John Crahen, the well-known and respected farmer of section No. 25, Grand Rapids township, Kent county, Mich.,. was born Albany, N. Y., November 1, 1834, a son of Martin and Mary (McMahan) Crahen, both natives of, county Clare, Ireland, where they were married, and whence they came to the United States about 1830. They lived a while in New York, and then came to Detroit, Mich., when John, the subject, was between three and four years of age. Martin Crahen was a molder by trade and was employed by the Michigan Central railroad at Ypsilanti, and the first distinct recollection John has, is that of going from Detroit to that place to see his father Martin Crahen for some time afterward continued to work at his trade in Detroit, and then bought a farm near the city, on which he lived until 1849, when he came to Grand Rapids and located on the west side of the river, but after making some improvements realized the fact that he was working on another person’s land; he then settled on a farm in section No. 24, and this was his home until his death, at the age of sixty-nine years. His widow survived him twenty years, and died in her eighty-seventh year. The farm is situated about five and a half miles east of Grand Rapids, and contained 160 acres, formerly of heavy oak timber, the greater part of which Mr. Crahen cleared off. There were seven children born to his marriage three of whom are now living. James, the eldest son, carried on the farm until he removed to Grand Rapids, where his death took place and where his widow and family still reside. Mary, the eldest survivor of the family, is also a resident of Grand Rapids; Martin is a mechanic of Muskegon; John is the subject of this sketch; Martin Crahen took an active part in the affairs of his township. He was a commissioner, organized the school in his district, and served as supervisor in Wayne county, as a democrat. In religion he was a devout Catholic and a faithful member of St. Andrew’s church at Grand Rapids. John Crahen was about fifteen years of age when he came to Grand Rapids. He assisted on the farm until he attained his majority. And then went to Muskegon, where he worked at lumbering for two years, and also worked in the mills. On his return he settled on forty acres of the home farm, two years later bought eighty acres of his present farm, then added forty acres more, and still later added more land, until he became the owner of 180 acres in one body. He had about $500 saved from his earnings, and went in debt for an equal amount, but he is now free from liabilities and has made, beside, a fine line of improvements. He has his place well arranged for general farming and also grows peach trees. Mr. Crahen was united in marriage, November 23, 1863, with Miss Mary Collins, daughter of Simon and Margaret (Carmody) Collins, a native of county Clare, Ireland, who came to the United States when eleven years old, and to Grand Rapids at the age of sixteen, and here her marriage took place. To this (Page 119) union there are eight living children, born in the following order: Margaret Elizabeth, a dressmaker of Grand Rapids; James, an attorney in Chicago. Ill.; Mary, a teacher, Joseph, a clerk in the office of the G. R. & I. R. R. In Grand Rapids; Martin, on the farm with his father; Catherine, also a teacher, Julia, a teacher, and John, a student at the Grand Rapids high school. Mr. Crahen and family are members of the St. Andrew’s Catholic church, and in politics is of democratic proclivities, but as a rule votes for the man he deems to be best fitted for office. He has himself served as township treasurer but has never felt and desire for public position. His farm is one of the most desirable in Grand Rapids township, being in an excellent state of cultivation, and he and family are held in universal respect. Mrs. Crahen, the mother of the family, died January 4, 1898.