Cravath, Dr. S.A. 1836-1917

CRAVATH, RALEY

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 3/11/2012 at 10:55:12

The Grinnell (IA) Herald; Marach 23, 1917

DR. S.A. CRAVATH

When Dr. Cravath passed away Tuesday morning, March 20, there passed a man who for thirty years and over of his life was active and influential in promoting every good cause in which Grinnell has been interested. Few men have had higher standards of Christian living than he, and none have exemplified more fully those high ideals.

Born in Conneant, O., on Sept. 27, 1836, Dr. Cravath lived his boyhood days mostly in western New York. Early in life he was bereft of his parents and he was compelled to work his way through Oberlin college. In those days the college session was held during the summer months in order to give the students an opportunity to teach during the winter and Dr. Cravath took advantage of this opportunity, earning his way through college principally through this means.

He graduated from Oberlin in 1858 in the same class with the woman who was afterwards his wife, and Professor Buck, retired, of Grinnell college. After leaving college his first call was to Madison seminary, of Madison, O. On July 1860, he was married to Miss Mary Raley, a former classmate and a teacher in Madison seminary, in the study of Rev. Dr. Albert Barnes, the famous Philadelphia divine.

Later he went to Marion, O., where he was superintendent of schools for two years.

At this time strife had arisen between the north and the south, so Mr. Cravath took up the study of medicine both at Columbus and Cincinnati, O., with a view of entering the array service as a surgeon. About the time he graduated the war was closed and he entered into the practice of medicine at Springfield, O.

During the pioneer days of 1865 Dr. Cravath came to Iowa, settling in Mitchell county, on the northern boundary of the state. He went through all of the hardships of a physician of the pioneer days, many times fording bridgeless rivers in order to give succor to the sick and injured.

While engaged in the practice of medicine there, Dr. Cravath became financially interested in the Mitchell County News and, on account of his health and his liking for journalism, decided to give up the medical profession and go into newspaper work.

Learning through Professor Buck of an opening on the Grinnell Herald, Dr. Cravath came to this city in 1872, riding across country from Mitchell county on an old sorrel horse and purchasing a half interest in that publication, remaining either as part or sole owner of that paper until 1894.

The best years of his life were given over to the upbuilding of the Grinnell Herald.

For a while Dr. Cravath was president of the Grinnell Savings bank and was a director in the First National bank in the days of its prosperity. Later he became president of the Merchants National bank. Up to his last illness he was vice president of the latter banking institution.

In May of last year Dr. Cravath went to Chicago for an operation, and his advanced age was unable to wholly withstand the severe shock of the operation.

The body was brought to Grinnell yesterday, accompanied by his son J.R. Cravath of Chicago and Miss Ella Cravath of this city, and was immediately taken to the family residence, 118 East street, from which place the funeral took place at 2:30 o'clock in the afternoon, Professor Noble of Grinnell College officiating.

In honor of the dead banker, all Grinnell banks closed their doors at 2:15 o'clock, that officers and employes of those institutions might attend the funeral. The floral offerings were both numerous and beautiful.

The pallbearers were W.C. Staat, Scott MacEachron, B.J. Carney, J.H. Horn, Clinton Tooley, and H.J. Farwell, all of the Merchants National Bank.

Interment was in Hazelwood cemetery.