Flynn and Related Families

James Craney's death notice was published in the Eau Claire Leader, May 6, 1902 (page 5): "DEATH OF J. W. CRANEY - At 2 o'clock Sunday morning occurred the death of James W. Craney at the Sacred Heart Hospital. Mr. Craney was a prosperous farmer in Fall City, but for the past few months has been in the city doctoring at the home of his brother, Irving Craney. A week ago last Friday he was taken to the hospital and an operation followed. Deceased was forty six years of age and leaves a father and four brothers. Mr. Oliver Craney, the father, lives in the Town of Union, Oliver F., Edward, Leslie and Irving are brothers. He was a member of the Odd Fellows. Funeral will take place Tuesday from the home of father, town of Union, at 1:00 o'clock."

The notice printed in the Eau Claire Weekly Telegram on May 8, 1902 (page 2): "J.W. Craney, a prominent farmer of Dunn county, died yesterday in the Sacred Heart Hospital. The cause of death was pneumonia. The funeral will take place tomorrow afternoon from the home of the deceased in Springbrook. He leaves a widow."

The notice printed in the Menomonie Times on May 8, 1902: "Fall City: James Craney who died at the hospital at Eau Claire, was buried on Tuesday. The funeral was held at his father's residence in Union, some neighbors from here attended."

The 1888 plat map for the Town of Spring Brook, Dunn County, Wisconsin, shows the Craney property as the North 1/2 of the Northeast 1/4 of Section 27. That plot is located at the southwest corner of the intersection of County Highways "C" and "H" in the Town of Spring Brook. Probate records indicate that at the time of his death in 1902 he owned the following pieces of property, all in the Town of Spring Brook, Dunn County: the Northeast 1/4 of the Northeast 1/4 of Section 27, the Northeast 1/4 of the Southeast 1/4 of Section 22, and the Southeast 1/4 of the Southeast 1/4 of Section 22. Those parcels are located on the southwest and northwest corners of the intersection of County Highways "C" and "H" in Spring Brook.

In his will, which was signed on April 23, 1902, James left only $50 to his wife, Nancy Ellen Craney; the rest of his estate was to be divided between his brothers, Leslie and Irvin. Probate documents also indicate that he had sold most of his personal property to his brother, Oliver, shortly before his death. Nancy, the widow, challenged the will and also that sale of property. Final disposition of the relevant property required court proceedings over a period of several years.

Married at "P. Episcopal" Church, Eau Claire by Pastor R.H. Weller, Jr., Rector of Christ Church. Witnesses were Thomas Quirk and Ellen A Craney. James's residence at the time was Eau Claire County, WI, and he was a farmer.

James and Nancy were married on July 26, 1899 at the Baptist church parsonage, 851 Grand Avenue, Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The Rev. H. E. Hoare officiated. Witnesses were Emery Lee and Lenore Cramblit. [Lenore was Nancy's daughter from a prior marriage.]