Ancestors of L. J. Cooper, Treasurer

Alexander Poke Crane

Alexander Poke Crane was born October 18, 1846 in Mahaska County, Iowa. His parents were Jackson Brown Crane and Sarah Ann Caroline Lowe.

According to "A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans",

Jackson B. Crane served two terms as Sheriff of Mahaska County, Iowa before moving his family west to Leavenworth County Kansas. He erected one of the first log houses in the area.

Alexander Poke Crane joined Company L of the 11th Kansas Cavalry on March 8, 1864 and was honorably discharged on September 26, 1865. Members of the regiment of over twelve hundred men were stationed in Kansas. Company L was engaged in the Indian service, headquartered at Fort Riley.

Alexander married May 15, 1875 in Leavenworth County Kansas to Elvira (Ella) Albin, daughter of John Albin and Sarah Ann Page. The Crane family is found on the 1880 Federal Census of Leavenworth County, Kansas. According to the 1900 Federal Census of Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma, they had eleven children. Nine of these survived to adulthood. Alexander died March 21, 1918. He and Elvira are buried at Mission Hill Cemetery in Tecumseh, Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma.

John Albin

John Albin, son of Samuel G. Albin and Sarah Smith, was born December 31, 1827 in Vermillion County, Indiana. He married December 12, 1847 in Vermillion County to Altruda Hollingsworth, with whom he had two sons, Samuel and Jasper. John and Altruda are found on the 1850 Federal Census of Vermillion County Indiana, page 108A in Vermillion township. John married second to Sarah Ann Page on January 24, 1854 in Vermillion County. They had seven children - Robert, Elvira (Ella), Merel, Nancy, William, John, and Mary. Elvira (Ella) Albin married Alexander P. Crane May 15, 1875 in Leavenworth County, Kansas.

John Albin enlisted in Company B, 11th Kansas Cavalry  on 30 August 1862 and was Mustered out on August 31, 1865. This company fought at the Battle of Prairie Grove, Arkansas, which is reenacted on the first weekend of December, in even numbered years.

John Albin is last found on the 1900 Federal Census of Jackson County, Kansas, Grant township, page 56B. He died May 11, 1902 and is buried with Sarah at the James Crossing Cemetery in Jackson County, Kansas.

James B. Williams

James B. Williams was born May 15, 1840 in Pike County, Illinois, the fourth of seven children of George Williams and Permelia A. (Nancy) Nicholson.

James and his brother, Joseph signed with Company E, 99th Illinois Infantry on August 23, 1862. The 99th Illinois participated in the battles of Port Gibson, Champion's Hill, Big Black Bear Bridge, Vicksburg, and Mobile.

After his discharge from service, James married Sarah Philean Stickleman on September 17, 1866 in Pike County, Illinois. Their children were Cora L., William (Will) J., Benjamin F., Minnie P., Myrtle M., Hattie, Orie (Ora) E., and Ida E. The Williams family migrated west to Franklin County, Kansas sometime between 1876 and 1880. They were pre-statehood pioneers of Davis Township, Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma Territory. James died January 24, 1897. He and Sarah (1847-1935) are buried at Fairview Cemetery in Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma.

Grave of James B. and

Sarah P. Williams