Craver, Martha 1833-1923

CRAVER, HAMBLETON, HANNA, SEARIGHT, BOGGLE, INMAN, THOMAS

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 7/1/2010 at 13:37:33

Grinnell Herald (Grinnell, Iowa) Jan. 23, 1923

A PIONEER PASSES

Former Resident of Sugar Creek and Grinnell Died Friday in Marshalltown.

Mrs. Henry Craver died Friday, Jan. 19, at the home of her son, Ed Craver, in Marshalltown. The body was brought to Grinnell Monday accompanied by her three sons and laid to rest beside the body of her husband who died at Riceville, Iowa, July 15, 1917.

Mrs. Craver's maiden name was Martha Hambleton. She was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, Aug. 8,1833.

She was a niece of Senator Marc Hanna, the personal friend and campaign manager for President McKinley, and was brought up with a strong religious faith.

In her early life Mrs. Craver taught in the public schools of Grinnell and many friends still remember her.

Henry Craver and family first moved to Grinnell in the fall of 1879, going from here to Kansas in 1886. After living in Kansas three years they returned to Grinnell, and lived here until 1892, when they moved to Harvey, Ill. In 1895 Mr. and Mrs. Craver returned to Marshalltown, and moved to Riceville, Iowa, in 1912. Here her husband died. She then made her home with her daughter, Estella Searight, at Harvey, Ill., until the latter's death. Since then she has lived with her son, Edward, at Riceville, but more recently at Marshalltown.

Mrs. Craver was ill but a short time, retiring to her bed but a week before her death. The cause of her death was advancing age, and she was free from sickness.

All her life she was a devout Christian, affiliating with the Methodist church in Grinnell and other places.

The funeral service was a short one at the grave in charge of Rev. W.C. Wasser. Bearers were old-time friends of her sons, Edward of Marshalltown, Dr. Alva S. Craver of Harvey, Ill., and Will Craver of Chicago.

Relatives present were Ed Craver and Dr. A.S. and Will Craver, Henry Boggle of Marshalltown, T.S. Craver of Searsboro and his daughter, Mrs. Lucy Inman of New Sharon. Mrs. Jennie Thomas of this city, a sister-in-law of the deceased woman, was also present.

Mrs. Craver was one of the pioneer Christian women who helped in an earlier day to make Poweshiek county a strong factor in the educational and religious life of Iowa.