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Joshua Eddy Cbane (2), son of Joshua
Eddy and Lucy Ann (Eeed) Crane, was born
•Oct. 1, 1850, in Bridgewater, Mass., and there
educated in the public schools of the place and
at the Bridgewater
instruction of Mr.
Academy, then under
Horace M. Willard.
tlie
He
furthered his studies at Brown University, from
which he was graduated in 1872. Mr. Crane
was preceptor of Bridgewater Academy, 1873-
75; principal of the English preparatory de-
partment of the Syrian Protestant College,
Beirut, Syria, 1876-79 ; subsequently was employed
as a private tutor; and was in charge
•of the Latin classes of Albany Academy, Al-
hany, N. Y., until 1884, when he became
librarian of the Young Men's Association of
Albany. In 1887 he accepted the position of
•associate principal of the Portland Latin School
at Portland, Maine, but in 1890 resumed his
former position at the library, from which he
officer of the Old Colony Historical Society
and of the Old Bridgewater Historical Society.
Mr. Crane married Jan. 1, 1884, Katharine
Perkins, daughter of Henry and Amelia (Sher-
SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS 647
spect of his community. He was well fitted for
that social and useful citizenship he filled. He
was an active and intelligent member of the
Masonic fraternity; was past master of Fellow-
ship Lodge, of Bridgewater, past high priest oi
Harmony Chapter, and a member of Bay State
Commandery, at Brockton, Mass. He was also
a member of Pioneer Lodge, I. 0. 0. F., of
Bridgewater, and held the rank in it of noble
grand.
In 1884_Mr. Crane was married to Lizzie A.
Cole, daughter of Mr. Charles H. Cole, of
Brockton, Mass. His death occurred March
16, 1905.
HENRY PERKINS was a well-known iron
manufacturer and biisiness man of Bridgewater.
His ancestral line is traced from Abraham Perkins,
one of the first settlers of Hampton, N.
H., who was nlade a freeman May 13, 1640.
withdrew in 1892. He is at this time librarian He was a man of good education and was much
of the Public Library of Taunton. He is an employed in the service of the town. He died
Aug. 31, 1683, at the age of seventy-two. His
widow, Mary, died May 29, 1706, at the age of
man) Perkins, of Bridgewater.
Henry Lovell Crane, son of the late Joshua
Eddy Crane and his wife Lucy A. (Reed), was
"born Jan. 31, 1860, in Bridgewater, Mass. Here
in the public schools and Bridgewater Academy
he acquired his education. At the age of sixteen
he entered the mercantile store of his
father at Bridgewater and by close application,
and industry, under the father's oversight he be-
•came thoroughly versed in all that pertained to
•careful, painstaking, judicious business methods.
On the death of his father, in 1888, young
Crane associated with him in the continuance
•of the business Henry T. Burrill, under the firm
name of Crane & Burrill, a business partnership
that lasted through the eighty-eight. The will of Abraham Perkins,
dated Aug. 22, 1683, and probated Sept. 18,
1683, contains the names of his wife and sons
Jonathan, Humphrey, James, Luke and David.
To the last two were given five shillings each, as
they
remaining years
had already received their share. The
names of the children of Abraham Perkins
were: Mary, Abraham, Luke, Humphrey,
James, Timothy, James (2), Jonathan, David,
Abigail, Timothy (2), Sarah and Humphrey
(2).
David Perkins, son of Abraham, of Hampton.
N. H., was born Feb. 28, 1653, settled in
Beverly about 1673, married Elizabeth Brown,
daughter of Francis Brown, of Beverly, 1675-
76, and in 1688 became a resident of Bridgewater,
in that part of the town whicli became
of the life of the junior member of the firm ;
and as a business house its standing was second
to none in Bridgewater.
As had been his father before him, Mr. Crane
was greatly interested in the public affairs of
his native town, and as a good citizen when
called to it
public duty performed to the best
of his ability and judgment, which always
meant to the satisfaction of his fellow citizens
and to-wnsmen. Elected town clerk in 1886 and
treasurer in 1887, he was each year successively
reelected to these offices up to the time of his
decease. Endowed with much natural ability,
sharpened by business experience and reading,
possessing pleasing and accommodating social
ilie South Precinct. In 1694 he built the first
mill at the site of the iron works of Messrs.
Lazell, Perkins & Co., known afterwards as the
Bridgewater
qualities, he won and held the esteem and re-
Iron Company, and was engaged
in the occupation of blacksmith. He was the
first representative of the town in the General
Court at Boston after the union of the Colonies
of Plymouth and Massachusetts, in 1692,
and served also in this capacity in 1694, and
from 1704 to 1707, inclusive. His death occurred
Oct. 1, 1736. His wife, who was born
Oct. 17, 1654, died July 14, 1735. In his will
of June 17, 1736, he names his sons: David,
Abraham, Thomas, sole executor, and Nathan,
deceased, and grandchildren: David and Jonathan,
children of his son David, and Nathan,
Timothy, James, Solomon, Martha and Silence,