of unusually modest mien, rather retiring, and to fight caused him more of an effort than most people supposed. He preferred a quiet life and his home, but for that absorbing passion of his to be doing something for the town. He had few intimates, but those loved him dearly. They believed in him, as he believed in his cause and believed in his town, and they would die for Crane, such was the affection and faith of his few intimate friends. But the whole community, while at times criticising him, usually came over to his side and allied them- selves under his banner — "the best things for the best town in the best county in the best state of the best country," was his one civic motto. This young man would have been excusable had he been vain, considering what he had made of himself through his own efforts. But he was not vain, although commendably proud. If he indulged in one little vanity, aside from his pride of home, it was of his wide acquaintance with prominent men. Few ever saw this side of him, and he rarely indulged in it even to his closest friends. Orlando Crane had the friendship and confidence of more big men in the world of finance and industrial enterprises than any other man in the county, perhaps in the state. Think of this country boy, with limited schooling, having the ear and approval of scores of men of big finance the country over — and then you may conceive why he was proud of the fact — proud but never boastful. Had he lived and kept his health he would have been a millionaire, and he would never have forgotten Terra Alta and Preston county. He was a factor in the county — a real force for good, and there is no one now ready to take his place. What he might have done for this part of the county will never be known. He was taken in the very infancy of his career. The largest concourse of persons ever attending the funeral of a young man in this county thronged the M. E. Church in Terra Alta, Monday, November 14, to pay a tribute to Orlando C. Crane. From 11 o'clock until 1:30 the body lay in state at the church, and men, women and children wept at his bier. The Master of Terra Alta Blue Lodge and a Knight Templar stood by the casket as the hundreds passed in and out — silent sentinels to attest to his right living and to guard a beloved brother while he slept. There has never been such a profusion of floral offerings seen in this county as the beautiful emblems sent by sorrowing friends to this funeral. Besides numerous private remembrances there were huge set pieces from Terra Alta Lodge M. W. A.; Osiris Temple, of Wheeling; A. F. and A. M. of Terra Alta; Woodmen of the World, Terra Alta; Mrs. W. H. Casteel, Washington; Mr. and Mrs. Clyde S. Holt, Fairmont; Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Crane, the Terra Alta Bank; Joseph A. Pugh and W. A. Beavers, Grafton; J. W. Whittaker, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Arthur Lough, Morgantown, and Mr. and Mrs. N. S. Clary. At 1:30 the funeral services began. Rev. S. P. Crummett, pastor of the M. E. Church, was master of ceremonies, and spoke feelingly of the deceased, having but a short personal acquaintance with him. Rev. Bone, of the Terra Alta Presbyterian Church, paid a tribute to Mr. Crane, showing his lack of bigotry and his helpfulness to all denominations and all causes. Rev. Harry C. Howard, of First M. E. Church, Fairmont, delivered a touching address, referring to his personal friendship for the dead man and beautifully exemplifying the traits of Mr. Crane. Hon. S. B. Montgomery of Tunnelton delivered a short but eloquent address in behalf of the laity, bringing tears to the eyes of the multitude as he touched the chords of their hearts, speaking of the career of the young man, his friend, whose body lay before him. It was one of the best funeral orations ever listened to in this county. The pall-bearers were: Charles Kelly, Frank Brenneman, John White, C. A. Miller, William M. Bishop and Frank W. Gandy, all near and dear friends and business associates of O. C. Crane. A select choir led by Mrs. A. J. Elliott furnished the music, the hymns all being favorite selections. Mrs. Elliott sang a Scottish song, "My Ain Countrie," in her usual impressive manner. --------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Preston County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/preston/bios.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------