Joseph Craner

   Ancestral File Number: 20G8-KJ.

  General Notes:

JOSEPH CRANER (1867-1891)


Joseph was born 15 November 1867 in Tooele, Tooele, Utah. He was the sixth child of twelve children born to George and Sarah Emma Jenkins Craner. He was the fourth son born into the family. When he was just twelve, his mother died in childbirth, leaving seven of the twelve children. He worked on the family farm along with his father and his brothers, George, John Jenkins and Edward. He attended school in Tooele. He must have had further schooling as he entered the profession as a teacher. He lived most of his life in Tooele.
Joseph Craner
During the summer of 1891, when Joseph was 23, he had some stock that were ranging in the Gentile Valley and he went there to live temporarily. On July 3, in the afternoon around 4 o'clock, Joseph and five other friends decided to go "bathing" in a large warm spring on the Eldredge farm, a short distance from where he was living. "Amid laughter and harmless jokes, they entered the water together. The stream, or pool was shallow near the edge but was very deep in the center. All went well until deep water was reached, when young Craner sank suddenly out of sight, throwing up his hands as he did so. At first it was supposed that he had simply dived to the bottom on his own volition. This idea was, however, quickly dispelled when he was observed to rise to the surface with an expression of agony on his face. A desperate and determined effort was made to save him, but he again went down to rise no more in life. His companions being excellent divers, went to the bottom time and again in search of his body, but were unable to definitely locate it." (Journal History 1891, July 4, Page 3) Eighteen hours later the body was located and immediate interment was necessary.
This accident was devastating to his father, George. He traveled to Gentile Valley by the Union Pacific Railroad. When George arrived, Joseph had already been buried for several hours. He decided to leave the body there and planned to return the next year to "bring my poor boy home and place him in the family burying ground with his mother and others of my departed children" in the Tooele Cemetery.
Joseph died 3 July 1891 at the age of 23. He had never married. He was greatly respected by all who knew him.





Sources: Family Group Sheets, Naomi Lowe, 607 Holiday Drive, Brigham City, Utah 84302
Craner History, compiled by Herbert E. Craner, 1936
Deseret Evening News, 7 July 1891
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  LDS Information:

Baptism: 5 Aug 1876

Endowment: 9 Nov 1893, Salt Lake Temple

Sealed to Parents: BIC