Walter S Crane, 70, passed away at his home in Jasper of heart disease. His wife Anna preceded him in death in 1927.
He had been a mine operator and capitalist.
He was the son of William H. Crane, bp New York and Mary Crow Crane, bp Pike county, MO.
Funeral arrangements were cared for by Ulmer-Drake Funeral home in Carthage, MO and burial was in Mt. Hope Cemetery in Webb City.
The death certificate can be viewed online at Missouri Digital Archives/death certificates online website.
Microfilm archive photo at right was presented in the Carthage Weekly Press, August 30, 1894 when Mr. Crane was nominated for sheriff of Jasper county, MO.
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
CARTHAGE EVENING PRESS
Carthage, MO.
MONDAY, APRIL 20, 1931 - FRONT PAGE
W. S. CRANE DEAD AT 71 FOLLOWING HEART ATTACK
Republican Leader, Mining Man and
Capitalist Came to This District
as a Small Boy
FUNERAL WILL BE HERE AT 2 TOMORROW
W. S. "Si" Crane is dead.
Death came to the prominent Republican leader, mining man and capitalist at 11 o'clock yesterday morning at the home of Mrs. George Rex in Jasper, where he had been staying recently.
The end came suddenly. When he awakened he apparently was feeling better than for some time. Shortly before 11 o'clock he was stricken as he sat on the edge of his bed. He crumpled to the floor and passed away a few minutes later.
His sister, Mrs. Lou Dale of Baxter Springs, Kans., had been with him at the Rex home several weeks.
Mr. Crane had been in ill health about two years. In the winter of 1929 he was ill for weeks at his apartments in the Crane Hotel here and it was feared he could not recover. However, he rallied and was able to be up and around most of last summer and this last winter. Several weeks ago, he went to Kansas City where he was quite ill. Upon his return he went to the home of Mrs. Rex and his condition gradually grew worse and for some time it was felt there was no chance for recovery. He was nearly 71 years old.
A Picturesque Figure
In the passing of Mr. Crane, Carthage and southwest Missouri loses one of its most picturesque figures. He grew up in this region. Part of his boyhood was spent in Carthage, the family moving to this city from Granby. Later they moved to Joplin.
There the zinc and lead mining boom was just getting under way and it was only natural that young Crane should turn to the mining "game."
He acquired mineral lands that made him wealthy. With money acquired from mining ventures he made business investments and at one time was rated as one of the county's wealthy men. At the time of his death he owned much business property and had extensive farming interests.
His holdings included the Crane Hotel in Carthage, stock in the Bank of Carthage and several pieces of valuable business property in Joplin. The New Fox Theater entrance in Joplin is on ground owned by Mr. Crane.
As a young man he took an interest in politics and his interest never flagged with the years. In 1891 he won the Republican nomination for sheriff and was elected and made the county one of the best sheriffs it ever had. He moved back to Carthage from Joplin when he took office and has been a resident of this city continuously since.
Runs for State Office
His prominence in Republican circles was not confined to this district, but was state wide and even extended to the national conventions of the G.O.P.
Thirty years ago he was the Republican candidate for state railroad and warehouse commissioner. Missouri in those days was overwhelmingly Democratic. A Republican didn't have a chance. But "Si," as everyone in the political world knew him, made the race and made a good one too, though defeated.
Whenever a political campaign was on, Mr. Crane was always in the thick of it, fighting for his friends and his party. He was a figure at national conventions, and it is said he had attended every national meeting of the G.O.P. in the last 40 years.
Mr. Crane was an ardent follower of Theodore Roosevelt and greatly admired him. He was also a great admirer of Secretary Hyde and was one of the original Hyde men who helped make the Trenton man governor, a victory which eventually was to lead Mr. Hyde to a place in the cabinet of President Hoover as secretary of agriculture. Mr. Crane also was one of the first Republicans of prominence in southwest Missouri to come out for President Hoover.
In 1910 Mr. Crane sought the Republican nomination for congress but was defeated by I. V. McPherson.
He was a liberal contributor to the Republican campaign funds.
