Cravath, Dr. S. A.

CRAVATH, RALEY

Posted By: Gary Norris (email)
Date: 1/13/2013 at 08:38:38

The History of Poweshiek County, Iowa
Des Moines: Union Hist. Co., 1880.

CRAVATH, Dr. S.A.—Grinnell Twp—pg 892-3. Grinnell, senior editor of the Grinnell Herald. Was born in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, September 26, 1836, and was left an orphan when very young. He was but seven months old when his father died, and at the age of eight years lost the best friend on earth, his mother. The subject of this sketch was reared in Gainsville, Wyoming county, New York, by his grandfather on the mother’s side. In 1852 he entered Oberlin College and graduated from that institution in 1858. After graduating he was honored with the principalship of the Madison Seminary, Lake county, Ohio, which position he filled about three years, when he accepted the position of superintendent of the public schools of Marion, Ohio, in the meantime reading medicine. After due course of study he took a course of lectures at the Sterling Medical College of Columbus, Ohio, and graduated from the Cincinnati Medical College in 1864. He commenced the practice of his profession in Springfield, Ohio. Three years later he moved to Mitchell county, Iowa, where he continued to practice, also publishing and editing the Mitchell County News until 1872, when he sold his paper and came to Grinnell and bought an interest in the Herald. (See history of Herald elsewhere). Since coming to Grinnell the Doctor has given up medicine and has devoted himself entirely to his favorite calling, journalism, for which he is eminently fitted. He was married in Philadelphia on the 11th day of July, 1860, to Miss Mary Raley, by the Rev. Dr. Albert Barnes, author of Barnes’ Notes, a most estimable woman, possessing those graces of mind and heart which endear her to a wide extended circle of friends. One son and one daughter constitute the family circle: Elazan B. and James R. They have lost two daughters.