My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM M. CRAVEN, the pioneer merchant of Armada, Nebr., was born in Randolph county, N. C., August 12, 1836. His father, L. D. Craven, was born in the same county and state, October 29, 1811. He emigrated to Morgan county, Indiana, in 1836, but subsequently removed to Owen county, where he resided until he came to Nebraska in April, 1871. He was a shoemaker during the early part of his life, but found farming a more congenial occupation. His wife, Lovey Spoon, died in November, 1884, a member of the Methodist church, of which Mr. Craven is also a member. The grandparents on both sides were Carolinians by birth. William M. Craven served an apprenticeship at carpentering before he had reached the age of maturity, and at the age of twenty-one he was a contractor and builder, at which occupation he continued until the war began, when he enlisted in May, 1861, in the Fourteenth Indiana infantry and was sent immediately to the scene of conflict. He participated in the battles of Rich mountain, Cheat mountain, Greenbrier and Winchester. He was in the Army of the Potomac until August, 1862, and then re-enlisted at brigade headquarters, this time in the 1st brigade, 3d division and 15th corps, and marched with Sherman from Huntsville, Alabama, to the sea, and was mustered out July 9, 1865, at Louisville, Kentucky. He came out of his long and honorable service without a scar, but not without great suffering from the exposure incident to camp life. During his encampment on Cheat mountain it rained every day, except nine, for three months. After the war he returned to Indiana and resumed his former occupation of contracting. He was married August 24, 1865, to Miss Myra Starbuck. They have seven children — Elfie M., Myrtie M., Mettie F., Osa L., Charlie E., Josie M. L., and Nevie F.

William M. Craven came to Buffalo county, Nebraska, in the Spring of 1871, and took up a homestead near Shelton, where he remained until 1876. He then spent nearly three years farming in Arkansas, but he was not pleased with the country and concluded to return to Nebraska. Shortly after his return to this county he moved to Buffalo precinct, where he purchased ten acres of land near the present thriving little town of Armada, and erected a small sod house, in which he kept a little store, in the fall of 1881. He started on a capital of $9, but by honest dealing he has prospered until he is now doing a flourishing business in a neat little store on one of the prominent four corners of Armada. When he commenced business there was no town thought of, the post-office then being located three miles east of there. A petition was finally circulated and the post-office was removed to Armada town, and Mr. Craven was made postmaster. He now has twenty acres of land adjoining the town, and has also one hundred and sixty acres in the township. When Mr. Craven first came to the county it was exceedingly wild and sparsely settled. He has seen as many as two thousand Indians in one body going to and coming from their hunting expeditions. Wild game, such as buffalo, antelope and deer, was plenty almost anywhere. His crop was completely destroyed three years in succession by the grasshoppers and he and his family were subjected to great inconvenience and suffering thereby. It was just at this period that he concluded to emigrate to Arkansas. He has been postmaster for five years and has filled various local offices. He belongs to the Odd Fellows and Masonic lodges, and is a member of the G. A. R.