Charters Special Train
One of his political actions recalled by friends today was that of 1912 when he chartered a special train on the Missouri Pacific to carry Republicans from Jasper county to the congressional convention in Nevada. That was the year of the Taft-Roosevelt fight and Mr. Crane was eager to swing the convention to the Roosevelt side. The train carried a "mob" of Republicans to the Vernon county city, the bulk of whom of course merely went to the trip at Mr. Crane's expense.
Mr. Crane became an ardent advocate of prohibition and his belief in the 18th amendment as a means of bringing greater measure of real contentment and prosperity to the nation grew stronger with the years. In the last presidential election it was Mr. Crane who brought Dr. John Roach Stratton, eminent New York minister and bitter foe of Gov. Al Smith to Carthage to speak against Smith and in the interest of Hoover.
Mr. Crane himself put up virtually all of the money for that meeting. It was held in Memorial Hall and was one of the biggest of the campaign in his district.
Loved Political Battle
But that was "Si" Crane. He played politics for the sheer love of it. He liked to watch the maneuvering, to be part of it, to get into a scrap in which he neither gave nor asked quarter. And in his last illness he never lost his interest in the world of politics. Only a few days ago friends called on him at Jasper. The pallor of death, it seemed to them, was then on him. But he took a keen interest in world events, expressed the opinion that Mr. Hoover would be renominated and elected and fully expected to be on hand to do all he could to bring that about. He expressed regret that his health had no permitted him to get into the fight to bring the federal hospital to Carthage. "I believe that I could have done some good" was the way he put it.
While politics was his greatest hobby -for it was a hobby- he wasn't in it for the money. He devoted himself in his earlier years closely to business and was successful, as previously stated. But he found time to devote himself to civic affairs and to his fellow man.
Those who knew Si Crane most intimately recalled that time after time he had gone down deep into his pocket to help some worthy cause - or someone in distress. The general public doesn't begin to know what he has done for others.
A Friend of Soldiers
He was intensely patriotic and the soldiers of the world war were his especial favorites. No ex-service man, that went to him but found a friend and helper. The bronze memorial tablets in Memorial Hall were contributed by Mr. Crane. The Memorial Hall board had no funds with which to procure them. About $500 was needed. They went to Mr. Crane with their troubles. He saw that the tablets were installed and paid the bill.
Mr. Crane held all degrees in the Masonic lodge, and was a member of the Carthage Knights of Pythias, a life members of the Elks and also belonging to the I.O.O.F.
Walter Silas Crane was born May 12, 1860 in Pike county, Missouri. When a small boy he came with his parents to Granby, in Newton county, the family moving from Granby to Carthage.
Surviving are one daughter, Mrs. Rebecca Crane Ramsay, of Kansas City; a grandson, Robert Crane Ramsay, and two sisters, Mrs. Lou Dale and Mrs. George L. Kenney, both of Baxter Springs, Kans. His wife died three years ago last October.
Services will be held at 2 o'clock tomorrow afternoon at the Ulmer-Drake home. Dr. George F. Harbour will be in charge. Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery.
The casket will not be opened after the services. The body may be viewed from 9 o'clock in the morning until time for the services at the Ulmer-Drake home.
(bio by NJBrewer)
He had been a mine operator and capitalist.
He was the son of William H. Crane, bp New York and Mary Crow Crane, bp Pike county, MO.
Funeral arrangements were cared for by Ulmer-Drake Funeral home in Carthage, MO and burial was in Mt. Hope Cemetery in Webb City.
The death certificate can be viewed online at Missouri Digital Archives/death certificates online website.
Microfilm archive photo at right was presented in the Carthage Weekly Press, August 30, 1894 when Mr. Crane was nominated for sheriff of Jasper county, MO.
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
CARTHAGE EVENING PRESS
Carthage, MO.
MONDAY, APRIL 20, 1931 - FRONT PAGE
W. S. CRANE DEAD AT 71 FOLLOWING HEART ATTACK
Republican Leader, Mining Man and
Capitalist Came to This District
as a Small Boy
FUNERAL WILL BE HERE AT 2 TOMORROW
W. S. "Si" Crane is dead.
Death came to the prominent Republican leader, mining man and capitalist at 11 o'clock yesterday morning at the home of Mrs. George Rex in Jasper, where he had been staying recently.
