Faded Into the Mists of Time
Michael J. Von Gebel

William Parks Cravens

William Parks Cravens was born Apr. 1, 1818 in North Carolina and died Jun. 15, 1858 in White Co., Tennesee.  He married Sarah Bryant.  Sarah was born Nov. 13, 1822 in Tennessee and died Apr. 25, 1903, Hamilton Co., IL.  Sarah married several times after the death of William.

William & Sarah Bryant Cravens had 7 known children:

 1. Owen Cravens, born Apr. 24, 1841 in Tennessee and died Jan. 26, 1862, Springfield, IL. Owen died at Camp Butler, Sangamon Co., IL while he served in the Civil War with Company D, 5th Cavalry Regiment Illinois; Owen was married to Tabitha Hutton Aug. 8, 1860 at Wayne Co., IL; 

Owen & Tabitha Hutton Cravens had one child: William Park Cravens;

2. Jesse Cravens was born Oct. 1, 1844, in Illinois and died Oct. 6, 1863 at Germantown, Tennessee. Jesse served in Co. D of the 6th Illinois Calvary and died of pneumonia,  fever and inflammation of the brain. 

3. Martha Cravens was born May 23, 1846 in IL.  Martha married William Sons.  William died before 1888.

4. John J. Cravens was born Apr. 10, 1849 in TN.  He married Martha Jane Williamson; Martha was born Abt. 1851 in Illinois and died 1892.

John J. and Martha J. Williamson Cravens had 3 children: James Jesse Cravens, John Oliver Cravens and William Henry Cravens 

5. Benjamin Cravens was born Jun. 15, 1852 in Tennessee and died Jan. 12, 1885, Wayne Co., IL.  He married Madora Davis; born Feb., 1858 in Illinois and died in 1918 at Hermosa Beach, California.;

Benjamin & Madora Davis Cravens had 4 children: Lillie Cravens, Julia Cravens, WilfredCravens and Infant Daughter Cravens;

6. Serena Cravens, born Feb. 8, 1855 in TN.  She married Allen Martin Downen Apr. 5, 1874; born Nov. 7, 1841 in Wayne Co., IL; died Aug. 7, 1929 in Wayne Co., Illinois;  

Allen Martin & Serena Cravens Downen had 2 children: Liberty Downen and John Thomas Downen. 

7. Sarah Cravens, born May 1, 1857 in TN; died Feb. 26, 1930 in Berks Co., PA.  She married George W. Willson; born Dec. 12, 1841 in Missouri; died Jul. 26, 1906 in Berks Co., PA. 

George W. & Sarah Cravens Willson had 7 children: Bert F. Willson, Mabel L. Willson, Stella M. Willson, Jennie V. Willson, Sadie L. Willson, Bessie B. Willson and Charles Edward Willson;

 



Back row l. to r.: Thane Robertson, Wm. Ross Tolbert, Claude Bailey, Chas. W. Downen and Coda Cline

Front row l. to r.: Lula Cravens Robertson, Edna Cravens Tolbert, Mamie Cravens Downen, Estella Cravens Cline, Bertha Cravens Bailey