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Waterman Crane
Title: Biographical and historical memoirs of Mississippi, embracing an
authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the
history of the state and a record of the lives of many of the
most worthy and illustrious families and individuals ...
Publisher: Chicago, The Goodspeed publishing company, 1891. https://hdl.handle.net/2027/chi.102898824
Original from: University of Chicago
Digitized by: Google
p. 602 (#724)
Waterman Crane (deceased), an honorable and upright gentleman, who was one of the very earliest settlers of Claiborne county, Miss., is well remembered by the people of the county, for many of the old landmarks of this section are indelibly associated with his mem- ory. When a young man he came to this region from Halifax, Nova Scotia, and near the town of Bruinsburg he entered land on which he spent the remainder of his days, his career as a planter being highly satisfactory. Like the majority of the early settlers he was com- pelled to undergo many hardships and privations, wore homespun clothing and attended religious services in private houses, or in "God's first temples, the groves." Wild Wild game of various kinds roamed the woods at will, and Mr. Crane became quite a noted hunter. He was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Brashear, a noble woman, who made him an ideal wife, and his children an affectionate and faithful mother. She was born in 1764, and died Novem- ber 15, 1830, having been an earnest Christian throughout life. On her tombstone are inscribed the following words: "Blessed are they that die in the Lord." Also the follow- ing poetry: Friend after friend departs: Who has not lost a friend? There is no union of hearts, That finds not here an end." She bore her husband the following children: Elijah (who died March 20, 1810, aged twenty years), Eden (born October 15, 1799, and died January 17, 1819), Silas B. (born June 3, 1792, and died January 7, 1820), Robert (born September 15, 1804, and died February 14, 1824), and Clarissa (who was born in the latter part of 1798, in Claiborne county, being here married to William Christie at the age of seventeen years. She bore her husband one daugh- ter, who became the wife of Rev. S. R. Bertron, for a history of whom see sketch of William Hughes. After the death of Mr. Christie his widow married William Young, who was born in Stephenson, Ayrshire, Scotland, April 16, 1786, and died March 10, 1863. Mrs. Young lived a life of great usefulness, and was loved devotedly by her daughter and those that knew her intimately, for her character was gracious and lovely. She was deeply devoted to her family, and endeavored, by every means in her power, to make her home an ideal one, sur- rounding all those who came within her influence with a watchfulness and care that only ended with her life. She departed this life February 5, 1877). Two of Mr. Crane's sons were killed by the Indians. He was a member of the first board of supervisors of the county, and was noted for his hospitality over a wide extent of territory. He departed this life in February, 1826, and on his tombstone are found the words: "He was much esteemed for unwavering integrity and strict honesty in all his relations with his fellow-men. Being an early settler in this new country, the calls on his hospitality were numerous, and never was the friendless and stranger turned away from his door." The old settlers speak very highly of Waterman Crane, many of whom spent their first night in his house on coming to the territory of Mississippi. He is closely related to many of the first families of the county by the marriage of his sons and daughters. He was a member of Bethel Presbyterian church, in which he took a deep and abiding interest, and was one of its most liberal supporters, and a man whose nobility of character will be treasured, remembered and emulated by his descendants for many years to come.
According to one history of Claiborne County, residents Crane and William R. Buck "received swords for marked gallantry in the War of 1812."[1]