The end came suddenly. When he awakened he apparently was feeling better than for some time. Shortly before 11 o'clock he was stricken as he sat on the edge of his bed. He crumpled to the floor and passed away a few minutes later.
His sister, Mrs. Lou Dale of Baxter Springs, Kans., had been with him at the Rex home several weeks.
Mr. Crane had been in ill health about two years. In the winter of 1929 he was ill for weeks at his apartments in the Crane Hotel here and it was feared he could not recover. However, he rallied and was able to be up and around most of last summer and this last winter. Several weeks ago, he went to Kansas City where he was quite ill. Upon his return he went to the home of Mrs. Rex and his condition gradually grew worse and for some time it was felt there was no chance for recovery. He was nearly 71 years old.
A Picturesque Figure
In the passing of Mr. Crane, Carthage and southwest Missouri loses one of its most picturesque figures. He grew up in this region. Part of his boyhood was spent in Carthage, the family moving to this city from Granby. Later they moved to Joplin.
There the zinc and lead mining boom was just getting under way and it was only natural that young Crane should turn to the mining "game."
He acquired mineral lands that made him wealthy. With money acquired from mining ventures he made business investments and at one time was rated as one of the county's wealthy men. At the time of his death he owned much business property and had extensive farming interests.
His holdings included the Crane Hotel in Carthage, stock in the Bank of Carthage and several pieces of valuable business property in Joplin. The New Fox Theater entrance in Joplin is on ground owned by Mr. Crane.
As a young man he took an interest in politics and his interest never flagged with the years. In 1891 he won the Republican nomination for sheriff and was elected and made the county one of the best sheriffs it ever had. He moved back to Carthage from Joplin when he took office and has been a resident of this city continuously since.
Runs for State Office
His prominence in Republican circles was not confined to this district, but was state wide and even extended to the national conventions of the G.O.P.
Thirty years ago he was the Republican candidate for state railroad and warehouse commissioner. Missouri in those days was overwhelmingly Democratic. A Republican didn't have a chance. But "Si," as everyone in the political world knew him, made the race and made a good one too, though defeated.
Whenever a political campaign was on, Mr. Crane was always in the thick of it, fighting for his friends and his party. He was a figure at national conventions, and it is said he had attended every national meeting of the G.O.P. in the last 40 years.
Mr. Crane was an ardent follower of Theodore Roosevelt and greatly admired him. He was also a great admirer of Secretary Hyde and was one of the original Hyde men who helped make the Trenton man governor, a victory which eventually was to lead Mr. Hyde to a place in the cabinet of President Hoover as secretary of agriculture. Mr. Crane also was one of the first Republicans of prominence in southwest Missouri to come out for President Hoover.
In 1910 Mr. Crane sought the Republican nomination for congress but was defeated by I. V. McPherson.
He was a liberal contributor to the Republican campaign funds.
Charters Special Train
One of his political actions recalled by friends today was that of 1912 when he chartered a special train on the Missouri Pacific to carry Republicans from Jasper county to the congressional convention in Nevada. That was the year of the Taft-Roosevelt fight and Mr. Crane was eager to swing the convention to the Roosevelt side. The train carried a "mob" of Republicans to the Vernon county city, the bulk of whom of course merely went to the trip at Mr. Crane's expense.
Mr. Crane became an ardent advocate of prohibition and his belief in the 18th amendment as a means of bringing greater measure of real contentment and prosperity to the nation grew stronger with the years. In the last presidential election it was Mr. Crane who brought Dr. John Roach Stratton, eminent New York minister and bitter foe of Gov. Al Smith to Carthage to speak against Smith and in the interest of Hoover.
Mr. Crane himself put up virtually all of the money for that meeting. It was held in Memorial Hall and was one of the biggest of the campaign in his district.
