Montgomery County PA Archives Biographies.....Craven, Robert Steel November 26, 1858 - 
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Source: Biographical Annals of Montgomery County Pennsylvania, T. S. Benham & Company and the Lewis Publishing Company, 1904
Author: Ellwood Roberts, Editor

ROBERT STEEL CRAVEN. Energy, industry and perseverance have 
been the essential factors in the business career of Robert 
S. Craven, a well known and respected citizen of Ashbourne, 
Cheltenham township, Montgomery county, whose birthplace was 
Hilltown, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and the date of his 
birth November 26, 1858. He is a son of Joseph F. and Ann 
(Ritchie) Craven, and a grandson of Abraham and Hannah 
(Finney) Craven.

Abraham Craven (grandfather) received his early educational 
advantages in the schools adjacent to his home in Hatboro, 
Pennsylvania. Subsequently he became the owner of the old 
homestead, which consisted of one hundred and fifty acres of 
arable land, and this he tilled and brought to a fine state 
of cultivation, obtaining a comfortable livelihood from the 
sale of the proceeds thereof. He was a man of sound judgment 
and practical sense, and was highly esteemed by his fellow 
townsmen. His wife, whose maiden name was Hannah Finney was 
a daughter of John and Lainar Finney, and became the mother 
of the following named children: Isaac, married Christina 
Cornell, and their children are John, Mary Ellen, Beckey, 
deceased, and Howard, deceased, Joseph F., mentioned 
hereinafter. Eliza Ann, who became the wife of Benjamin 
Fetter, and they are the parents of five children, as 
follows: Abraham, Hannah Maria, Elizabeth, Thomas, and 
William. Jesse, married Rachel Clift, and their children 
are: Charles, Frank and Lizzie. Hannah, who became the wife 
of Alfred Hagerman, and mother of three children.

Joseph F. Craven (father) was reared on his father's farm, 
which is located at Churchville, Bucks county, and consists 
of about four hundred acres. He obtained a good English 
education in the schools of the neighborhood, and was 
thoroughly qualified to fill the position of teacher in the 
village school, in which capacity he served during the 
winter months, devoting the remainder of his time to 
agricultural pursuits.Being a man of indomitable energy and 
thorough business capability, he achieved success in both 
his undertakings, thereby enabling him to lay by a 
competence for his declining years and also provide his home 
with everything necessary for the comfort of its inmates. He 
is now leading a retired life, and although in his 
eighty-fourth year, and his wife (whose maiden name was Ann 
Ritchie) being in her eighty-third year, they both enjoy 
good health and are very active. 

They are the parents of seven children, namely 1. Susanna, 
wife of Frank McVaugh, and mother of one child, Edna May 
McVaugh. 2. Johanna, wife of Lewis Khall, no issue. 3. Eliba 
W., married Almina Young, and their children are: Estelle, 
Alfred Y., Cherrie, Anna, and Francis. 4. Linford R., 
married Fanny Johnson, no issue. 5. Edward F., married Ethie 
Lukens, and their children are: Ethel, Grace, Marion, and 
Muriel. 6. Robert Steel, mentioned hereinafter. 7. Mary 
Steel, deceased, who was the wife of Elmer Smith.

Robert S. Craven was reared to manhood on his father's farm, 
and his early boyhood days were spent in the same manner as 
the majority of boys reared in the country-attending the 
district school during the winter, and assisting with the 
manifold duties of the farm during the spring and summer. 
His first employment as clerk in the store of Hutchinson 
Smith, at Weldon, Montgomery county, where he remained for 
two years, during which time he obtained a clear insight 
into the details of business life. He then removed to 
Ashbourne and clerked for J. L. Ervin in the mercantile 
business, remaining there about nine years, thereby 
acquiring sufficient knowledge to enable him to establish a 
business on his own account, which he accordingly did in 
1885. He engaged in the produce and laundry business, but 
shortly afterward disposed of the latter, and since then has 
continued the former, his trade being now one of the most 
extensive in that line in the township of Cheltenham. His 
many friends honor and respect him for his sterling worth, 
honor and integrity.

Mr. Craven married, in 1888, Mary Kulp, of North Wales, a 
daughter of Simon and Isabella Kulp. Their children are: 
Harry P. and Earle Montgomery, both deceased, and Laura, the 
only one living.

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