Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 442 - 443

HORATIO T. CRAVEN, senior member of the firm of Craven & Work, extensive dealers in live stock, has his business headquarters in Room 7, at the Stock Yards Exchange Building in Wichita. He represents at least $25,000 worth of real estate, the accumulations of his own industry and good management. Energetic and systematic in his business transactions, he commands the respect of the leading men of the city, and is contributing his full quota toward its financial prosperity.

     The Craven family is of English ancestry, the first representatives of whom settled in Maryland during the Colonial days. Samuel Craven, the father of our subject, was born Feb. 17, 1806, in Loudoun County, Va., whence he removed when middle-aged, and settled on a farm in Morgan County, Ill., in 1851. He had married, in Maryland, Miss Harriet Trundle, and they became the parents of ten children, eight of whom lived to mature years. These latter were named respectively: William, Abner, Joseph H., Sophia, Elizabeth, Sarah, Lucretia, and Horatio T., of our sketch. The father spent the last years of his life in Cass County, Ill., and died on the 31st of August, 1885, at the advanced age of seventy-nine years. He was a stanch Democrat, politically, and took a lively interest in the affairs of his county. He accumulated a good property, was prominent in the membership of the Christian Church, and held in great respect by his fellow-citizens.

     The mother of our subject was born March 9, 1812, and died at the old homestead in Morgan County, Ill., on the 11th of January, 1869, sixteen years previous to the death of her husband. Horatio T., of our sketch, was born in Morgan County, Ill., Dec. 10, 1851, acquired his education in the common school, and became familiar with agricultural pursuits. He was fond of his books, and developed into a teacher, which profession he followed in Illinois five or six years. Upon coming to this State, in the spring of 1881, he first officiated as a dry-goods clerk at Medicine Lodge. Two years later he changed his residence to Wichita, engaged for a time as clerk, but not long afterward became interested in real-estate transactions, in which he has since been engaged in addition to his other business. He is fully established, with excellent prospects for the future.

     The marriage of our subject was celebrated at the home of the bride, Miss Anna Brook, at Tallula, Menard Co., Ill., on the 11th of April, 1878. She is a lady of excellent education, and, like her husband, followed the profession of a teacher some years in Illinois; they have no children. Mr. B., politically, affiliates with the Democratic party, and with his estimable wife is a member in good standing of the Christian Church.

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