W. H. Crandall, who is engaged in general farming on section 31, Grove Township, is a native of Pennsylvania, his birthplace being near Troy, Bradford County, while the date was January 1, 1840. He was the fifth in order of birth in a family of nine children born unto Stephen Allen and Sarah (Chase) Crandall, the former a native of Cortland County, New York, and the latter of Delaware County, that state. Both died in Pennsylvania, Mr. Crandall passing away in 1876 at the age of seventy-four years, while his wife survived until 1891 and reached the age of eighty-two years. Their sons, Dewitt C. and Charles Lee, each served for three years as Union soldiers in the Civil War.

W. H. Crandall resided at the place of his nativity until after the outbreak of hostilities between the north and the south and worked on the farm and at the carpenter's trade with his father. He recalls the time when he labored for a mere pittance as a boy, often receiving only twenty-five cents per day. The first interruption to his farm labor came in 1861, when aroused by a spirit of patriotism, he enrolled at Troy for ninety days' service. The regiment, however, was not called out, as the government at that time declined to receive any more ninety-day men. Later he joined the construction corps, but was taken ill and sent home after a few months' service. He continued in Pennsylvania for about a year, when, having regained his health, he rejoined the construction corps and was in the employ of the United States for about two years, working all through the south.

Mr. Crandall dates his residence in Iowa from 1866, when he settled at Red Oak and assisted in building the first church there. There were only two houses in the town at that time. He made Red Oak his headquarters for a considerable period and worked at his trade in the surrounding country. During the first winter there he taught school at the Stennett Schoolhouse and thus eagerly availed himself of every opportunity to improve his financial condition and secure advancement in business life. In 1868 he was married and, having thus made arrangements for a home of his own, he located on a farm south of Elliott, purchasing eight acres of land, to which he afterward added forty acres. For eight years he resided upon and cultivated that place and then traded it for his present farm of one hundred and twenty acres on section 31, Grove Township. He has since lived upon this place with the exception of three years spent in Red Oak. He has carried on farming and carpentering as a life work and assisted in constructing many of the first buildings in this locality and at Macedonia and Carson. In his building operations, as well as in his farming pursuits, he is thorough and practical and his own industry forms the basis of his present position of affluence.

As stated, Mr. Crandall was married in 1868, the lady of his choice being Miss Isabelle Marian McComb, who was born near Rockford, Illinois, and died in 1888 at the age of sixty-three years. They were the parents of three children: Gertie, the wife of J. M. Pardee, of Red Oak; Nettie L., the wife of Wesley Park, of Macedonia; and Lelith, who died at the age of seven years.

Mr. Crandall has been a stalwart supporter of the Republican Party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, but the honors and emoluments of office have had little attraction for him. He has found it necessary to concentrate his time and energies upon his business affairs if he would win success and the measure of affluence which has come to him is the just reward of his perseverance and diligence.