BIOGRAPHY: Lewis A. CRAVER, Cambria County, PA 

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From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria 
County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 291-2
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LEWIS A. CRAVER, the popular and obliging proprietor of the Blair House, of 
Ebensburg, the county seat of Cambria county, is a son of Lewis and Margaret 
(Wolf) Craver, and was born in Carroll township, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, 
December 14, 1846.
     His grandfather, Stephen Craver, was born and passed his entire life in the 
confederation of Germany. One of his sons, Lewis Craver, who was the father of 
the subject of this sketch, was born in the year 1807 at Oeldorf, in the State 
of Baden, Germany, and in the year 1832 emigrated to the United States. His 
first location after coming to this country was in Carroll township, where he 
died in March, 1873. A greater part of his life, however, was spent in 
Susquehanna township, this county. He was a weaver by trade, but after coming to 
this country followed agricultural pursuits exclusively.
     He was twice married. His first marriage was with Mrs. Hegue (nee Rutler), 
who bore him three children: Catherine, who joined the benedictine order, has 
been at St. Mary's, Elk county, this State, for forty-two years; Augustine 
resides in Susquehanna township, and Margaret died in early childhood. His 
second and last marriage was with Margaret Wolf, who became the mother of nine 
children: Magdalena and Julia Ann both died in infancy, Mary became the wife of 
Nicholas Seymore, of Clearfield township; Theresa died young; Lewis A. is the 
subject of this biography; Joseph resides in Hendricks, West Virginia; Cecelia, 
died at the age of three years, Flora, deceased, was the wife of William Shank; 
Thomas is a resident of Chest township, this county.
     Lewis A Craver and Theresa Hott were united in marriage June 16, 1868. She 
is the daughter of Augustine Hott, who was born in Baden, Germany, March 24, 
1812, and emigrated to America in 1828, when but sixteen years of age. He was 
employed by Prince Demetrius Gallitzin for a period of six years, and then 
located upon a farm in Carroll township, where he has since resided, engaged in 
the tranquil and peaceful pursuits of husbandry. His marital union with Barbara 
Moke resulted in the birth of eleven children: Mary Ann, the wife of John Cole, 
of Altoona; Ellen, deceased at the age of thirty-two; Philomena, the consort of 
George Seymore, of Allegheny township, this county, died February 17, 1896; 
Augustine, a resident of Carroll township; Mrs. Henry Hertzog, died June 12, 
1895; Ann, the wife of F. J. Vaught, of Altoona; Jane, the wife of Nicholas 
Wyland, of Spangler, this county; James, at home; Lucinda, consort of Anselum 
Buck, of Conemaugh, this county, and Thomas, a grocer of Altoona.
     Mr. and Mrs. Craver are the parents of eight children: Jennie, a graduate 
of Western Michigan Commercial college at Grand Rapids, Michigan, is a 
stenographer and typewriter; Ida is at home with her parents; Minnie is a 
teacher in the public schools of this county; Demetrius Augustine died at 
Chicago, Oct. 9, 1893, while attending the World's Fair; Edwin H., graduated 
from Ebensburg High school, April 16, 1896; Emma and William are attending 
school; the younger died in infancy.
     Lewis A. Craver was reared upon a farm and followed farming until about 
twenty-five years of age, and then invested $4000 in timberlands in Forrest 
county, this State. Losing all his money in this investment he then carried the 
United States mail for a short time between Carrolltown and Cherrytree. 
Subsequently he ran a hack line between Indiana and Cherrytree, but in 1881 he 
became proprietor of Henderson Hotel, at Cherrytree, Indiana county. He 
continued this business until 1881 when he engaged in the lumber business at 
Fallen Timber, this county, for two years. He also kept a hotel at the same 
place. In 1888 he became proprietor of Fountain Hotel, at Johnstown, but when 
the city was destroyed by the famous flood of 1889 he went to Ebensburg, his 
present abode and place of business. In 1890 he became the owner and proprietor 
of the Blair House, a licensed hotel, situated on High street. Conveniently and 
pleasantly located, comfortably and commodiously furnished with modern 
conveniences, the Blair House has a large and remunerative patronage, which is 
composed of an eminently respectable class of people, both local and commercial.