Loved Political Battle
But that was "Si" Crane. He played politics for the sheer love of it. He liked to watch the maneuvering, to be part of it, to get into a scrap in which he neither gave nor asked quarter. And in his last illness he never lost his interest in the world of politics. Only a few days ago friends called on him at Jasper. The pallor of death, it seemed to them, was then on him. But he took a keen interest in world events, expressed the opinion that Mr. Hoover would be renominated and elected and fully expected to be on hand to do all he could to bring that about. He expressed regret that his health had no permitted him to get into the fight to bring the federal hospital to Carthage. "I believe that I could have done some good" was the way he put it.
While politics was his greatest hobby -for it was a hobby- he wasn't in it for the money. He devoted himself in his earlier years closely to business and was successful, as previously stated. But he found time to devote himself to civic affairs and to his fellow man.
Those who knew Si Crane most intimately recalled that time after time he had gone down deep into his pocket to help some worthy cause - or someone in distress. The general public doesn't begin to know what he has done for others.
A Friend of Soldiers
He was intensely patriotic and the soldiers of the world war were his especial favorites. No ex-service man, that went to him but found a friend and helper. The bronze memorial tablets in Memorial Hall were contributed by Mr. Crane. The Memorial Hall board had no funds with which to procure them. About $500 was needed. They went to Mr. Crane with their troubles. He saw that the tablets were installed and paid the bill.
Mr. Crane held all degrees in the Masonic lodge, and was a member of the Carthage Knights of Pythias, a life members of the Elks and also belonging to the I.O.O.F.
Walter Silas Crane was born May 12, 1860 in Pike county, Missouri. When a small boy he came with his parents to Granby, in Newton county, the family moving from Granby to Carthage.
Surviving are one daughter, Mrs. Rebecca Crane Ramsay, of Kansas City; a grandson, Robert Crane Ramsay, and two sisters, Mrs. Lou Dale and Mrs. George L. Kenney, both of Baxter Springs, Kans. His wife died three years ago last October.
Services will be held at 2 o'clock tomorrow afternoon at the Ulmer-Drake home. Dr. George F. Harbour will be in charge. Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery.
The casket will not be opened after the services. The body may be viewed from 9 o'clock in the morning until time for the services at the Ulmer-Drake home.
(bio by NJBrewer)
Walter S Crane, 70, passed away at his home in Jasper of heart disease. His wife Anna preceded him in death in 1927.
He had been a mine operator and capitalist.
He was the son of William H. Crane, bp New York and Mary Crow Crane, bp Pike county, MO.
Funeral arrangements were cared for by Ulmer-Drake Funeral home in Carthage, MO and burial was in Mt. Hope Cemetery in Webb City.
The death certificate can be viewed online at Missouri Digital Archives/death certificates online website.
Microfilm archive photo at right was presented in the Carthage Weekly Press, August 30, 1894 when Mr. Crane was nominated for sheriff of Jasper county, MO.
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
CARTHAGE EVENING PRESS
Carthage, MO.
MONDAY, APRIL 20, 1931 - FRONT PAGE
W. S. CRANE DEAD AT 71 FOLLOWING HEART ATTACK
Republican Leader, Mining Man and
Capitalist Came to This District
as a Small Boy
FUNERAL WILL BE HERE AT 2 TOMORROW
W. S. "Si" Crane is dead.
Death came to the prominent Republican leader, mining man and capitalist at 11 o'clock yesterday morning at the home of Mrs. George Rex in Jasper, where he had been staying recently.
The end came suddenly. When he awakened he apparently was feeling better than for some time. Shortly before 11 o'clock he was stricken as he sat on the edge of his bed. He crumpled to the floor and passed away a few minutes later.
His sister, Mrs. Lou Dale of Baxter Springs, Kans., had been with him at the Rex home several weeks.
Mr. Crane had been in ill health about two years. In the winter of 1929 he was ill for weeks at his apartments in the Crane Hotel here and it was feared he could not recover. However, he rallied and was able to be up and around most of last summer and this last winter. Several weeks ago, he went to Kansas City where he was quite ill. Upon his return he went to the home of Mrs. Rex and his condition gradually grew worse and for some time it was felt there was no chance for recovery. He was nearly 71 years old.
