Ichabod Bennet Crane (July 18, 1787 – October 5, 1857) was an American military officer who served for 48 years, reaching the rank of colonel in the United States Army.

Crane and his wife Charlotte (May 25, 1798 – September 25, 1878) had a house built in the New Springville section of Staten Island, New York in 1853, while he was still on active duty.

[1] The owner had offered it to Historic Richmond Town, on the condition they move it off its former site; it never transpired due to a lack of funding.

Crane died in October 1857 while still on active duty, and is buried in Asbury Methodist Cemetery, in New Springville Staten Island, not far from his former home.

His grave marker bears the inscription: He served his country faithfully 48 years and was much beloved and respected by all who knew him.

[2] [3][4]The main character of Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is named Ichabod Crane.

While Washington Irving did not expressly admit that the character is named after Colonel Crane, the two men had met in 1814 at Fort Pike located on Lake Ontario in Sackets Harbor, New York.