The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-02-04
GEORGE ". CRANE.
A Brief Biography of the Vet
eran Publisher.
His Business Success in the
Face of Many Reverses.

missed than George w. Crane, whose
funeral was held last Sunday. People
have expressed a desire to hear more
about the life which has been linked
with the life of the city for more than
40 years. One of Mr. Cranes intimate
friends has written a brief biography
of the veteran publisher, and submitted
1T to the State Journal. In the fol-
lowing article is given a sketch of Mr.
Crane, beginning with his birth in 1913,
and summing up his PERSONAL history
until his death in 1913.
George w. Crane was born at Easton.
Pa, August %, 1S43 He was the son
of DR.. Franklin l.. Crane a surgeon,
who came to Topeka in the spring of
1855, to help make Kansas free state,
and who became secretary of the To-
peka Town Company. 1t was largely
due to the influence of DIR. Crane in
this position that Topeka was laid out
with the beautiful wide streets and
avenues it possesses, the work of sur
veying the town being under his di-
rection.
George W. Crane did not come to
Kansas until 1866. His mother had died
when he was an infant, and he was
reared by an aunt who lived in Canada.
While there he studied and worked four
years in an institution which taught
scientifically the arts of gardening and
Horticulture. A love of his profession
and was evidenced about his residence,
where could be seen beautiful shrub
berry, and fine flowers winter and sum-
mer.
Mr.. Crane went to Fit. Larned on his
arrival in Kansas and took a position
in the store of his brother. who was
post-trader a t that point He remained
there one year. He came from FIT
Larned to Topeka when he was twenty
three years old, to begin his business
education, and in accordance with the
banking custom of those days. had the
usual belt in which he carried $500 in
gold, which at that time was sufficient
for a good start for any young man.
for three years he engaged in
the business of market gardening, and
in this business cultivated the land on
which the Santa Fe depot now stands.
But Topeka was a young and growing
city. There were many opportunities
for engaging in business, and Mr..
Crane was not content to remain
market-gardener.
In 1868 he began the business of book
binding and blank-book making, hav-
ing for a partner J. Y Byron. He
later became one of the owners of the
Daily Commonwealth and was made
manager of that newspaper The firm
name was Prouty, Davis & Crane. Mr..
Crane owned one-third of the business.
In November. 1869, Mr.. Crane suffered
his first business reverse. A fire in
the Ritchie Block destroyed his pub
fishing business. The loss was about
$10,0 900, with an insurance of $4,000. In
q few months the business was re-es-
tablished but in thee fall of 1873 the
Commonwealth Building burned and
Mr.. Cranes business was again wiped
out The loss in this fire was SAT 600
with an insurance of $4,000. Mr.. Crane
the business at once,
oil
tinued until 1885, He built up one of
the largest publishing houses west of
the Mississippi river and secured an
immense trade in the handbook bust
ness but in 1889 fire again destroyed
his business, then located in the Keith
Block which was occupied exclusively
by his company The loss was $135,-
600, with an insurance of but $4,000.
Such a loss compelled Mr.. Crane to
make an assignment, but he did not
cease the business. He conducted the
work as assignee, paid off all the debts, |
and closed up the old affairs in 1898.
Mr.. Cranes business was large and
very valuable, and in. order to carry |
it on while reorganizing it, he tenn
porarily moved to Kansas City. As
soon as he was able to secure a good |
building and re-esta blish himself in
Crane & Company. corporation, |
which has conducted the, business to
the present time, he being the presf-
dent and in full charge of the policy i
and mana cement.
1t will be seen that Mr.. Crane suf-
fered constant reverses in business,
none of which came through any fault
of his own. 1t was misfortune rather I
than reverses that came upon him, !
but he was not discouraged. Few men
would have so persistently gone on .
with the business under such adverse
1t required courage, /
powers, and genius of
high order to build up the great bust |
ness which Mr.. Crane left
The publishing house of Crane &
Company bore the impress of George
w. Crane. 1t was his house. 1t was
built along lines marked out by him.
1t was always liberal and loved by the
people Of Kansas. The house was al
ways fair. never grinding and con-
tentious with creditors. 1t never lost
its friends and no house in Kansas to-
day is more widely known or better
loved than the house of Crane & Com
pany.
1t has a reputation far beyond the
bounds of the state. 1t is the oldest
publishing house in the west. and not
only the state of Kansas, but the en-
tire west, owes George w. Crane
deep debt of gratitude. He published
more books about Kansas and the
west than any other man. On some of
the books he lost money, but he be-
came a thorough Kansas man with
love for the west, and his adopted
state. He published the Statutes of
Kansas for thirty-four years.
There is not a lawyer in Kansas who ,
Is not familiar with the name Crane
Around the publishing house establish .
ed by him gather many memories of ;
Kansas and the west. It has had 10 do
with Lane and Robinson and John
Brown. 1t has published the works of
John Speer, Eugene F. Ware, James
W. Steel, Henry King, Henry w. In
man, w. E. Connelley. and other emil
ment Kansans. Edwin P. Harris, a