The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1913-05-21
DEATH Of GEO. W. CRANE.
Well.Known Citizen Called Beyond
Without Warning,

WeIl-Known Citizen Called Beyond
Without Warning.
The d. ath summons came suddenly
to Postmaster Geo. w. Crane, Of this
city, while he was sitting at the supper
table Saturday evening. Mr.. Crane
had just arrived home from the poet.
oface and wac apparently ia excellent
health. but while partaking OF his
evening meal be complained of sick.
ness at the stomach. He was assisted
to his bedroom, where he suddenly COL
Iapsed, aud upon the arrival OF q
ply sicisn . few minutes later the cou-
dition of the patient was pronounced
hopeless. Apoplexy was the aus OF
death, which came within halt az hour
from the time the patient Was stricken.
Mr.. Crane vas q native of Vermont.
and was SO years old. Al the out.
break Of the civil war be was q resi-
dent Of St. Louis, and enlisted In the
army % q member OF the Independent
RiAe company and later organized .
company of the 26th Illinois volun.
teers, with which he served three years.
Al the close Of the war Mr.. Crane
found temporary employment in In.
diana and Missouri, aud in 1866 de.
cided to come west.
After spending about q year in Nsb'
rasks, MIR. Crane located in the Gal.
latin valley and engaged in various
occupations, and later took part in
several mining stampedss. In tho
early seventies he val engaged in the
general merchandise busines ct Hell
ens and CLANCY, and in 1879 came to
Fort Benton and opened q lows and
novelty store. Mr.. Crane had been .
resident Of this city from that date un.
til the present time.
During his residence Of yer . third
OF . century In this city, Mr.. Crane
filled several public positions of honor
and trust. He served az mayor Of
this city, several terms % justice Of
the peace, vas clerk of the school
board over twenty years, and has been
postmaster here for three consecutive
terms. In the latter capacity Mr..
Crane formed an scquaintancs that
includes practically every resident OF
this city and surrounding country.
He was also . member of tho Masonic
lodge, and enjoyed the respect and
friendship Of members Of that frater.
nifty 10 various parts Of Montana.
Among the bereaved relatives are the
wife of the deceased and q family OF
three daughters and eight sons, to
whom the sincere sympathy OF the en-.
tire community is extended.
The funeral took place Monday at.
ternoon under the auspices of the Ma
sonic lodge, the members Of which
wore their regalia. The pallbearere
we're George l.. Overfe!d, George D.
Patterson, W. J. Minar, Joseph 8,
Brown, William Rowe and James
Townsend. The casket was draped
with the stars and stripes. aud was
covered with floral tributes from
manyneighbors and friends.
, Military honors were paid to the de-
ceased by the attend ance Of q detsch'
ment of Company M, OF the Montana
, national guard in uniform and bearing
arms, accompanied by their band.
The latter headed the procession from
the family residence to St. Paul'e
church., playing q funeral march, and
( the military Escort stood At salute q
} the casket val removed from thu
hearse. Following the militia came
several Grand Army veter ans, the
!, members Of the Masonic lodge, and q
= long procession of old-time neighbors
and friends.
Impressive services we're conducted
i. in St. Paul's church by Rev. J. N,
Chestnut, the attend ance being 60
large that many were unable 10 find
standing room in the building. A
I long cortege followed the remains Il
Riverside cemetery, where intermen,
was made.