Faded Into the Mists of Time
Michael J. Von Gebel

Daniel Craven

Daniel Craven was born abt. 1814 in Randolph Co., NC.  He was married to Mary Hines who was born abt. 1826 and died about 1855. Daniel and Mary had 6 known children.  Daniel Craven was married a second time shortly before his death to a woman named Eliza. Daniel and Eliza had one child.  Daniel Craven died about 1858 in Wayne Co., IL.  The place of burial for both he and Mary Hines Craven is unknown. 

1. Sarah Elizabeth Cravens was born Aug. 27, 1844, Missouri and died  Nov. 8, 1928, Sims, Wayne Co., IL.  Married 1^st: Erasmus D. Whitson Bet. 1860 - 1864; Erasmus was  born Jul. 14, 1840 in TN and died Oct.2, 1866.Married 2^nd: Abner William Womack Abt. 1870 in Wayne Co., IL; born Jun. 18, 1827 in Butler Co., KY; died Nov. 11, 1880 in Arrington Twp., Wayne Co., IL.  Married3^rd: Thomas R. Tolbert Bet. 1880 - 1883; died Bef. 1900.

Erasmus & Sarah Cravens Whitson had one child: James Henry Whitson; 

Abner & Sarah Cravens Womack had 3 children: Edwin E., Effie J. & Ida Bell; 

Thomas & Sarah Cravens Tolbert had 3 children:Bertha E., William Ross & Charles R;

2. Henry P. Cravens was born Jul. 9, 1846 in Newton Co., Missouri  and died Jan. 31, 1917, Hamilton Co., IL. He was buried at IOOF Cemetery, Dahlgren,Hamilton Co., IL.  Henry served during the Civil War in Co. H 6^th IL CAV.  Married 1^st: Sarah Elizabeth Echols Apr. 11, 1866 in Flint, IL.  She was born Sep. 21, 1846 and died Mar. 29, 1904.Married 2^nd: Susan E. Van Norman she was born Mar 7, 1866 and died Nov. 26, 1945. 

Henry & Sarah Echols Cravens had 10 known children: Erastus, Walter D., William C., Mary E., John E., Sarah, Edward J., Charles L.C., Russell, Algie M.;

3. Mary E. Cravens was born about 1848 in Missouri.

4. Jennie Cravens was born: Oct., 1851 in Illinois and died: aft. Jan., 1917. Jennie married John Staton abt. 1871;  He was born abt. 1848 in Illinois and died bet. 1882-1900 in Colorado.

John & Jennie Cravens Staton had three children: Oscar Staton, John Staton & George Staton;

5. William Craven was born 1852, Wayne Co., IL.

Mahala Craven Harris (Photo courtesy of Glaida Craven, Doug & Mary Wilke)

6. Mahala Craven was born Mar. 1, 1854 in Wayne Co., IL and died: Dec. 10, 1917, Earle, Arkansas.  Married: Nathaniel Stanley Harris Dec. 10, 1874; Nathaniel was born Apr. 11, 1849 in Illinois.

Mahala professed religion in her fifteenth year, and at the time baptized into the faith of the Baptist church by Rev. Cal Allen. She died a consistent member of the Baptist church of Earle. At the time of her death 4 of her 7 children were surviving: Mr. William Harris, of Curtis, Ark.., Mary E. Ross, Mrs. Sarah E. Hite, and Flossie G. Sloan of Earle, Arkansas.

Child of Daniel & Eliza (Unknown) Craven:

L. to r. standing: , Cloyd Cravens, Minnie Cravens L. to r. sitting: Joseph W. Cravens, Dessie Cravens, Iva Cravens & Louisa J. Collins Cravens (Photo courtesy of Michael J. Von Gebel)

1. Joseph Washington Cravens was born Oct. 14, 1856 in Wayne Co., IL and died Aug. 27, 1936, Wayne Co., Illinois died Jun. 3, 1926 in Wayne Co., IL. Met 1^st: Ersula Howerth Married 2^nd: Louisa Jane Collins Feb. 22, 1883 in Wayne Co., IL; born Jul 29, 1864 in Wayne Co., IL

Ersula Howerth and Joseph Cravens were never married.  They had a daughter born out of wedlock; her name was Lula May Cravens.  As the story goes she was adopted out to William Park & Ida CollinsCravens, William Park was a cousin to Joseph ironically William Park’ wife and Joseph’s wife were sister’s.

Joseph & Louisa Collins Cravens had 6 children: Cloyd Calvin Cravens, Minnie E. Cravens, Dessie O. Cravens, Iva Myrtle Cravens, Beulah C. Cravens and Lorena Maud Cravens;

  Henry Park Cravens Circa 1863
Company H, 6^th IL Calvary
(Photo Courtesy of Mr. & Mrs. Eugene Van Winkle)