Born July 7, 1826 in Westmoreland, New York, Colonel Crane graduated from Hamilton College, studied medicine a year, then entered the law office of his uncle Willis Hall, of New York City, and was admitted to the bar in 1850.

Shortly after marrying Lucy Burrall in 1852 he came to Beloit and taught school in the Union School for a year. He and his wife then moved to Dodgeville, where Col. Crane practiced law and held many city offices. For two years he was district attorney of Iowa County, and for four years was chief clerk of the Wisconsin assembly.

At the beginning of the Civil War, Crane joined the Third Wisconsin Regiment at Ripon and was made Lieutenant Colonel of the regiment. He was killed leading the regiment in the battle of Cedar Mountain, Virginia, on August 9, 1862. At the time of his enlistment, Mrs. Crane moved to Beloit with their children to live with her father, Major Burrall, and his body was returned to Beloit for burial in Oakwood Cemetery. The Beloit GAR post was named in his honor.