Ira M. D. Crane

Ira M. D. Crane was born around 1837 in Tyre, Seneca County, New York, the son of Stephen B. (b. 1795) and Eunice (b. 1797).

New York native Stephen married Massachusetts-born Eunice and eventually settled in New York where they were living in 1833. Stephen eventually took his family and moved westward, settling in western Michigan by 1850 when Ira was living with his family on a farm in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County. In 1860 Ira was still living with his family in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County, where he was working as a printer.

Ira stood 5’7” with gray eyes, dark hair and a light complexion and was 24 years old and still living in Kalamazoo County when he enlisted in Company G on May 13, 1861. Ira was present for duty from January of 1862 through July, and although he had been wounded on May 31, 1862, at Fair Oaks, Virginia, he soon returned to camp and was back on duty in early June. He was wounded slightly in the leg on August 29, 1862, at Second Bull Run, and subsequently hospitalized at Washington Street hospital in Alexandria where, by the second week of September he was reported to be “doing well.”

Ira remained absent sick in the hospital from his wounds through February of 1863, was present for duty in March and April, and promoted to Corporal on March 20, 1863. He was wounded a third time, on May 3, 1863 at Chancellorsville, Virginia, by a gunshot to the left hip, and admitted on May 9 to Armory Square hospital, Washington, DC. He also received the Kearny Cross for his participation in the battle of Chancellorsville.

Ira was furloughed from the hospital on January 29, 1864, and returned from furlough on March 31. He remained hospitalized until he was discharged as a Corporal on July 1, 1864, at Armory Square hospital, for disability caused by “partial anchylosis of left hip joint from gunshot wound”.

Ira returned to Michigan and married Maryland native Anna E. (b. 1845); they had at least one child: Walter (b. 1867).

By 1870 Ira was working as a farmer and living with his wife in Allegan, Allegan County. By 1880 Ira was working as a farmer and living with his wife and son in Trowbridge, Allegan County. He was still living in Allegan, Allegan County in 1883, and in 1884 when he attended the Sixth Annual Reunion of the Soldiers and Sailors, at Battle Creek, Calhoun County.

He was living in Owosso, Shiawassee County in 1888, and by 1890 he was residing in Grand Rapids. He may have been the same Ira B. Crane who was working and rooming at 43 Monroe Street in Grand Rapids in 1889 and working as an agent for F. J. Lamb & Co. and rooming at 146 S. Jefferson in Grand Rapids the following year.

Ira was probably a member of Grand Army of the Republic Bassett Post No. 56 in Allegan. In 1864 he applied for and received a pension (no. 33,801), drawing $6.00 per month.

Ira died on January 14, 1917, in Cleveland, Ohio, and was presumably buried there.