A Picturesque Figure
In the passing of Mr. Crane, Carthage and southwest Missouri loses one of its most picturesque figures. He grew up in this region. Part of his boyhood was spent in Carthage, the family moving to this city from Granby. Later they moved to Joplin.
There the zinc and lead mining boom was just getting under way and it was only natural that young Crane should turn to the mining "game."
He acquired mineral lands that made him wealthy. With money acquired from mining ventures he made business investments and at one time was rated as one of the county's wealthy men. At the time of his death he owned much business property and had extensive farming interests.
His holdings included the Crane Hotel in Carthage, stock in the Bank of Carthage and several pieces of valuable business property in Joplin. The New Fox Theater entrance in Joplin is on ground owned by Mr. Crane.
As a young man he took an interest in politics and his interest never flagged with the years. In 1891 he won the Republican nomination for sheriff and was elected and made the county one of the best sheriffs it ever had. He moved back to Carthage from Joplin when he took office and has been a resident of this city continuously since.
Runs for State Office
His prominence in Republican circles was not confined to this district, but was state wide and even extended to the national conventions of the G.O.P.
Thirty years ago he was the Republican candidate for state railroad and warehouse commissioner. Missouri in those days was overwhelmingly Democratic. A Republican didn't have a chance. But "Si," as everyone in the political world knew him, made the race and made a good one too, though defeated.
Whenever a political campaign was on, Mr. Crane was always in the thick of it, fighting for his friends and his party. He was a figure at national conventions, and it is said he had attended every national meeting of the G.O.P. in the last 40 years.
Mr. Crane was an ardent follower of Theodore Roosevelt and greatly admired him. He was also a great admirer of Secretary Hyde and was one of the original Hyde men who helped make the Trenton man governor, a victory which eventually was to lead Mr. Hyde to a place in the cabinet of President Hoover as secretary of agriculture. Mr. Crane also was one of the first Republicans of prominence in southwest Missouri to come out for President Hoover.
In 1910 Mr. Crane sought the Republican nomination for congress but was defeated by I. V. McPherson.
He was a liberal contributor to the Republican campaign funds.
Charters Special Train
One of his political actions recalled by friends today was that of 1912 when he chartered a special train on the Missouri Pacific to carry Republicans from Jasper county to the congressional convention in Nevada. That was the year of the Taft-Roosevelt fight and Mr. Crane was eager to swing the convention to the Roosevelt side. The train carried a "mob" of Republicans to the Vernon county city, the bulk of whom of course merely went to the trip at Mr. Crane's expense.
Mr. Crane became an ardent advocate of prohibition and his belief in the 18th amendment as a means of bringing greater measure of real contentment and prosperity to the nation grew stronger with the years. In the last presidential election it was Mr. Crane who brought Dr. John Roach Stratton, eminent New York minister and bitter foe of Gov. Al Smith to Carthage to speak against Smith and in the interest of Hoover.
Mr. Crane himself put up virtually all of the money for that meeting. It was held in Memorial Hall and was one of the biggest of the campaign in his district.
Loved Political Battle
But that was "Si" Crane. He played politics for the sheer love of it. He liked to watch the maneuvering, to be part of it, to get into a scrap in which he neither gave nor asked quarter. And in his last illness he never lost his interest in the world of politics. Only a few days ago friends called on him at Jasper. The pallor of death, it seemed to them, was then on him. But he took a keen interest in world events, expressed the opinion that Mr. Hoover would be renominated and elected and fully expected to be on hand to do all he could to bring that about. He expressed regret that his health had no permitted him to get into the fight to bring the federal hospital to Carthage. "I believe that I could have done some good" was the way he put it.
While politics was his greatest hobby -for it was a hobby- he wasn't in it for the money. He devoted himself in his earlier years closely to business and was successful, as previously stated. But he found time to devote himself to civic affairs and to his fellow man.
Those who knew Si Crane most intimately recalled that time after time he had gone down deep into his pocket to help some worthy cause - or someone in distress. The general public doesn't begin to know what he has done for others.
A Friend of Soldiers
He was intensely patriotic and the soldiers of the world war were his especial favorites. No ex-service man, that went to him but found a friend and helper. The bronze memorial tablets in Memorial Hall were contributed by Mr. Crane. The Memorial Hall board had no funds with which to procure them. About $500 was needed. They went to Mr. Crane with their troubles. He saw that the tablets were installed and paid the bill.
