The Craven Family of Morrow County, Ohio

ANSON CRAVEN, farmer; P. O., Woodview; son of Beckley W. and Elizabeth (Balse) Craven; was born in April, 1812, in Washington Co., Penn. The family came to Ohio when he was only two years old, and lived in Eastern Ohio some eight years, when they settled on the “ school section.” Anson was about ten years old, and the family being in somewhat limited circumstances, his labor was required at home, so he had only about four months schooling in all; he worked by the month for John Shauck in the saw-mill for some time; he chopped in the “beech woods,” removing all the timber at $4 per acre; in this way, he purchased forty acres on the school section, besides caring for and supporting his aged parents until their death; his present farm embraces eighty acres of good land, the fruit of his own labor and manage merit; when he was twenty-four — just in the prime of manhood — he cut a deep gash in his knee-joint, which stiffened it and made him a cripple for life; he now lives on the old homestead with three of his sisters, a worthy example of sturdy, honest, self-made manhood.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

CYRUS CRAVEN, farmer; P. O., Woodview; son of Beckley W. nnd Elizabeth (Balse) Craven. He was born in Harrison Co., Ohio, near Short Creek, Nov. 15, 1816. The family moved on this section when he was only four years old, and he grew up in the woods, varied by occasional visits to the old cabin school house, situated one-half mile south of his home. His first teacher was Jesse Downer, from the mountains, and very severe. The house was illuminated by what sunlight could pass through its long windows of greased paper. The fire-place filled one end of the house, and the floors and furniture were alike made of luncheon. The teacher’s position was not even honored by the presence of a chair. Mr. Craven went only about three terms in all. He worked for John Shauck in the saw-mill when he was 19, and broke his shoulder while turning a log. His father was a carpenter, and he worked with him at the trade until he reached his majority, after which he followed the same calling until 1852, putting up several large barns in the neighborhood. He purchased his present home of fort acres at $10 per acre in 1850. He married Nancy Bell July 7, 1852. She is a daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Lash) Bell, born in Bellville, Ohio, May 17, 1817. Her grandfather came from Belmont Co., Ohio, about 1815, and laid out the town of Bellville on his farm. The great grandfather of our subject, Thomas Craven, came from London, England, in 1729; he landed at Wilmington, and journeyed from there to Philadelphia, and near the site ot old Philadelphia he was hotly pursued by wolves, and sought refuge by climbing a sycamore tree, where he remained all night. He settled near Princeton, where he taught school, and raised four sons, one of whom was Thomas Craven, Jr., grandfather of Cyrus. He came to Cincinnati, Ohio, about 1805, leaving Beckley W., his second son, in Pennsylvania. He emigrated from Sussex Co. of that State about 1810, intending to join his father at Cincinnati, Ohio; but when he reached Harrison Co., Ohio, the danger of an outbreak from the Indians seemed to threaten imminent peril, so he stopped there with his family about ten years. He then gave up his first intention of joining his father, who died at Cincinnati; he came about 1821 or 1822 to this township, and settled on forty acres of school land, all in woods. He was born in Trenton, N. J., and was a member of the Episcopal Church. He followed the occupation of carpenter. He first wedded Elisabeth Carpenter by whom he had five children — Nancy, Hiram, Martha, John and Sally. She died, and he afterwards married Elizabeth Balse. Ten children were born to them — Lewis; Mahala, Anson, Cyrus, Fanny, Eliza, Emily A., Lucinda, Beckley and Elias. The father passed away peacefully about 1855. Cyrus, our subject, is of the true type of a self-made, self-educated, whole-souled gentleman; a fine marksman and skillful hunter. In early days he killed thirty-six deer in one fall, and the records of Crawford Co. show that he killed an old she-wolf and her five cubs where Gabon, Ohio, now stands. He voted the Democratic ticket, until 1879, when he identified himself with the National Reform and Greenback party.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

ASHER CRAVEN, farmer; P. O., Shaucks; son of John and Mary (Fisher) Craven; was born Oct. 8, 1828, in Perry Tp. He was raised on the farm, and educated in the old log school house situated one mile southwest of his present residence. The furniture was of the rudest kind, and his first teacher was Richard James. He was married to Caroline Phillips, Oct. 1, 1857; she is a daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Hetrick) Phillips; born in Perry Tp., Richland Co., O., 06t. 11, 1833. They lived on the old homestead for about three years, when they purchased 82-2- acres here, and moved here in the spring of 1861, where they have lived up to the present. Three children have been born to them — Jacintha, born Aug. 9, 1858; John Calvin, died when three years old; Miles L., born Jan. 14, 1862. Mr. Craven votes with the Democratic party, and has been three times chosen Trustee of his township, and has twice assessed the township. He is a Past Grand member of Johnsville Lodge, No. 469, I. O. O. F.; member of Richland Grange, No. 252, in which he has served as Secretary; he owns 200 acres of land, the product of his own labor and management. His father, John Craen, son of Beckly W. and Elizabeth (Carpenter) Craven, was born near Trenton, N. J., Oct. 3, 1797; he passed through the dangers of the Indian war of 1812, and came with the family to Perry Tp. in about 1822, being at that time a young man of 25; he purchased 40 acres of land on the school section, all in the woods. By his energy and labor he carved a home out of this wilderness and united his fortunes with Mary Fisher, by whom he raised a family. She was born in Morris Co., N. J., March 20, 1794.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

RODNEY CRAVEN, farmer; P. O., Chesterville; is the son of James and Abbie (Holmes) Craven; he was born in Loudoun Co., Virginia, Jan. 3, 1820; his parents were natives of the “Old Dominion,” and followed the occupation of farming, but gave their son Rodney a good education. June 29, 1843, he was married to Sarah E. Jones, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Simpson) Jones, born May 29, 1820, in Virginia; her parents were natives of that State, and owned a plantation of 260 acres, and seven slaves. They reared five children, but all are dead but Mrs. Craven; her father died Nov. 2, 1867, leaving a legacy of 134 acres of the old homestead to our subject. In the fall of 1843 Mr. Craven set out for Ohio, and after a journey of 21 days in a big wagon, they arrived at Knox Co., where they remained only one year, removing from thence to Harmony Tp., of this county; here they lived on a farm of 120 acres for 18 years; the family next removed to Decatur Co., Indiana, where they remained about three years, then returned and spent about three years near Leverings Station. The intervening years from that time to this the family have lived in Franklin Tp. Eleven children have been born to them — Virginia, William H., John A., James R., Mary E., Reuben R., Winfield, George, Laura, Alice, and an infant died; James R. enlisted in the 187th O. V. I., Company G, and John A. enlisted in the 88th O. V. 1., Company K; these two noble boys were only 17 and 18 years old, who left the comforts of home at the call of their country; in a few short weeks they were taken down with the measles, and died within two days of each other; their remains were sent home to the sorrowing family. Each year, when the glad earth is thrilled with the lay of feathered songster, and clad in the rich garb of leaf and flower, may the lowly pounds where rest the remains of James R. and John A. Craven, be strewn with choice tributes of a grateful Nation. Mary E. died April 29, 1878.. Mrs. Craven was a member of one of the aristocratic families of Virginia, and unused to work until she came to this country, but has struggled bravely until a large family surrounds her, and as handsome competence for the future.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.