Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-02-07

II msmeeian.
The recent death, after Z brief sickness,
Of james Crane, ct the advanced age Of sc
years. removes from his place among the
citizens Of Augusta, man in some ways
remarkable.
II seems fitting that his death should re-
ceive something more Of notice than the
few bare lines OF the mortuafy column, and
although the writer feels that another might
better perform the task. he is led to pen
these brief notes lest another may not.
james Crane was . grandson Of Colonel
John Crane, one Of the leading actors in
Boston Tea Party" of pre-revolutionafy
days, and who, little later, became prom
inent Is an officer Of the Revolutionary
army under General Warrington. succeeded
to the command at West Point after Bene-
dict Arnold's removal, and who gained fair
fame both - fighting officer and in the
councils of the commander-in-chief.
The father of james, shortly after the
close Of the War of Independence, became
Q resident Of what is now Washington
county, then . remote section Of the state
of Massachusetts, known ~ the District Of
Maine, and here James Crane was born and
lived until few years ago, when he came
to this city to pass the remaining years of
his life a. q member Of the family of his
dau alter, Mrs. Frank H. Beale.
Eighty -six years of life are more than
fall to the lot of most men; but rather in
the character of the man. than in the span
of his existence, are noted the points which
in the writer's view made him remarkable
as well as lovable.
Tn ill <baa he
nor tobacco. This is somewhat remarkable
because unusual-for in the earlier part Of
his life total abstinence was so uncommon
as to be an almost unknown creed, while
during the later years of his sojourn among
the haunts of men the use of tobacco in
some form had become well nigh univer-
sal. Perhaps to this unusual abstemious-
ness was in some measure due his long life
of almost perfect health. Neither did he
ever seek an office, nor ever hold one, save,
perhaps, that Of justice Of the peace,
town clerk, or some such position of a now
political character. This is remarkable
from the fact that he was by nature most
ardent, interested and thoroughly informed
student of politics and political history
born politician 10 the truest and noblest
sense Of the word-ever intensely inter-
ested in and devoted to the success of the
party whose principles he espoused. A
Henry Clay Whig," while the Wing party
existed, he was an uncompromising Repub-
lican from the dsy of the formation of the
Republican party to the day of his death.
From the time he attained his majority in
1929, up to and including the November
election last, he had never missed casting
his vote at every Presidential and State
election. To,vote was with him patriotic
duty, not a personal privilege, but the
writer questions if many men have been 80
Interested in political matters, so constant
in exercising the right Of suffrage, SO
competent in all ways to fill some office,
without posing at some time as a party
leader. With many, perhaps with most
very aged persons, the qualities of mind
and heart, the graces of person and manner
which may have rendered them attractive
~ endeared them to their friends and &C.
quaintances ofttimes lose something of
their freshness under the touch of times
fingers. Not 80 with the subject of this
sketch. His memory was perfect to the
end, and so far as this country was con-
cerned, no event of importance, no period
whether Of peace or war, no conflict of
thought or opinion, but he held it all in the
storehouse Of his memory, and as occasion
served could converse delightfully."- and in
structively regarding it. He had grown
old gracefully-almost unnoticeably, and
ever self-reliant, helpful, cheerful in man
ner and careful in attire, eager to retain his
interest in the welfare of those around him,
and contribute thereto if within his power;
he was the beau ideal of green old age"
So. too, with many of advanced age, it is
difficult to bid graceful welcome to the new
ideas which are constantly springing up in
all lines of thought, because of too pro-
found belief in the good old days and too
close adherence to the good old ways.
Not 90 with the subject of these notes.
While the experience of these many years
had taught him nice distrust of modern
..isms and ologies," aud had strengthened
his belief in the truth of the doctrines to
which from youth up he had pledged and
kept his faith, both as to matters of church
and State; and while he was fairly tena-
cious of his own opinions, and amply
equipped to do battle for them, he was
tolerant of the views of others, and prompt
to see and admit that all wisdom and good
ness were not of the past.
Kind of heart, pure of thought, sincere
in speech, by instinct gentleman, it may
be truthfully said of him that he was one
of natures noblemen.
Such life, 90 long and so worthy lived,
clean cut and clear along all its lines. and
in all its relations, has a grandeur of its
own not the less admirable because the
man himself from an innate modesty sought
the quieter and simpler ways of living,
rather than those which lie ad by more public
paths to the positions of notoriety, or places
of preferment to which his abilities and &C.
ouirements entitled him, not the less beau