Mr. Crane held all degrees in the Masonic lodge, and was a member of the Carthage Knights of Pythias, a life members of the Elks and also belonging to the I.O.O.F.
Walter Silas Crane was born May 12, 1860 in Pike county, Missouri. When a small boy he came with his parents to Granby, in Newton county, the family moving from Granby to Carthage.
Surviving are one daughter, Mrs. Rebecca Crane Ramsay, of Kansas City; a grandson, Robert Crane Ramsay, and two sisters, Mrs. Lou Dale and Mrs. George L. Kenney, both of Baxter Springs, Kans. His wife died three years ago last October.
Services will be held at 2 o'clock tomorrow afternoon at the Ulmer-Drake home. Dr. George F. Harbour will be in charge. Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery.
The casket will not be opened after the services. The body may be viewed from 9 o'clock in the morning until time for the services at the Ulmer-Drake home.
(bio by NJBrewer)
He had been a mine operator and capitalist.
He was the son of William H. Crane, bp New York and Mary Crow Crane, bp Pike county, MO.
Funeral arrangements were cared for by Ulmer-Drake Funeral home in Carthage, MO and burial was in Mt. Hope Cemetery in Webb City.
The death certificate can be viewed online at Missouri Digital Archives/death certificates online website.
Microfilm archive photo at right was presented in the Carthage Weekly Press, August 30, 1894 when Mr. Crane was nominated for sheriff of Jasper county, MO.
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
CARTHAGE EVENING PRESS
Carthage, MO.
MONDAY, APRIL 20, 1931 - FRONT PAGE
W. S. CRANE DEAD AT 71 FOLLOWING HEART ATTACK
Republican Leader, Mining Man and
Capitalist Came to This District
as a Small Boy
FUNERAL WILL BE HERE AT 2 TOMORROW
W. S. "Si" Crane is dead.
Death came to the prominent Republican leader, mining man and capitalist at 11 o'clock yesterday morning at the home of Mrs. George Rex in Jasper, where he had been staying recently.
The end came suddenly. When he awakened he apparently was feeling better than for some time. Shortly before 11 o'clock he was stricken as he sat on the edge of his bed. He crumpled to the floor and passed away a few minutes later.
His sister, Mrs. Lou Dale of Baxter Springs, Kans., had been with him at the Rex home several weeks.
Mr. Crane had been in ill health about two years. In the winter of 1929 he was ill for weeks at his apartments in the Crane Hotel here and it was feared he could not recover. However, he rallied and was able to be up and around most of last summer and this last winter. Several weeks ago, he went to Kansas City where he was quite ill. Upon his return he went to the home of Mrs. Rex and his condition gradually grew worse and for some time it was felt there was no chance for recovery. He was nearly 71 years old.
A Picturesque Figure
In the passing of Mr. Crane, Carthage and southwest Missouri loses one of its most picturesque figures. He grew up in this region. Part of his boyhood was spent in Carthage, the family moving to this city from Granby. Later they moved to Joplin.
There the zinc and lead mining boom was just getting under way and it was only natural that young Crane should turn to the mining "game."
He acquired mineral lands that made him wealthy. With money acquired from mining ventures he made business investments and at one time was rated as one of the county's wealthy men. At the time of his death he owned much business property and had extensive farming interests.
His holdings included the Crane Hotel in Carthage, stock in the Bank of Carthage and several pieces of valuable business property in Joplin. The New Fox Theater entrance in Joplin is on ground owned by Mr. Crane.
As a young man he took an interest in politics and his interest never flagged with the years. In 1891 he won the Republican nomination for sheriff and was elected and made the county one of the best sheriffs it ever had. He moved back to Carthage from Joplin when he took office and has been a resident of this city continuously since.
Runs for State Office
His prominence in Republican circles was not confined to this district, but was state wide and even extended to the national conventions of the G.O.P.
