Son of George Crane and Elizabeth Harris

Married Alice Davis, 5 Apr 1858, Iowa City, Johnson, Iowa

Married Elizabeth Stewart, 3 Feb 1865, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah

Children - James George Crane, Heber Stewart Crane, William Abner Crane, Annie Crane, Brigham Crane, Franklin Thomas Crane, Mary Elizabeth Crane, Fannie Jane Crane

Married Rachel Briggs, 28 Mar 1869, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah

Children - Alice Briggs Crane, Charles Edward Crane, Rebecca Crane, Esther Crane, Hyrum Crane, Sarah Maria Crane, Caroline Bertha Crane

According to James Crane journal: "My mother's name was Elizabeth Harris, the daughter of David Harris of the same village in which I was born. My father's name was George Crane, so my mother said, of Brighton, England, but was never married to my mother, but was engaged to be but died before fulfilling his engagement. My mother, being then living in the same town as my father at his death, she returned to her parents in Wales where I was born. Some of the people doubted this statement of my mother and when I grew up told me of it. But my mother was always silent to me on the subject. Now, though 48 years of age, I have had no way of finding out anything different to my mother's statement, as I have never been as yet to the birthplace of my father."

LDS Biographical Encyclopedia, Andrew Jenson, Vol. 1, p. 579

Crane, James, Bishop of Herriman Ward (Jordan Stake of Zion), Salt Lake county, Utah, from 1877 to 1886, was born in the village of Penally, Pembrokeshire, South Wales, In April, 1830. While yet an infant his father died, and James was raised with strangers under circumstances of want and poverty. He was baptized March 21, 1851. One month later (April 21, 1851) be was ordained to the office of a Priest and sent out to preach the gospel. In the following December he was ordained an Elder.

He emigrated to American in 1856, crossing the Atlantic in the ship "Samuel Curling," which sailed from Liverpool April 19th of that year.

He found employment around New York city until the spring of 1858, when he removed to the State of Iowa. There he married Alice Davies, and in 1859 came to Utah with his wife. They located in the Sugar House Ward, where Elder Crane acted as a Ward teacher and was ordained a Seventy Aug. 20, 1869. A few days later (Aug. 26th) he was made a president of the 26th quorum of Seventy.

In March, 1869, he removed to Herriman. A few months later he was appointed to act as second counselor to Pres. Ensign I. Stocking, a position which he filled until 1876, when Pres. Stocking removed from the Ward, and Elder Crane was appointed presiding Priest of Herriman, acting in that capacity under the direction of Bishop Archibald Gardner, of West Jordan, until the reorganization of the Ward, June 17, 1877, when he was ordained Bishop of the same. This position he occupied until the time of his death, which occurred July 6, 1886.

Bishop Crane raised a large family and lived long enough to see most of his children grow to man and womanhood; and they are all faithful members of the Church at the present time. His name is held in honorable remembrance by the Saints of Herriman, who esteem him for his kindness and nobility of character. He was a wise and consistent leader and an exemplary Latter-day Saint.