Richard C. Craven

As printed in 1881

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 History of Ray County, Mo. (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.