To the communities of:
Goshen, New York
Goshen, Indiana
Paulding County, Ohio
As Ohio Township Day approaches on February 1, Crane Township in Paulding County, Ohio, is reaching out to the communities of Goshen, New York, and Goshen, Indiana, to celebrate a shared historical connection through one remarkable individual—Oliver Crane.
Oliver Crane, born in 1791 in Goshen, New York, grew up and began his early business endeavors in his hometown. In 1823, he moved his family westward to the untamed lands of northwest Ohio, where he played a pivotal role in the founding of Crane Township in 1825. The township was named in his honor to recognize his contributions to the growing community. In 1831, Crane moved once again, this time to Elkhart County, Indiana, where he was instrumental in naming the town of Goshen, Indiana, after his cherished hometown in New York.
This fascinating history links the three communities across time and geography, bound by the legacy of a man who helped shape them nearly 200 years ago. As Crane Township prepares for its bicentennial celebration in August 2025, the township invites the residents of Goshen, New York, and Goshen, Indiana, to join in recognizing Oliver Crane’s enduring influence.
Attached to this press release is a historical sketch of Oliver Crane, which delves deeper into his life and contributions. Newspapers are encouraged to share this narrative with their readers as Crane Township prepares to celebrate its bicentennial.
For more information or to inquire about the Crane Township Bicentennial, please contact:
Carol Razo, Fiscal Officer, Crane Township
Email: cranetwp@yahoo.com
Phone: (419) 438-1433
Let us come together to honor Oliver Crane—a man whose vision and determination continue to connect our communities across centuries.
Oliver Crane Historical Sketch
Crane Township in Paulding County, Ohio, will celebrate its bicentennial in 2025. Local historians are aware the township was named for Oliver Crane in 1825, but until now very little was known about the man behind the name.
Oliver Crane spent his childhood and early adulthood in Goshen, Orange County, New York. His parents, William Crane and Mary Cooley (or Couley) married on March 16, 1788. Their first child Sarah was born in 1789. Oliver was the second child arriving in 1791. Two younger brothers Stephen and Daniel came along later.
Oliver’s birthplace of Goshen earned its name from the promised land mentioned in the Book of Genesis. Its broad streets were well groomed and nicely shaded. Goshen is famous for its trotting horse industry which began in 1803. A pristine racetrack positioned directly in the center of town provided entertainment for local families as well as visitors.
Oliver married Elizabeth in about 1811 at the age of 20. Regrettably, there is no record of their marriage, leaving Elizabeth’s maiden name a mystery. Though their relationship endured many hardships, she would be his friend and travel companion for the next 30 years.
Shortly after their marriage in about 1812 Elizabeth gave birth to their first son, naming him William to honor Oliver’s father. The typical mother in those days endured eight or more pregnancies, often resulting in large families. Following this tradition, census records show the Cranes had at least eight children and there were likely others who are unidentified. Their firstborn William passed away before the 1820 census and they later used the name William for a second son.
Oliver was a very ambitious and determined young man. By the age of 30 he had initiated three business ventures in Goshen, New York, one of which was a mercantile. A mercantile, sometimes known as a general store, offered a place where people could buy basic life necessities and provided a spot for people to gather and socialize.
Between 1814 and 1821 Oliver and Elizabeth were gifted with at least three children. Sarah was born in 1814 and Harriet followed in 1818. A few years later in 1821 came another son, finally providing the opportunity to reuse the name William. Census records indicate there may have been additional unidentified children born during this time.
In March 1822 when Oliver was about 31 years old, he collaborated with Gilbert Horton to purchase yet another business property. Surprisingly, just a year after entering into this partnership, Oliver moved away. In April 1823 Oliver’s parents sold property on Main Street “where Oliver Crane lately lived” for $1,800. This is the last record found for Oliver Crane in Orange County, New York.
It is not known why Oliver uprooted his family in 1823 to head west. Some early pioneers were determined to escape overcrowding and the high cost of living in the east. Others were lured by the promise of cheap and fertile land beyond the Appalachian Mountains.
It must have been exceedingly difficult to leave everything familiar and journey to a distant unknown land. The route from Goshen, New York, to northwest Ohio was well over 600 miles and fraught with danger. Oliver traveled with his wife Elizabeth and three children; Sarah age eight, Harriet age four, and William age one. In 1823 the few roads that existed were rutted and rudimentary, the terrain was treacherous, and the weather unpredictable. Accidents, injuries, and illnesses often plagued the early pioneers.
Oliver and his family arrived in northwest Ohio by way of the Maumee River on small dugout canoes called pirogues in about 1823. There were no roads in the area at that time. The region was engulfed by the Great Black Swamp with forests so dense that sunlight could barely reach the ground. Mosquitos were an extreme nuisance and, unbeknownst to the settlers, spread the ague, which we now know as malaria. The swamp contained deep marshes where horses sank above their knees. One 1808 map designated the swampland in northwest Ohio as “land not worth a farthing.”
It’s difficult to understand why early pioneers decided to settle in the swamp, but somehow, they were able to see the area’s potential. The forest provided a rich hunting ground where black bear, deer, wolves, wild boar, and bobcat roamed the land. Fish were so plentiful they frightened and impeded progress of the horses. There was timber to build their cabins and to fuel their fires. The forest eventually provided a booming timber industry as the pioneers cleared the land to make way for farm fields.
