The Craven Families of Ray County, Missouri

RICHARD C. CRAVEN.

Richard C. Craven was born in Ray county, on the 21st day of August, 1843. His father, Solomon Craven, was an early- settler of that county, having come from Tennessee here in 1829, and settled upon a farm near Knoxville, where our subject was born, and where he lived until twenty-two years of age. He attended the district schools of his father's neighborhood during the winter season, and assisted with the farm work in summer. In 1865 he went to Colorado, and was there occupied in mining for about three years in the locality of Central City. He then removed to a ranch, in the southern part of Colorado, and lived there for one year. After spending the succeeding summer in the Indian Territory, he returned to Ray county, Missouri, and engaged in farming for three years. He then, in 1873, began merchandising at Millville, in partnership with Mr. Graham Fletcher. They continued in the business together, until the month of May, 1880, when Mr. Fletcher sold his interest to W. R. Craven, and the brothers have since conducted the business together, under the title of R. C. & W. R. Craven. Mr. Craven was married on the 9th day of January, 1870, to Miss Emma Wood, daughter of Robert A. Wood, who resides near Millville. They became the parents of seven children, two of whom died in infancy. The others are now living Mr. Craven became a member of the M. E. Church South, in 1871, and is also a member of the Masonic order. He was, for six years prior to 1880, master of lodge No. 338, at Millville. He joined the I. O. G. T. lodge when it was organized in 1879. He is a prosperous business man and a good citizen.

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

JOSEPH D. CRAVEN.

Joseph D. Craven was born in Davison county, North Carolina, on the 4th day of August, 1822. His parents, Thompson and Mary Craven, had a family of twelve children. At the age of four years he was taken by his parents to Randolph county, and lived there until 1854, working, after he grew up, at carpentering and farming. He then went to Pottawattamie county, near Council Bluffs, Iowa, where he lived until 1870, and then came to Ray county, Missouri, and has lived here ever since, engaged in farming. (Section twenty-two, township fifty-four, range twenty-seven). He enlisted in the Union army while living in Iowa, in the autumn of 1864, company B, 17th Iowa infantry, commanded by Colonel Newcomb. The first battle in which our subject engaged was at Nashville, Tennessee. He was discharged from the army in the spring of 1865, and returned home in the month of August of the same year. Mr. Craven was married on the lath of July, 1844, to Miss Bethenia Arledge. She was born in Randolph county, North Carolina, on the 16th day of August, 1821. The issue of this union was ten children, six of whom are now living: Jessie T., born October 16, 1847; Sarah J., born July 18, 1850; Elkana, born February 4, 1856; Amelia S., born October 6, 1858; Elcym, born August 18, 1860; Charles J., born January 18, 1864. Mr. Craven is an elder of the Church of Latter Day Saints, and has been presiding elder of the Missouri conference since 1872.

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

JACOB T. CRAVEN.

Is a native of North Carolina. He was born in Randolph county, that state, in the month of May, 1831. He was educated in the district schools of his father's neighborhood, and, after leaving school, began the work of farming, and this has been his chief occupation. In 1853 Mr. Craven was married to Miss Sarah Wright, also of Randolph county, North Carolina. They became the parents of four children, all now living, and two married. Three years after his marriage he removed to Nodaway county, Missouri, and entering and improving & farm there, lived upon it till the outbreak of the great civil war. Mr.

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

M. B. CRAVEN.

Max. B. Craven was born in Giles county, Tennessee, on the 12th day of June 1850. His father was a farmer and drove, who engaged largely in selling stock in the southern markets. When our subject was three years old his father removed from Tennessee to Ray county, Missouri, and here Maximilian has away's since lived. He was attending school in 1861, but the further prosecution of his studies was interrupted by the outbreak of the civil war. After attaining his majority he remained at home until the death of his father, and then he exchanged his interest in the homestead, one-sixth, with his brother-in-law, Wiley Harris, Esq., for the farm on Crooked river, in section six, township fifty-three, range twenty-eight, upon which Mr. Craven now resides. Max. B. Craven was married on the lath day of March, 1878, to Miss Mary Frances Thompson, daughter of Joseph Thompson, formerly a resident of Ray county. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Craven, a promising son, now about two years old. Soon after his marriage Mr. Craven returned to his farm on Crooked river, and has since lived there. In 1880 Mrs. Craven inherited a tract of land lying in township fifty-three, range twenty-eight, which Mr. Craven has since controlled, not farming it himself, but renting it to others. He has a very excellent farm, and intends making extensive improvements upon it in the near future. Both Mr. and Mrs. Craven are highly esteemed for their good qualities by their neighbors and friends. They are both young, and have just started upon the journey of practical life, but having made so propitious a commencement, they will no doubt live long and happily.

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