He was born on 29 May 1835 (6, 9, 11; 2 (31 in 1865), 7 [35 in 1870], 8 [45 in 1880], 9 [65 in 1900], 10 [74 [in 1910], 12 [14 in 1850]). He was born in Hollidaysburg, Blair County, Pennsylvania (2, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12). He was born to George Wiser Craine and Mary Nearhoof ("Polly") (11, 12).
In 1850, he was living in Snyder Township, Blair County, Pennsylvania (12). He was living with his parents George and Polly Crane, along with others (12). He had attended school within the year (12).
When he enlisted, he was a labor[er] (2).
When he enlisted, he was 5 feet 8 inches tall, and had a sandy complexion, hazel eyes, and dark hair (2).
He was drafted (1, 3). He enlisted and was mustered into service on 16 March 1865 (1, 2, 3, 5). He was enlisted for one year, at Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, by Captain Lloyd (2). He was a private in company I (1, 13, 14).
He mustered out with his company on 10 July 1865 (1, 2, 3 [16 Aug], 5). He was a private, in company I (13, 14).
In 1870, he was living in Taylor Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania (7). He was living with his siblings Henry, Sarah, and George, and their mother Mary (7). He works on a farm (7).
In 1880, he was living in Taylor Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania (8). He was living with his siblings Henry and Sarah, and niece Sarah Weaver (8). He was a laborer (8).
In 1890, he was living in Taylor Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania (post office, Olivia, Blair County) (3).
On 25 June 1892, he applied successfully from Pennsylvania for a pension (4, 5).
In 1900, he was living in Taylor Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania (9). He was living with his brother Henry, and five nieces and nephews (9). He was a farmer (9).
On 25 February 1909, he again applied for a pension (5).
In 1910, he was living in Taylor Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania (10). He was living with his nephew and niece John and Mary Merryman and their children (10). He was not working (10).
He died on 11 February 1915 (5, 6, 11). He died at Bald Eagle, [Blair County,] Pennsylvania (5, 11 [Centre County]). He was buried at Cross Roads Cemetery, Warriors Mark, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania (6). (Also buried there are Henry Crain (17 Oct 1819-17 May 1902), Sallie Crain (d. Dec 1897, age 6? years 4 months 29 days), and George Crain (1788-7 Jan 1859) and Mary Polly Nearhoof Crain (19 Nov 1792-10 Jan 1872) [see 6].)
1 Bates, Samuel Penniman. History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5. Harrisburg: B. Singerly, state printer, 1869-71. 5 volumes. 'Ninety-first regiment', volume 3, pages 186-233. (In the roster) (Benjamin Crane)
2 company I, descriptive roll, #53 (Benjamin Crain [sic])
3 1890 US census, veterans' schedule, Pennsylvania, Centre County, Taylor Township, supervisor's district 6, enumeration district 72, page 1 (Benjamin Crane)
4 pension index, by name (Benjamin Crane)
5 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company I (Benjamin Crane)
6 Find a grave, memorial 54997297, created by Clancy Hassler, added 15 July 2010, accessed 6 February 2011 [identification is confirmed by the tombstone inscription: "BENJAMIN CRAIN PRIV. CO I, 91st REGT. PA. Vol. MAY 29, 1835 FEB. 9, 1915"]
7 1870 US census, Pennsylvania, Centre County, Taylor Township, post office Olivia [?], microfilm series M593, film 1322, page 780 = 3 handwritten (Benjaminm Crain)
8 1880 US census, Pennsylvania, Centre County, Taylor Township, supervisor's district 7 [?], enumeration district 230, microfilm series T9, film 1112, page 292 = 9 A handwritten (Benjamin Crane)
9 1900 US census, Pennsylvania, Centre County, Taylor Township, supervisor's district 10, enumeration district 39 [?], microfilm series T623, film 1392, page 191 = 3 B handwritten (Benjamin Crain)
10 1910 US census, Centre County, Taylor Township, supervisor's district 11, enumeration district 42, microfilm series T624, film 1326, page 248 = 3 [?] A handwritten (Benjamin Crane)
11 'Our American cousins', a gedcom, available at RootsWeb WorldConnect, contact Jim Atchison, updated 20 November 2010, accessed 24 March 2011 (Benjamin Crain)
12 1850 US census, Pennsylvania, Blair County, Snyder Township, microfilm series M432, film 755, pages 49 = [96] handwritten to 50 = 97 handwritten (Benjamin Crane)
13 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Benjamin Crane)
14 index to compiled service records of volunteer Union soldiers who served in organizations from the state of Pennsylvania (Benjamin Crain)
| line | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Dwellings visited | 122 | ||||||||||
| Families visited | 126 | ||||||||||
| Name | George Crane | Polly Crane | Leran [?] Crane | Mary Crane | Henry Crane | George Crane | Sarah Crane | Tabitha Crane | Benjamin Crane | Eliza Crane | John Stirner |
| Age | 62 | 52 | 40 | 38 | 31 | 25 | 19 | 17 | 14 | 4 | 17 |
| Sex | M | F | M | F | M | M | F | F | M | F | M |
| Color | |||||||||||
| Occupation of males over 15 years | Laborer | Laborer | Laborer | Laborer | |||||||