The early settlers lived alongside many Native Americans who were camped on the riverbanks. The Ottawa Tribe was prominent in northwest Ohio at that time. Residents may also have crossed paths with a branch of the Miami Tribe known as the “Crane Band” which settled along the western edge of the Great Black Swamp. The Crane Band was named for their sacred bird, the sandhill crane. It is said in the cold of winter the Native Americans would sometimes slip into a settler’s cabin overnight and enjoy the warmth of the fireplace, only to exit silently before daybreak.
The first township in Paulding County was named for Oliver Crane, suggesting his prominence in the community. Crane Township was organized in 1825 and patterned after the local form of government familiar to the settlers from the New England states. Three trustees, a clerk, and a justice of the peace served as the elected officials. Horatio Nelson Curtis was elected Justice of the Peace at the first meeting. There is no record of the township’s other first officers.
Later that same year, Oliver had the honor of solemnizing the first wedding ceremony in Crane Township. He presided over the nuptials between Mr. Young and Miss Sherry in 1825, another testament to his distinction within the community.
At the age of 34, Oliver built his home in Section 10 of Crane Township on 47 acres purchased in September 1825. A nearby settlement would house the area’s earliest post office. The post office was an essential source of public news in the 19th century. Oliver was appointed the first postmaster in July 1829 and would serve until February 1831. Postmasters were highly trusted individuals and other agencies frequently relied on their honest opinions. The importance of the postmaster is evident in the town’s name. It came to be known as Cranesville, founded by Horatio Nelson Curtis and named for Oliver Crane. Cranesville served as the area’s first trading post and would go on to become headquarters for the Second Brigade, Eighteenth Division of the Ohio Militia.
Between 1826 and 1828 Oliver and Elizabeth were blessed with three sons. In about 1826 came Augustus, their first child born in Crane Township. Festus was born in 1827 and finally John was born in 1828. Census records show there may have been additional unidentified children born during this time.
Oliver lost his parents in September 1827 within a day of each other. On September 26, 1827, William Crane died of dysentery. Mary Crane succumbed to the same disease the following morning. After having lived together for more than 40 years, his parents were interred in the same grave on the same day. Their final resting place is Webb Cemetery in Goshen, New York. Oliver was in northwest Ohio at the time of his parents’ illness. Due to the distance, he most certainly did not know of their passing until much later.
In April 1829 at the age of 38, Oliver purchased an additional 115 acres in Section 1 of the township. The purchase of such a large property might suggest Oliver was planning to stay in Crane Township for many years to come. However, a restlessness was stirring in his heart and soon the family was on the move again.
In spite of the enormous amount of time and effort it took Oliver to reach northwest Ohio and facilitate the organization of his namesake township, he only stayed in the area for a few years. In 1831 Oliver relocated his family for a second time. His next destination was Elkhart County, Indiana, where he would stay for the remainder of his life.
The distance between Crane Township, Ohio, and Elkhart County, Indiana, is 100 miles, making this move less difficult than the 600-mile journey across the mountains seven years before. Oliver’s family had grown significantly during his time in Crane Township. Oliver traveled to Indiana with his wife Elizabeth and seven children; Sarah age sixteen, Harriet age twelve, William age nine, Augustus age four, Festus age three, John age two, and an unnamed infant son.
Oliver quickly became a prominent member of his new community and was appointed Elkhart County Agent in early 1831. In June 1831 the Board of Justices instructed Oliver to begin platting a proposed town seat into lots which would be advertised for sale in July. Once again, a local town received its name from Oliver Crane. Oliver suggested the name of Goshen for the county seat, taking the name from his home town of Goshen, New York. The Commissioners and the Board of Justices ultimately selected the proposed site as the county seat and agreed to the name of Goshen for the town.
There is a longstanding tradition in Goshen, Indiana, which claims the land containing the courthouse square was donated to Elkhart County by Oliver Crane. That belief was later refuted by research showing the land was acquired from the government by preemption.
As the family adjusted to their new home, Elizabeth gave birth to another child. Daughter Elizabeth was born in 1835. However, within just a few years misfortune struck. Oliver’s wife passed away sometime before 1841, leaving him with several adolescent children. Sadly, there is no record of Elizabeth’s death and her burial location is unknown.
In 1842 Oliver started a new chapter in his life. On September 30, 1842 he married Sarah Grames (or Grahams), who was at least 20 years his junior. But this renewed time of happiness would be short-lived. Oliver and Sarah had one son, Edwin, who was born about 1846. Tragically, just a few years later Oliver was again a single father. Sarah passed away sometime before the 1850 census.
By the time of the 1850 census Oliver was 59 years old. He owned a large amount of property and census records identified his occupation as a farmer. Many of his adult children were now married and he had welcomed several grandchildren into the family. The census reveals that Oliver was caring for the family of his deceased wife Sarah in 1850. His mother-in-law Mary lived in his household, and the family of Sarah’s brother James was living on Oliver’s property next door.
It was November of 1854 when Oliver took his last breath. He passed away in Goshen, Elkhart County, Indiana, at the age of 63. He had endured much loss in his life, including two wives, several children, and even some grandchildren. Oliver has no headstone and his resting place is not known. Peculiarly, there are no headstones for any of Oliver’s children, his grandchildren, or his wives. The most common reason for lack of memorial stones was poverty, which does not seem to fit the Crane family profile.
Oliver’s legacy lives on even without the benefit of a physical memorial. During a time when America was growing very quickly, he was influential in the creation of three first-time government entities. Goshen, Indiana, is a thriving community and continues to serve as the Elkhart County Seat. Cranesville, Ohio, now completely gone, served as Paulding County’s first post office and trading post.
Today, Crane Township continues to follow the centuries-old tradition of opening every meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance. Oliver Crane would surely be delighted to know his namesake township still flourishes two centuries after its creation.
