Cracraft, Sarah E. (Mrs. Milton T.), 1846-1925

CRACRAFT, ROGERS, FORENSHALL

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:34

From the Boyden Reporter, January 22, 1925:

OBITUARY -- SARAH ELLEEN CRACRAFT

Sarah Elleen Cracraft was born in Ohio on November 4th, 1846 and she died on January 15th, 1925, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Dr. Will Kuyper. She and her husband, Milton T. Cracraft who was a civil war veteran were residents of Des Moines for 50 years. Their last years being spent with their children.

Both she and her husband were baptized into the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ, more than 46 years ago, remaining true to their faith unto the end. She leaves to mourn her death, one son, B. L. Cracraft of Mount Ayr, Ia., one daughter Mrs. Will Kuyper, of Boyden, nine grandchildren and one great granddaughter and many other friends.

She was laid to rest in De Moines, Iowa, on Monday, January 19th, by the side of her husband who preceded her in death ten years. The remains were accompanied to Des Moines by Mrs. Kuyper who returned from there on Tuesday evening.

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From the Alton Democrat, January 23, 1925, Boyden news:

Mrs. Cracraft, who has been failing in health for the past year died Thursday evening at the home of her daughter Mrs. Dr. Kuyper, from heart disease resulting in complications. Mrs. Kuyper went to Des Moines early in September and brought her mother home with her so that she might give her the best of care. It was not possible to do much however and it was apparent for several days that the end was near, death occurring Friday evening at 11 P.M. The deceased was 78 years of age and is survived by a son Ben Cracraft of Mt. Ayer and Mrs. Dr. Kuyper of this place. Interment was made at Des Moines Saturday afternoon.

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Her death certificate has Sarah Ellan Cracraft, widow of Milton J.; born November 9, 1846 in Ohio; parents Sevren M. Rodgers and Elizabeth Forenshall, birth places not known; resident of Lamoni, Iowa; died January 15, 1925 at 11:15 p.m. in Boyden, where she had been living 5 months; cause, heart failure, weak heart for about one year.

FindaGrave.com has her as Sarah Ellen Rogers Cracraft, with a photo of the headstone. Unattributed biographical data says that she was the daughter of Elizabeth Forenshall Rogers and Severn Rogers. Her father died of cholera in Ohio. She and her siblings were placed in a County home. After a separation of 43 years, in 1891 Sarah found her mother living in a poor house in Montgomery Co., Ohio. She married Milton Tuttle Cracraft (1841-1914) in 1870 in Des Moines and was the mother of seven children. The website lists three of them: Benjamin Leonard Cracraft (1873-1941), Nicholas A. Cracraft (1876-1916) and Faie Viola Cracraft Van Zanten (1881-1952). She is buried in Glendale Cemetery, Des Moines.