In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1847
From A Biographical Record of Clark County Ohio (1902)
JOHN B. CRAIN.
Since September, 1897, John B. Crain has acceptably filled the office of county commissioner of Clark county. He was born in Springfield, May 7, 1847, and is a son of John A. Crain, now deceased. The family is a Irish ancestry and was founded in this country at an early day by representatives of the name, who settled in Pennsylvania. John Crain, the grandfather of our subject, removed from the Keystone state to Clark county, Ohio, in 1806, becoming one of the first settlers to locate within its borders. Indians were living in this portion of Ohio at the time of his arrival and wild animals were seen in the forests, while many kinds of wild game furnished ample opportunity for the huntsmen to enjoy his love of sport. The grandfather, who was a young: man at the time of his removal to this state, purchased a tract of land which he cleared and improved, This was government land and the patent which he obtained is still in possession of the family. John A. Crain, the father, of our subject, was one of eleven children and was born in Bethel township on the old family
As printed in A Biographical Record of Clark County Ohio (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: John Crain
Their biographies name John A. Crain: L. Floyd Routzahn
The printed record stops around 1902. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.