George Craner

   Ancestral File Number: 1WGH-GS.

  General Notes:

GEORGE CRANER (1829-1904)

George was born 1 June 1829 in Maxstoke, Warwickshire, England. He was the sixth child and the fourth son of George Benjamin and Elizabeth West Craner. He was christened 28 June 1829 in Maxstoke, Warwickshire, England. The family lived in Hall End in Maxstoke. George's father was a laborer.
George Craner
As a child, George worked very hard on a farm. Most of the cultivation and planting of crops was done by hand. The plowing was done with a one-way plow; one horse and man to guide the plow. George's parents did not think it was necessary for their children to receive an education through the schools, but believed in hard work and experience. They secured a job for him following a plow, filling a position known as a "Clod-Hopper." However, there was a lady living in the same community where George was who took a special liking to him, and she paid for him to have a three-year course under a private tutor. That was the only formal schooling he received.
When George finished this education, he worked at a castle in England at what was called "Gentlemen's Service." It was his duty to see that the tables were in the best of order at any time during the day when his master wanted to eat. He had to shine the silver and glassware. At this job he earned and saved enough money to bring him to the United States.
In 1845 George's family listened to the missionaries. His mother was the first to be baptized on 5 June 1845. George was the next one. He was baptized 1 January 1846. He was 16 years old. He was followed by his sister Harriet, 6 January 1846 and his father, 10 March 1846. Three other members of his family were baptized also, Ann, and Martha in 1852, and Abraham Frederick in 1856 in England.
Five years later, when George was 21, he took passage on a small sailing ship George W. Bourne from Liverpool England for America. He was the first of his family to come to America. They left England, 22 January 1851 and landed in New Orleans on 20 March 1851. (57 days) There were 281 Latter-day Saints aboard. He was one of the members under the direction of William Gibson. Elder Gibson proudly reported that "no company of Saints had ever crossed the Atlantic with less sea-sickness. This pleasant voyage was marked by one marriage, three births, two converts among crew members, and the death of a small boy who was dying of consumption when he boarded the ship."
After their arrival in New Orleans, the emigrants boarded the steamboat Concordia and on 22 March 1851 began about a thousand-mile journey up the Mississippi to St. Louis. The steamboat arrived in St. Louis, Missouri on 29 March 1851. The Saints then journeyed on to Council Bluffs. (Kanesville at that time) Most of the Saints would then secure employment to procure an outfit for crossing the plains and continue on to the Salt Lake Valley. There were a number, however, that remained in the States. Such was true of George Craner, who stayed one year at Kanesville.
On 21 September 1851, the Saints in Kanesville were given an order by letter by President Brigham Young to come to Salt Lake City, Utah:

"We send unto you our beloved brethren, Ezra T. Benson and Jedediah M. Grant, for the special purpose of counseling and assisting you to come to this place, and we desire you to give heed to their counsel in all things and come to this place with them next season and FAIL NOT."
Come all ye officers in the church and all ye officers in the State or county. There is no more time for Saints, to hesitate what course they will pursue. We have been calling to the Saints in Pottawatomie ever since we left them to come away, but there has continually been an opposing spirit whispering as if it were, 'Stay another year and get a better outfit' until many who had means to come conveniently have nothing left to come with.
We say again, COME HOME. And if you can get one good wagon and team to five families and five teams to 100 souls or no teams at all, more than cows and calves to your hand-carts, you can come here with greater comfort and safety than the Pioneers came here who had nothing to come to. While you will have everything and here is the place for all the Saints to get their outfits for Zion, even from all nations. Therefore, we say again-arise and come HOME. We wish you to evacuate Pottawatomie and the States and next fall be with us all ye Saints of the Most High."

The next season after receiving President Brigham Young's order George Craner crossed the plains with the Eighteenth Company with James C. Snow as Captain.
Captain James C. Snow left Kanesville about the middle of June 1852 with a company of nearly 250 souls. He was assisted by Hiram Winters. Charles H. Hales and Salmon Warner as Captains of fifty. Reporting on July 11^th, Captain Snow said "the health of the company was good; no sickness had at that time made its appearance among them. The company generally was in fine buoyant spirits, full of hope and anticipating success, relying on the God of Israel to bless in prosecuting their journey to the valley of the mountains."
The company crossed the Missouri River on 2 July 1852, arrived in Salt Lake City 9 October 1852. (About 4 months crossing the plains)

