Funeral Rites for Ralph Crain Held at Quincy
Interment in Woodland Mausoleum at Quincy for Prominent Augusta Native
Ralph Waldo Crain was born on September 16, 1877,
on the Crain farm two miles west of Huntsville, Schuyler
County Illinois. This was the same farm on which his grandfather, Rev. Wm. Crain, settled in 1835 and which remained in the
possession of the Crain family for 110 years.
Ralph attended the Baxter school which was a short distance east of his home and later attended the Augusta high school, graduating
with the class of 1896. He then went to the Kennedy Normal School in Rushville for one term in preparation for teaching. He taught at the
Pine Grove school and the next year at the Round Top school, both one room country schools which have recently been
discontinued.
In the fall of 1899 Ralph enlisted in Company G, 38th United States Volunteer Infantry at Webb City, Mo. From the Presidio in
San Francisco he was
sent to Manila.
For some time his Company was stationed in Lipa on the island of Luzon where they were engaged in a series of campaigns until the
Philippine Insurrection was quelled. While in Lipa he was asked to teach English in a boys' school and in this was he became
proficient in the Spanish language. Later he served for more than a year as Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue with
headquarters in Iloile on the island of Panay, a job as dangerous as his Army duties had been for he rode horseback thru the
jungles carrying actual cash on his person.
Determined to see the world before returning home, Ralph took passage on a tramp steamer loaded with hemp. Leaving
Manila, the British
freighter, Melbourne,
carrying three other passengers came to New York by the way of Ceylon and the Suez Canal, arriving in New York in October
1902.
After attending Gem City Business College in Quincy, Ralph accepted a position with the Remington Typewriter Co. in
Salina, Kansas.
On June 7, 1905 Ralph was married to Sadie Thelma Caddick of Quincy, Illinois. They made their first home in Topeka, Kansas. In 1906
Ralph was transferred to Mexico City where Remington was opening their first agency in a Spanish
speaking country. Two years later they sent him to Havana, Cuba, where he remained as representative of the company for 23
years.
Since 1923 [someone crossed out 1923 and jotted 1932] he has made his home in Arlington, Virginia. Taking advantage of the educational facilities
of Washington, D. C., Ralph attended Law School graduating in his 60th year standing in 8th place in a class of 270 students.
In 1936 he went into the real estate business and became a prominent realtor of Arlington,
Virginia.
While living outside the U. S. his home was always open not only to his relatives and friends but also to many of his
countrymen. Many nationally known Americans have shred his hospitality and he was equally ready to extend assistance to any
in need. He was keenly interested in the United Spanish War Veterans, serving one term as Commander of the Post at
Havana, Cuba.
He was a frequent contributor to the National Tribune a paper devoted to the interests of veterans and was also author of the
Pulaski section of the "Augusta Story," a historical book published by the local Daughters of the American Revolution. He was
a member of the Pulaski Church, a history of which is included in the Pulaski Story.
A few years ago Ralph organized the survivors of the 38th Volunteer Infantry and has since taken an active part in their annual
reunions.
Not withstanding his busy life and heavy responsibilities, he found time throughout the years to write almost daily letters to his
mother, and took great pleasure in his annual visits home.
Ralph died unexpectedly at his home, 4399 Lee Highway, Arlington, Va., on April 26, 1949. The funeral was
held in Arlington at
11A.M., on April 29;
there having been a brief service the evening before conducted by the Spanish War Veterans. Interment was made in Woodland
Mausoleum at Quincy,
Illinois, after services there at 2 P.M., May 2, conducted by Rev. A. K. Byrns, a life long friend of the
Crain family.
Ralph W. Crain is survived by his widow and two sons, Ralph W. Crain, Jr., of Arlington, Va., and Earl T. Crain of Santiago, Chili [sic]; three grandchildren,
Richard and Elizabeth Crain of Arlington, Va., and Virginia Crain of Santiago, Chili [sic]; one sister, Mary Crain of
Augusta; three
brothers Harry Crain, and Frank Crain of Augusta and Wm. M. Crain of Arlington, Va. He was preceded in death by his parents, Wm. H.
Crain, in 1904, and Rachel Baxter Crain in 1932 and by his brother, Fred Crain, in 1920. Two sisters and two brothers died in
infancy.
Thus closes the story of a colorful life marked by intense loyalty and devotion to his country, his family and his friends.
_______________________________
Posted by Sue Hawes. For more Crain and Pulaski Village genealogy, visit her web site at www.suehawes.com
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