Untitled Surnames: Metcalf, Boher, Long, Barnheart, Douglas, Staher, Winkler, Thompson, Burns, Fitzsimmons, Aukerman, Hake, King, Harrison

From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin, publ. 1901 - page 107-108

WILLIAM CRAVEN is a highly esteemed resident of Platteville, Grant county, where he is now living retired from active business. He has been a noted hunter of large game in his day, and has killed more wolves, bear and deer than any other man in Grant county. He was born in Wayne county, Ohio, March 14, 1843.

Samuel CRAVEN, his father, was born in Washington county, Penn., in 1800, and his mother, Sarah (METCALF), was born in the same county in August, 1808. They were married in 1832, and then moved to Wayne county, Ohio, where they settled on a farm upon which he erected a log house. In this primitive home they lived happily for many years, later building a fine modern house where Mr. CRAVEN died in 1888, and his wife in 1882. Before his marriage with Sarah METCALF he had married Margaret BOHER, who bore him two children: James, deceased; and Hiram, of Paulding county, Ohio. Nine children were born of the second union: (1) Stewart, born in Ohio, in May, 1833, was reared to manhood on the home farm, and then joined the Van Amberg's Show, with which he remained for many years, working his way upward until he became the trainer for the noted elephant "Romeo." He married a lady from Philadelphia, and for some years made that city his home, later going to Dallas, Texas, where he owned a large ranch, upon which his death occurred some ten years ago. His wife and child, Charles, survive him, and make their home in Texas. (2) Susan, born in January, 1835, became the wife of S. L. LONG, of Wayne county, Ohio, and at her death left four children, Stewart, Lewis, Mary and William. (3) Mary, born Jan. 8, 1837, married Dr. BARNHEART, who became a surgeon in the Civil war, and died, leaving one child, Capitola, who is married and lives in Indiana. Mary is also deceased. (4) John and (5) Sarah died in childhood. (6) William is our subject. (7) George, born in Mary, 1845, grew to manhood, and enlisted in an Indiana regiment during the Civil war, after which he came west to Wisconsin, and worked for some years in the Laflin & Rand Powder Mills. He married Ella DOUGLAS, of Platteville, and moved to Nebraska, thence going to Oklahoma, where he now resides. He has a family of seven children, Della, Charles, Cora, Wilbur, Jennie, Stewart and Julian. (8) Lucinda is the widow of Solomon STAHER, of Wayne county, and has two children, Sarah and Frank, the latter of Oklahoma. (9) Samuel C., born in 1851, was educated in the higher schools of Ohio, married Emma WINKLER, and then located in the old homestead, remaining there until 1898, when he removed to Oklahoma, to engage in the livery and feed business. He has two children living, Melissa and William; another, Charles, is deceased.

William CRAVEN was educated in the excellent public schools of Ohio. In 1862, at the age of eighteen, he enlisted in Company F, 102d O.V.I., and was assigned to the Western Army. His first duty was in Kentucky, where his regiment took part in the fighting against Gen. Bragg, engaging him at Perryville. Later they took part in several battles in Tennessee, where they wintered in 1802. Mr. CRAVEN, being taken ill at Clarksville, was obliged to pass some time in the hospital there, and later was detailed from the Invalid Corps as manager of the government farm established there. In the fall of 1864 he joined his regiment at Decatur, Ala., at which point the Union forces engaged Hood's army, and followed him in his march to Nashville. The 102d Ohio served continually until the close of the war. After the war was over Mr. CRAVEN returned, in July, 1865, to his home, and passed the fall with Forepaugh's show. In 1866 he located on his father-in-law's homestead, where he remained until 1900, in that year purchasing a home in Platteville, and has since lived retired. In 1894, while engaged in a hunting expedition in northern Wisconsin he captured a pair of fawns, which he brought home, and they became the progenitors of the fine herd of deer on his farm.

Politically Mr. CRAVEN is a stanch Republican, and has held the office of justice of the peace. Socially he belongs to Sherman Post, No. 66, G.A.R., of Platteville, and to the I.O.O.F. at Washburn. In religious faith the family are Presbyterians.

On March 22, 1866, Mr. CRAVEN was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. BURNS, daughter of Thomas and Jane (THOMPSON) BURNS, of Lima, Wis. Both Mr. and Mrs. BURNS were born in Ohio, the former in October, 1817, the latter in December, 1821. Mrs. Jane (THOMPSON) BURNS was the daughter of Archibald and Martha (FITZSIMMONS) THOMPSON, who moved to Ohio from Pennsylvania among the early settlers of that State. Thomas BURNS located in Grant county, Wis., in 1842, and settled in the town of Lima, and there in 1849 his wife died, leaving him with two children, Mary E., wife of our subject, and Thomas J., now a merchant of Casey, Iowa. The children were taken back to Ohio, and were cared for until grown by their Grandfather BURNS, a gallant old soldier of the war of 1812. Thomas J. BURNS, brother of Mrs. CRAVEN, enlisted in the 120th O.V.I. during the Civil war; later he married Miss Sidney AUKERMAN, and moved to his present home in Casey, Iowa; he has three children, Carrie, Thomas, and Etta. Mrs. CRAVEN was highly educated in the schools of Ohio, and for several years was one of the successful teachers of that State.

To Mr. and Mrs. CRAVEN have been born nine children, four of whom died in childhood. The others are: S. C., born in Lima in 1867, married Myrtle HAKE, of Platteville, and now resides on the old BURNS homestead, which he owns; they have three children, Flossie, Millie, and Neal. Mabel, born in April, 1871, was educated at the Platteville Normal, became one of the successful teachers of Lima, and is now the wife of Ralph KING, of Ellenboro, by whom she has two children, Ivan and Margie. Bell, born in February, 1876, educated in the Platteville Normal, became a well-known teacher in Grant county, and is now the wife of Ernest HARRISON; they reside in Aitkin, Minn., where he is a merchant; they have one son, William Harrison. Burns, born in April, 1880, still makes his home with his parents, and is at present a student in the Platteville Business College. Bessie, born in April 1883, is a student at the Platteville Normal.



This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck