John Crain

As printed in 1908

JOHN BACON CRAIN, ex-county commissioner, and owner of an excellent farm of one hundred and fifty acres located in Bethel Township, Clark County, Ohio, eight miles west of Springfield, on the south side of the Valley turnpike, was born in Springfield, Ohio, where the Arcade now stands, May 7, 1847, and is a son of John A. and Anna Matilda (Bacon) Grain.

The great-great-grandparents of Mr. Crain, William and Jean Grain, came to America from Ireland in 1732, settling on the Manada, a branch of the Swatara

Eiver, in what was then Lancaster County, now Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Joseph, the second son of William Crain, was born in Hanover, Pennsylvania, in 1738. During the War of the Revolution he served as first Lieutenant in Cap. Richard McQuown's Company, of Coh Tim Green's Regiment, and was later commissioned Captain of the Second Company of the Sixth Battalion, Pennsylvania Troops, under Col. John Rogers. Capt. Crain remained in active sei'vice until 1777. He was married to Mary Moore and their second son, John Crain, the grandfather of John B. Crain, was born November 25, 1773, and came to Clark County, Ohio, in 1806, from Hanover, Pennsylvania. He entered the present Charles R. Crain farm in 1800, and the old deed signed by President Madison is still in the possession of the family. John Crain was married to Lydia Reeder. John Adam Crain, the father of John B. Grain, was born October 14, 1811, in Bethel Town.ship, Clark County, Ohio. While still a boy he went to Springfield and subsequently became postmaster during President Harrison's administration. After the death of his father he bought out the other heirs and returned to the home farm in Bethel Township. He later retired and moved to Springfield where he died November 12, 1889. He was married to Anna Matilda (Bacon) a native of Spring-field, whose ancestors came from England in 1635. She died June 5, 1886. They had four children, as follows: John Bacon; Charles R., a resident of Bethel Township; Mary, deceased; and Edmund, a resident of Philadelphia.

John B. Crain lived in Springfield, Ohio, until five years of age, when he was brought by his parents to the farm in Bethel Township, where his youth was spent. His education was secured in the district schools of Bethel Township, the common schools of Springfield, and the Commercial College of Dayton, Ohio. In 1873, Mr. Crain became a member of the firm of E. R. Hotsenpeller, millers, continuing with this company until 1878. He then moved on the old Layton farm, which be purchased in 1871. Mr. Crain was married February 15, 1872, to Lydia Hotsenpeller, a daughter of Charles W. and Amelia (Reitenour) Hotsenpeller. Five children have been born to this union: Mary, who is the wife of Dr. C. M. Evans of New Carlisle, Ohio; Madge; Bertha; Kathleen, who married Harold McGregor, resides in Springfield; and John A., of New York.

In 1897 Mr. Crain was elected county commissioner on the Republican ticket and served six years.

As printed in 20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1908). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.