Francis M. Crain, M. D. Biography


	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1899. Pages 601-602

	Scan, OCR and editing by Maurice Krueger,mkrueger@iw.net, 1998. 

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FRANCIS M. CRAIN, M. D. Among the people of South Dakota, and the 
medical fraternity, no physician and surgeon stands on a higher plane 
than the subject of this review. He is well known as a skillful 
operator, and an honest practitioner, and his efforts among the people 
have been crowned with success. He is one of the first druggists of his 
locality, and Spink county is proud to number him among her highest 
professional men. He makes his residence in Doland, where he located 
during the pioneer days. 

Dr. Crain was born in Angola, Indiana, in 1857. His father was of 
Scotch descent, but was born in Canada in 1825. His mother was born, 
the same year as his father, in Connecticut. Her maiden name was Perry, 
and she was a cousin of Commodore Perry. The father of our subject was 
a farmer by occupation and the son followed this calling, attending the 
country schools, and later the high school of Angola, Indiana. He 
taught several terms of school during three years, and began the study 
of medicine in 1879, with his brother, Dr. M. F. Crain, and graduated 
at the Fort Wayne Medical College in 1882. He located at Doland, in 
1883, and began the practice of medicine, and also took a homestead 
claim, which after he proved up he sold. His home was a ten by twelve 
shanty, and there were but three other buildings in the town when he 
located there. Our subject and brother, Z. A., purchased a drug 
business in Doland in 1888, from Fred Bryan, which was established by 
Tarbell and Williams in 1883. Crain Brothers in 1896 sold the business 
to Wood and Light, who at present conduct it. The brothers bought out 
Ward & Fryberg, of Redfield, in 1891, and our subject's brother manages 
the business under the firm name of Crain Brothers. During 1891-92 Dr. 
Crain studied in Rush Medical College in Chicago, from which he 
graduated in the spring of 1892. He also took a post-graduate course in 
the medical college in New York city in 1898. 

Our subject was married in 1885, to Miss Mildred J. More, a native of 
St. Lawrence county, New York. Her parents were New England people and 
her father was by occupation a farmer. Mrs. Crain is a lady of 
scholarly attainments, and was a teacher in Kansas and South Dakota, 
and her home is one of refinement and culture. Dr. and Mrs. Crain are 
the parents of three children, two sons and one daughter. 

The Doctor is a member of the United States pension examining board, 
and a member of the county insanity board. He has served as grand 
medical examiner of the Ancient Order of United Workmen for four years, 
and served one year as grand master workman for the jurisdiction of 
South Dakota, and is at present local surgeon for the Chicago & North 
Western Railroad Company. He takes an active part in political affairs 
and was secretary of the state central committee of the Democratic 
party in early statehood. He affiliates with the Masonic fraternity, 
and is a member of the blue lodge, the chapter, and the commandery. He 
also holds membership in the Ancient Order of United Workmen.