| Real estate owned | $500 | ||||||||||
| Birthplace | " [sc. Penna] | " | " | " | Penna | " | " | " | " | " | " |
| Married within year | |||||||||||
| Attended school within year | 1 | ||||||||||
| Over 20 & can't read/write | 1 | 1 | |||||||||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. |
| line | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
| Dwelling-house number | 15 | ||||
| Family number | 15 | ||||
| Name | Crain Henry | - Sarah | - George | - Benjamin | - Mary |
| Age | 50 | 39 | 44 | 35 | 77 |
| Sex | M | F | M | M | F |
| Color | W | W | W | W | W |
| Occupation | Farmer | House Keeper | Works on farm | " " | |
| Real estate value | 2500 | ||||
| Personal estate value | 800 | ||||
| Birthplace | " [sc. Penna] | " | " | " | " |
| Father foreign born | |||||
| Mother foreign born | |||||
| Birth month if born within year | |||||
| Marriage month if married within year | |||||
| Attended school past year | |||||
| Can't read | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Can't write | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Deaf, dumb, blind, etc. | |||||
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Male US citizen at least 21 years old who can't vote ... |
| line | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| street name | ||||
| house number | ||||
| dwelling visit # | 59 | |||
| family visit # | 61 | |||
| name | Crane Henry | - Benjamin | - Sarah | Weaver Sarah |
| color | W | W | W | W |
| sex | M | M | F | F |
| age | 61 | 45 | 49 | 21 |
| month born if born in year | ||||
| relationship | Brother | Sister | Niece | |
| single | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| married | ||||
| widowed/divorced | ||||
| married during year | ||||
| occupation | Farmer | Laborer | Keeping house | |
| months unemployed | ||||
| currently ill? | ||||
| blind | ||||
| deaf/dumb | ||||
| idiotic | ||||
| insane | ||||
| disabled | ||||
| school this year | ||||
| can't read | 1 | |||
| can't write | 1 | 1 | ||
| birthplace | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna |
| father's birthplace | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna |
| mother's birthplace | Penna | Penna | Penna | Penna |
| line | 90 | 91 | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 |
| street | |||||||
| house number | |||||||
| dwelling number | 55 | ||||||
| family number | 55 | ||||||
| name | Crain Benjamin | - Henry | Lewis Miles | - Eliza | - Elmer | - Blair | Sallie |
| relationship | Head | Brother | Nephew | Niece | Nephew | Nephew | Nice |
| color | W | W | W | W | W | W | W |
| sex | M | M | M | F | M | M | F |
| birth date | May 1835 | Oct 1819 | Oct 1843 | Apr 1847 | July 1879 | July 1882 | Aug 1886 |
| age | 65 | 81 | 56 | 53 | 20 | 17 | 13 |
| married? | S | S | M | M | S | S | S |
| # years married | 0 | 0 | 34 | 34 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| mother of how many children? | 5 | ||||||
| # of children living | 5 | ||||||
| birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| father's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| mother's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| immigration year | |||||||
| # years in USA | |||||||
| naturalized citizen? | |||||||
| occupation | Farmer | Farm laborer | Invalid | Farm laborer | |||
| # months not employed | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| # months in school | |||||||
| can read | yes | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| can write | yes | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| speaks English | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| owned/rented | O | ||||||
| free or mortgaged | F | ||||||
| farm/house | F | ||||||
| # of farm schedule | 40 |
| line | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| street | |||||
| house nr | |||||
| dwelling nr | 45 | ||||
| family nr | 45 | ||||
| name | Crane Benjamin | Merryman John J. | - Mary | - Oliver [?] O. | - [illegible] B. |
| relationship | Head | Nephew | Niece | GrandNephew | GrandNiece |
| sex | M | M | F | M | F |
| color | W | W | W | W | W |
| age | 74 | 45 | 43 | 4 | 6/12 |
| marital status | S | M1 | M1 | S | S |
| #years present marriage | 7 | 7 | |||
| mother of # children | 3 | ||||
| mother of # living children | 2 | ||||
| birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| father's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| mother's birthplace | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
| immigrated | |||||
| naturalized/alien | |||||
| speaks English | English | English | English | ||
| occupation | None | Farmer | None | None | None |
| nature of industry etc. | Tenant farm | ||||
| employer etc. | OA | ||||
| out of work 15 Apr 1910? | |||||
| # weeks out of work 1909 | |||||
| can read | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| can write | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| school since 1 Sep 09 | |||||
| owned/rented | R | ||||
| owned free or mortagaged | |||||
| farm/house | F | ||||
| nr on farm schedule | 35 | ||||
| civil war vet | |||||
| blind | |||||
| deaf & dumb |