Z. A. Crain Biography


	This biography appears on pages 87-88 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				Z. A. CRAIN.  

	One of the progressive and growing cities of South Dakota is that 
of Redfield. Its advancement has been made along substantial lines due 
to the sound judgment and intelligently directed efforts of its leading 
business men, to which class belongs Z. A. Crain, the president of the 
Redfield National Bank, to which office he was called in 1902. He 
arrived in South Dakota when a young man of twenty-four years, 
recognizing the opportunities here offered, and in the intervening 
period he has so directed his efforts that while contributing to his 
individual success he has also promoted the public welfare. He was born 
February 17, 1863, in Angola, Indiana, and is a son of A. D. and 
Harriet (Perry) Crain, the latter a descendant of Commodore Perry, the 
famous hero of the naval battle on Lake Erie. The Crain family comes of 
English ancestry but has been represented in America since early 
colonial days. Members of the family served in the Revolutionary war 
and the spirit of patriotism has always been strong among their 
descendants. A. D. Crain was a native of New London, Connecticut, and 
removing westward, took up his abode in Angola, Indiana, where his 
remaining days were passed. He devoted his life to farming through many 
years but retired about ten years prior to his demise, which occurred 
in 1894. His wife preceded him to the home beyond, dying in 1892, and 
both are buried in the Angola cemetery.  

	Z. A. Crain acquired his education in the schools of Angola, 
passing through consecutive grades until graduated from the high school 
with the class of 1883. He afterward spent three years in Hillsdale 
College of Michigan and then accepted the position of principal of the 
Angola high school. To a young man of energy and ambition such as Mr. 
Crain the northwest offered an irresistible attraction and he came to 
South Dakota in 1887, when a young man of twenty-four years, settling 
at Doland, Spink county. There he established and conducted a drug 
business for four years, at the end of which time he removed to 
Redfield, where he established and incorporated the Redfield National 
Bank, of which he is the president. This institution was founded upon a 
safe, conservative basis. He has ever recognized the fact that the bank 
which most carefully safeguards the interests of its depositors is the 
one the most worthy of patronage and therefore he has done everything 
in his power to make the institution perfectly sound and reliable. It 
has grown steadily until its deposits are now large. Upon his business 
he concentrates his energies and his wise direction of the affairs of 
the bank has given him rank with the leading financiers of the city.  

	At Redfield, on the 13th of June, 1895, Mr. Crain was united in 
marriage to Miss Grace J. Jerome, a daughter of John and Amy Jerome. 
Her father was at one time an attorney at law in Minerva, Ohio, and 
resided there until his death about 1910. During the period of the 
Civil war he went to the front as an officer of the Union army, 
faithfully defending the stars and stripes throughout that sanguinary 
conflict. He came of English and French descent. Mrs. Jerome now makes 
her home with our subject. To Mr. and Mrs. Crain have been born a son 
and a daughter: Ralph J., who was graduated from the Redfield high 
school with the class of 1912 and is now in college at Vermillion, 
South Dakota; and Virginia, five years of age.  

	Mr. Crain is a democrat in his political views, but is not a 
politician in the usually accepted sense of office seeking. He has a 
deep interest in everything pertaining to the welfare and progress of 
the city, county and state, however, and cooperates in many movements 
for the public good. At present he is chairman of the board of 
education in Redfield and the public schools find in him a stalwart 
champion. Fraternally he is a Mason of high rank, belonging to the 
lodge, chapter and commandery at Redfield. While engaged in the drug 
business he was honored with election to the presidency of the State 
Pharmaceutical Association and at the present writing he is president 
of the Spink County Farm Improvement Association, which he instituted 
and organized in 1912. Aside from his banking interests he is a 
stockholder in various other concerns all of which profit by the 
stimulus of his cooperation and keen business sagacity. Thoroughly 
reliable in all his dealings, he bears an unassailable reputation for 
business integrity and has indeed made for himself a creditable name 
and place in business circles and in public life.