George Craner had nothing to cross the plains with, as far as personal property. George Craner came out to Tooele, Utah after arriving in Salt Lake City, Utah. He moved, or went there the same month he arrived in Salt Lake City or October 1852. He established himself in Tooele by securing a ten acre farm where he built an adobe house. He worked hard to establish a home and earn enough money to send to his family in England. In 1854 his mother, father and four of his brothers and sisters Harriet, (age 20), Ann (age 15) John (age 11) and Martha (age 9) were able to immigrate to Utah from England. His father, George Benjamin lost his life enroute. He is buried in Kansas.
George's ingenuity and hard work on his farm was published in an article in the Deseret News, 26 October 1854:

"Brother Craner of Tooele brought into Salt Lake City four sugar beets, which weighed 71½ pounds, one of them weighing 20 pounds. These were about
average in a crop of ½ acre of land."

Sarah Emma Jenkins

It was in Tooele, on John Rowberry's farm that he met Sarah Emma Jenkins. They were married 1 January 1857 by Bishop John Rowberry. Sarah Emma was only 14 and George was 27. They
were later sealed in the Endowment House, 10 Sep 1859.

George and Sarah Emma were the parents of twelve children:

NameBirth DateDeath Date
1.*George Craner 27 Oct 185719 Aug 1935
2.*John Jenkins Craner 5 Apr 1860 1 Apr 1931
3.*Eliza Elizabeth Craner 6 Mar 1862 12 Jun 1941
4.Edward Craner20 Apr 186418 Oct 1882
5.Emma Craner20 Sep 1865 6 Jan 1867
6.Joseph Craner15 Nov 1867 3 Jul 1891
7.*Mary Ann Craner 25 Mar 1870 3 Apr 1947
8.Harriett Craner 1 Jul 187216 Nov 1880
9.Martha Jane Craner 2 Jun 1875 2 Jun 1875
10.Sarah Pamelia Craner17 Sep 1876 7 Feb 1877
11.Emeline "B" Craner 24 Feb 187823 Jul 1878
12.Clara Craner10 Feb 188010 Feb 1880
*(Only four of these twelve children were married and have children)

Throughout George's life he was found giving service to others. He assisted three other families financially to emigrate from England. In 1856, he went to Fort Bridger to help Hodgets train of Saints to the Valley. He went to assist in the Echo Canyon War of 1857. He assisted in building a wall around Tooele City during the troubles with the Indians there. He helped to build the beautiful dirt walks in Tooele. He was a City Councilor in Tooele for six years, Alderman for four years and City Treasurer for six years.
He was ordained a High Priest at Grantsville, Utah, 25 June 1877 by President John Taylor. He served as a member of the High Council until called to be First Counselor in the Bishopric to Bishop Thomas Atkins in which he served for over twenty years. He also served as a Sunday School Teacher and received a special recognition at the Church's Jubilee Celebration in 1899, for 35 years of service.


He has been successful as a farmer and a fruit grower. He has been recognized for raising the first peaches and currants in Tooele County. He has built a beautiful two story rock home and has provided for his mother as well as his own family throughout the years.
He lost his wife, Sarah Emma (age 37), a few days after their last baby girl was born, 14 February 1880. He was 50. He also lost another daughter, Harriett (age 8) that same year. Two years later he lost Edward (age 18).
His integrity and industry has been recognized by the citizens and businessmen in Tooele County. He has been able to help his children to become educated and ambitious in pursuing their endeavors.
He died 18 July 1904 at the age of 75 in Tooele, Tooele, Utah leaving a host of family and friends "to mourn his demise." (Deseret News, 18 July 1904)

John J, George IV, Elizabeth (Eliza)
George III, Sarah Emma
Joseph, Edward, Mary Ann

Sources: Family Group Sheets, Naomi Lowe, 607 Holiday Drive, Brigham City, Utah 84302
Histories of Vera McBride, Beth Sorenson, 5311 Brush Creek Bay, West Valley City, Utah 84120
Maxstoke Parish Records, Immigration Records ¹

  LDS Information:

Baptism: 1 Jan 1846

Endowment: 10 Sep 1859, Endowment House

Sealed to Parents: 7 Nov 1895

He was sealed to his spouse on 10 Sep 1859 at Endowment House. (Sarah Emma Jenkins was born on 5 Oct 1842 in Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois, USA, died on 14 Feb 1880 in Tooele, Tooele, Utah, USA and was buried on 16 Feb 1880 in Tooele, Tooele, Utah, USA.)