Lindley T. Craven (1931)

CRAVEN, THOMAS, HARRY, HADLEY

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler, Volunteer (email)
Date: 12/20/2014 at 07:30:34

Earlham Echo – Earlham, Iowa
September 10, 1931

Early in the making of Dallas County there emigrated from North Carolina in a covered wagon drawn by ox teams Ashley Craven, his wife and five small children, and they took as their homestead the farm now occupied by Elza Cook and wife near Bear Creek Church.

For some time they lived in a tent, knew all the hardships of the new country even to sometimes going barefoot in winter, and were very happy when they could build and move into a small log house. Soon after this, on April 8, 1857, another son came to this home named Lindley T. Craven.

In this humble log house Christian precepts were taught and Christian standards practiced. Here the children learned the great lessons of life as are set for in the Golden Rule and Ten Commandments. As parents they believed, The Promise, “train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.”

Lindley was a birthright member of Friends, but after moving away from Bear Creek he united with the United Brethren and was ordained as a minister—being the fourth son to adopt this calling. Later in life he as a minister in the New Light Christian Church, but on account of failing health has done no public work for some time.

He was married to Anna Thomas December 23, 1877. To this union were born three children, a son who died in infancy, a daughter Neva who died in 1912 and one son Loren who now resides at Stuart, Iowa. Besides his son he leaves nine grandchildren, three great grandchildren and four stepchildren; namely Rill Thomas, Portland, Ore.; Norris Thomas, Fontanelle; Jane Harry, of Utah; and Daisy Hadley, of Orange, Calif. In 1926 he suffered sunstroke from which he never recovered neither mentally nor physically. He was confined to his bed for more than a year but always patient and kind, expressing a desire to go, saying he was just waiting to be called to see his Savior and the other members of his family, as he was the last member to be called home.

He passed away September 4, 1931, aged 74 years, 4 months and 27 days. The remains were brought to Earlham where funeral services were conducted at the Bear Creek Church Sunday, with D. B. Cook supply pastor, officiating. Interment was in Bear Creek cemetery.