Pioneer’s journey linked namesakes in New York, Ohio, and Indiana
GOSHEN, Ind. — Nearly 200 years ago, Oliver Crane named Goshen, Indiana, after his hometown of Goshen, New York.
Before arriving in Indiana, Crane helped settle what is now Crane Township, Ohio, a community that still bears his name. That three-part connection came into focus this spring during a visit to the Maple City from Carol and Art Razo of Crane Township, Ohio.
With help from local historian Val Collins, the Razos highlighted a little-known chapter of Crane’s life and shared it in Goshen. They met with Mayor Gina Leichty in her office, which occupies Indiana’s first Carnegie Library, during their April visit.
During a May 6 meeting, Razo and Collins shared their story with Goshen’s Community Relations Commission, capturing the curiosity of commissioners and guests alike.
Oliver Crane heads west — and then back to Goshen
Crane boarded the Sarah McFarland in New York in 1849 and sailed 17,000 miles around Cape Horn to California.
He joined a group called the “Hoosier Boys,” likely heading west to harvest timber instead of chasing gold.
By 1850, he had returned to Goshen and appeared in that year’s U.S. Census.
Local accounts suggest he built a homestead east of town near Rock Run Creek. He died in 1858 at age 67 and may be buried in a now-lost cemetery near the site of today’s Goshen High School.
“It doesn’t appear Oliver struck it rich or built a sawmill,” Razo told commissioners. “But the journey offers an amazing glimpse into his character.”
Mayor Leichty reflected on the broader impact. “As we look ahead to Goshen’s own bicentennial in 2031,” she said, “stories like Crane’s remind us how far our connections reach, and how they continue to shape who we are.”
Crane Township sits about 100 miles southeast of Goshen. Goshen, New York, is roughly 650 miles east.
“It’s humbling to think that one man’s journey nearly 200 years ago still links our small communities today,” Razo said. “Learning about his life reminds us that even in a time without highways or email, people and places were deeply connected, and those connections still matter.”
For more information, contact Carol Razo at cranetwp@yahoo.com.