1829 while Lydia's birth occurred at Elmira, Chemung Count, that same state.  The year 1837 witnessed the arrival of Dwight R. Crane in this state, having come with his parents at the age of seven years, they being among the pioneers of Battle Creek, where they took up their abode and became identified with the lumber business, in which he was engaged for fifteen years.  This was at the same time Harrison Hutchins was building a road to his new property in Allegan County, the area John would ultimately live out his life.  Dwight R. Crane was one of the prominent and influential citizens of his community and aided in the work of development and improvement of this part of the state.  He received a common school education in his youth and later attended the  Normal at Ypsilanti, Michigan.  From his room mate being P.D. Beckworth, John acquired a fund of knowledge that fitted him for the responsibilities of life, and in the early day engaged in teaching school.  He prospered in his work and was ever ready to aid in any movement which tended to advance the condition of this locality. Dwight's death occurred in 1894, when he had reached the age of sixty-five years, but his widow still survives. Lydia too came to Michigan in an early day, having come with her parents the year following the arrival of her husband.  In their family were two daughters and one son, of whom Lydia is the eldest, the others being Dwight R. and Mrs. Emma E. Swarts, all of whom are natives of Battle Creek.

     John Hulsa Crane, whose name introduces this review, was reared and educated in the place of his nativity.  Later, however, having accompanied his parents on their removal to Fennville in 1874, he here, in connection with his father, engaged in the mercantile business.  As time passed they enlarged the scope of their business operations and engaged in the lumber and hardware business, in which they continued for six years, thus doing much of the commercial development of their locality.

Realizing the excellent opportunity afforded by Michigan as a fruit growing center, John decided to turn his attention to this pursuit, and now owns sixty-three acres of land which is devoted to the raising of various kinds of fruit.  He also rents his mother's farm of one hundred and twenty acres, fifty acres of  which are devoted to the raising of fruit, while the remainder is used for general farming purposes. The house at right was Lydia Crane's Click photo >

 He has made a study of this business and thoroughly understands all the details connected with the care and cultivation of fruit, so that the products of his farm find a ready sale on the market, owing to their superior quality and flavor, and he is now one of the largest shippers of Fennville.  He has erected modern and substantial buildings on his home place, and has thus made it one of the model country homes of Allegan County.  Beside his farm in this county he also owns a tract of one hundred and sixty-five acres in Cuba, which is situated on San Marcus Island.  John expects to develop this property, having firm faith in the possibilities of the island.

     In February 1887, John was united in marriage to Miss Hattie Elizabeth Blakeslee, a daughter of Henry Lee and Lydia Irene (Fenn) Blakeslee, the first to settle within the limits of the original village on the east side of the railroad..  Mrs. Crane was the first white child (non - Pottawatomi Indian child) and the first child born in a frame house in Fennville.  The 1895 map displays the Pottawatomi Club property west of New Richmond. The house was the property of her grandfather, Elam Atwater Fenn, the village being named for him.  Henry Blakeslee was a prominent factor in his community and lost his life in the Battle of Franklin Ridge, Thompson Station in 1863. Hattie never got to know her father but he had written many letters to Lydia Irene which were chronicles of army life and displayed Henry's spirit of patriotism as well as its difficulties on an almost day-to-day basis. Henry Lee Blakeslee was a true patriot while serving his country in the Civil war. Hattie, as a grandmother, told many inspiring stores to the children of the twentieth century. Irene remarried to James George Reeve, Henry's friend, and had six children.

     Lydia Irene (Fenn) Blakeslee¹ was the daughter of  Elam Atwater Fenn², b. 3-2-1821 in Plymouth, Connecticut, d. 12-19 1898 and Mary J. (Barker) Fenn born in Bristol, Connecticut. Elma Fenn became the village president of Allegan. He also was part owner of Fennville's 1st saw mill located 2 miles north of town.
     Elam Atwater Fenn² was the son of Elam Fenn³, b. 6-26-1797, d. 1873 and Lydia (Atwater) Fenn, b 6-17-1779, d. 1873 both of  Plymouth, Connecticut. They had 10 children.
     Elam Fenn³ was the son of  Jason Geains Fenn⁴, born the 4th of 10 children and Mary (Potter) Fenn both of  Plymouth town, Connecticut. Jason was discharged on 11-25-1775 as a sergeant in the 8th Company, 1st Regiment, a Volunteer and Minute Man in the Revolutionary War in New Hampshire. U S's daughters now have papers verifying their eligibility for membership in Daughters of the American Revolution, (DAR). Blakeslee Crane's children are also eligible to be DAR's or SAR's. It is said that Jason G. Fenn or his parents may have come to America on one of the Mayflower's many trips but it has not been proven.

     Unto our subject, John Hulsa Crane, and his wife have been born seven children, of whom six names are known:
.....Ethel M. who's third husband Clifford Paine of Golden Gate Fame, had a home on Hutchins Lake.  both Ethel and Clifford attended Peach Belt School in their grade school days. Ethel graduated from Fennville High School in 1902 and she went on to be a graduate of Wesley Hospital Nursing School in Chicago, having fitted herself for a nurse.  Mr. Paine attended Hope College from 1906 to 1907.
.....Bessie, lived only a few months.
.....U.S, married Lena Miller. They received J.H.'s farm and had six children.
.....Lydia Irene "Rena". Rena married Lyn Loomis who died of TB about a year later.  Later she married Oscar Pearson of California, thought to be a Harbor Master.  After Oscar died she married Paul Kuenzel.
.....Henry Blakeslee married Muriel E. Smith. They received both the Harrison and Alvin Hutchins farms.
.....Berneth Rockwell. married Margaret.