Thirty years ago he was the Republican candidate for state railroad and warehouse commissioner. Missouri in those days was overwhelmingly Democratic. A Republican didn't have a chance. But "Si," as everyone in the political world knew him, made the race and made a good one too, though defeated.
Whenever a political campaign was on, Mr. Crane was always in the thick of it, fighting for his friends and his party. He was a figure at national conventions, and it is said he had attended every national meeting of the G.O.P. in the last 40 years.
Mr. Crane was an ardent follower of Theodore Roosevelt and greatly admired him. He was also a great admirer of Secretary Hyde and was one of the original Hyde men who helped make the Trenton man governor, a victory which eventually was to lead Mr. Hyde to a place in the cabinet of President Hoover as secretary of agriculture. Mr. Crane also was one of the first Republicans of prominence in southwest Missouri to come out for President Hoover.
In 1910 Mr. Crane sought the Republican nomination for congress but was defeated by I. V. McPherson.
He was a liberal contributor to the Republican campaign funds.
Charters Special Train
One of his political actions recalled by friends today was that of 1912 when he chartered a special train on the Missouri Pacific to carry Republicans from Jasper county to the congressional convention in Nevada. That was the year of the Taft-Roosevelt fight and Mr. Crane was eager to swing the convention to the Roosevelt side. The train carried a "mob" of Republicans to the Vernon county city, the bulk of whom of course merely went to the trip at Mr. Crane's expense.
Mr. Crane became an ardent advocate of prohibition and his belief in the 18th amendment as a means of bringing greater measure of real contentment and prosperity to the nation grew stronger with the years. In the last presidential election it was Mr. Crane who brought Dr. John Roach Stratton, eminent New York minister and bitter foe of Gov. Al Smith to Carthage to speak against Smith and in the interest of Hoover.
Mr. Crane himself put up virtually all of the money for that meeting. It was held in Memorial Hall and was one of the biggest of the campaign in his district.
Loved Political Battle
But that was "Si" Crane. He played politics for the sheer love of it. He liked to watch the maneuvering, to be part of it, to get into a scrap in which he neither gave nor asked quarter. And in his last illness he never lost his interest in the world of politics. Only a few days ago friends called on him at Jasper. The pallor of death, it seemed to them, was then on him. But he took a keen interest in world events, expressed the opinion that Mr. Hoover would be renominated and elected and fully expected to be on hand to do all he could to bring that about. He expressed regret that his health had no permitted him to get into the fight to bring the federal hospital to Carthage. "I believe that I could have done some good" was the way he put it.
While politics was his greatest hobby -for it was a hobby- he wasn't in it for the money. He devoted himself in his earlier years closely to business and was successful, as previously stated. But he found time to devote himself to civic affairs and to his fellow man.
Those who knew Si Crane most intimately recalled that time after time he had gone down deep into his pocket to help some worthy cause - or someone in distress. The general public doesn't begin to know what he has done for others.
A Friend of Soldiers
He was intensely patriotic and the soldiers of the world war were his especial favorites. No ex-service man, that went to him but found a friend and helper. The bronze memorial tablets in Memorial Hall were contributed by Mr. Crane. The Memorial Hall board had no funds with which to procure them. About $500 was needed. They went to Mr. Crane with their troubles. He saw that the tablets were installed and paid the bill.
Mr. Crane held all degrees in the Masonic lodge, and was a member of the Carthage Knights of Pythias, a life members of the Elks and also belonging to the I.O.O.F.
Walter Silas Crane was born May 12, 1860 in Pike county, Missouri. When a small boy he came with his parents to Granby, in Newton county, the family moving from Granby to Carthage.
Surviving are one daughter, Mrs. Rebecca Crane Ramsay, of Kansas City; a grandson, Robert Crane Ramsay, and two sisters, Mrs. Lou Dale and Mrs. George L. Kenney, both of Baxter Springs, Kans. His wife died three years ago last October.
Services will be held at 2 o'clock tomorrow afternoon at the Ulmer-Drake home. Dr. George F. Harbour will be in charge. Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery.
The casket will not be opened after the services. The body may be viewed from 9 o'clock in the morning until time for the services at the Ulmer-Drake home.
(bio by NJBrewer)
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