Crain, B. F.

B. F. CRAIN, merchant, Utica, was born near Cooperstown, Venango county, December 3, 1835. His paternal ancestors were of Irish and Scotch descent, and among the early residents of Pennsylvania, members of the family locating in the eastern part of the state, a number of years before the opening of the present century. About 1800 William Crain, grandfather of B.F., settled not far from the present site of Cooperstown, Venango county. A son, James Crain, father of the subject of this sketch, came to Venango county when three years old, and was an honored and respected resident of the same until his death in 1871. His wife, Julia (Snyder) Crain, was the daughter of Henry Snyder, who moved to Sugar creek valley, this county, from the eastern part of the state, as early as 1830. Mrs. Crain died about 1858. James and Julia Crain had a family of six children, of whom the following are living: B.F.; Lucy, wife of Charles Bowman; Huldah J., wife of Abram Argrave, and Amanda, wife of John G. VanOrman.

B. F. Crain was reared in this county, and in the common schools received a practical English education. He began life for himself as a farmer’ and after following this calling in Venango county until 1868 emigrated to Iowa, locating near Ottumwa, Wapello county, where he resided three years. On his return to Venango county in the fall of 1870, he took service with Thomas Nesbit in the mercantile business at Utica, and four years later opened a store of his own, making the hardware trade a specialty. Subsequently he added boots, shoes, and groceries to his stock, and took in his son, Thomas Crain, as partner. The firm thus constituted still continues, being one of the most substantial and well- known business houses of Utica. He entered the army in September, 1864, as a member of Company I, Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry, with which he served until honorably discharged on the 2nd of July, 1865. During his period of service he was with his command in several campaigns in Virginia, and participated in a number of battles, among which were Hatcher’s Run, Stony Creek, High Hill Bridge, and was present at the surrender of Lee at Appomattox. After the surrender his command returned to Petersburg, Virginia, and from that time until mustered out did patrol duty at Lynchburg. Mr. Crain was married February 8, 1866, to Miss Mary E., daughter of John Nesbit, of Venango county. Mr. and Mrs. Crain have two children: Thomas S. and Ethel Grace. Mr. Crain was formerly a Republican, but of late years has been identified with the Prohibition party. He is an active member of the Presbyterian church, as is also his wife, both belonging to the Utica congregation.