J. L. Crane

J. L. Crane. - Much credit is due to the pioneers who came to this country when it gave so little promise of being what it is to day, who, with astonishing fortitude, spent years of labor and experiment, and who overcame the difficulties and discouragements that beset their way. J. L. Crane is one of these worthy pioneers, and is deserving of more than a passing mention in these pages.

    He was born in Sharon Township, Medina County, Ohio, June 17, 1839. His father, George W. Crane, was a native of Massachusetts, and a pioneer of Ohio. He went to that State in an early day, took a Government claim of heavy timber land, cleared it up, reared a family of seven sons and one daughter, and lived there until he died, in 1885. Mr. Crane's grandfather, Barnabas Crane, was a sea captain in summer and a school teacher in winter, and lived to be eighty-four years old. They trace their ancestry back to England. Some members of the family settled in Massachusetts before the Revolutionary war, and most of the Cranes of this country are descendants from that stock. The mother of the subject of this sketch, nee Louisa Briggs, was a native of New York, born in 1815. She is now a resident of California. Mr. Crane received his education in the public schools of Ohio, and has been engaged in agricultural pursuits all his life. Before coming to California he sold his farm in Ohio to his brother, sarted in October, 1861, and arrived here in November. He came to his present location on the Saticoy ranch in December of the same year. His uncle, G. G. Briggs, came with him from Marysville, and bought 16,000 acres of the Moore Brothers, the price being $45,000. Mr. Crane had been married a short time before leaving Ohio, and to this ranch, in Marrch, 1862, he brought his young wife.  At that time it was a vast mustard-plant country. Their nearest neighbor on the west was ten miles away, and on the east, twelve miles. The only inhabitants of Saticoy were a few Indians. The country was full of game, and it was not unusual to see bands of fifteen or twenty deer on the hills. One could scarcely go out without seeing tracks of the grizzly bear. At that time it was thought that nothing could be raised without irrigation. Mr. Briggs brought nursery stock for his own use, and the next year 200 acres were plowed and planted. An orchard, containing a variety of fruits, was set out, the first attempt of that kind in the country. They planted the first ten acres of corn grown without irrigation. Up to that time, Mr. Crane had been in the employ of his uncle. In the fall of 1862 he went to work for himself. That winter proved to be a short one, and the drouth of 1864 caused Mr. Briggs to abandon the idea of colonizing the valley. Every one was discouraged and gave up the thought of staying or the possibility of living in such a country. Mr. Briggs sold his ranch in 1867 to E. B. Higgins. In 1864 Mr. Crane removed to Santa Barbara, and engaged in teaching school. The people of Santa Barbara at that time were so discouraged that they offered land in what is now the heart of the city for $5 per acre. After remaining in that town ten months, he returned to the ranch and planted a quantity of potatoes. They were planted too late, however, and were killed by the frost. After six years of discouragements here they were heartily sick of California, and decided to go back to Ohio, which they did.  They remained only ten months, and, after all, found that California had its attractions, and they were sufficient to induce them to return to this coast. They came with a firm determination to stay, and have never wanted to leave again. He resided in Carpenteria seven years, was there at the time the county was divided, and has seen a wonderful change come over the Santa Clara Valley. Mr. Crane now has a farm of 100 acres at Santa Paula. Twenty acres of this are in fruit trees of different kinds, 700 pear, 300 apple, 100 plum trees, and all other kinds of fruit.

    Mr. Crane's marriage occurred in 1861, when he wedded Miss Jenette Briggs, a foster daughter of his uncle. She is a native of Massachusetts. They have five children, all born in Ventura County: Emmit C., April 6, 1863; Lincoln P., September 28, 1865; Cora L., April 21, 1873; Charles, April 21, 1875; and Chancy, November 4, 1877. The two oldest sons are merchants at Saticoy, and the other children reside with their parents. Politically, Mr. Crane is a Free-trade Democrat.

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