Elijah Crane, who was one of the early Town’s most colorful characters, was born in Milton in 1754 and died in Canton in 1834. When he moved to Canton in 1763, he lived in Ponkapoag and, at the age of 21, was one of the company the responded to the famous Lexington fire that set off the Revolution. There is no record showing that he ultimately enlisted in the Continental army but he must have played some part in Revolutionary activities since he used to speak of a dinner of tasty pudding and molasses that he enjoyed during a time he was driving a four horse team with supplies for the Continentals in New York State.

In early life he was a farmer, afterward an innholder. He was most famous as an officer in the First Division of the Massachusetts militia, where he rose to the position of Major General in 1809, a position he held until his resignation in 1827.

The two brigades which were reviewed by General Lafayette during his visit to this country in 1824 were commanded by General Crane, "whose large form appeared to advantage on horseback," according to Huntoon’s description, which also states: "General Crane wore his white hair cut short and brushed straight up from his head, and it is said when he lifted his hat on review, he reminded the spectators of Andrew Jackson. In fact, he had many qualities in common with Old Hickory."

He was devoted to church, parish and public affairs and was a prominent member of the Rising Star Masonic Lodge in Stoughton, where he held the office of Master in 1810. A few more lines of description written by Huntoon give a vivid picture of the doughty old general, of whom Huntoon says:

"Bold and determined in his nature, he was not easily thwarted. If he decided to have a muster on Low Plain (now Readville), the muster would be held. When he could not make his exit from the new church as quickly as he desired, he jumped out through the window, and side doors were put in to support General Crane. In his day, his opinion was law. In social life, however, he was polite and courteous, plain, substantial, and upright, kind to friends, generous to enemies, inclined to have his own way, but probably no more so than his position for twenty years as sheriff of the county warranted."