FRANK CRAVEN. This enterprising young business man has from early boyhood been identified with the interests of California, Penn. His elementary education was obtained in the public schools of this village, and he then attended the Southwestern State Normal 'School, at California, After leaving school he was engaged in various pursuits near California, and served one year as mail clerk between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, on the Pennsylvania Central Railroad. He then entered the employ of Morgan & Dixon, and soon afterward purchased a general store in partnership with L. T. Clavbaugh. One year later Mr. Claybaugh sold his interast to John Dixon. Later Mr. Dixon retired and John S. Beazell purchased his interest; the firm is now Craven & Beazell, extensive dealers in groceries and general produce. Frank Craven married Myrtilla, daughter of Jonathan West, October 17, 1878. This lady's father was a son of Thomas West, and grandson of Jonathan West. The latter was born in Ireland, and coming to America in youth, located permanently on a farm in Washington county, Penn. He was an Old-line Democrat in politics, and in religion one of the founders of the "West" Protestant Episcopal Church. His children were born as follows: Jonathan, Robert, Thomas, Edward, Mary (wife of Robert Gregg), Ann (Mrs. Morris) and Jane (Mrs. Howden). Thomas West, son of Jonathan, Sr., was born and reared in West Pike Run township. In early life he was married to Margaret Hopkins, who bore him three children, namely: Thomas, Catherine and Jonathan. The father followed agricultural pursuits, and lived but a few years after his marriage. Jonathan West, son of Thomas, was born in February, 1827, in West Pike Run township, Washington Co., Penn., receiving his early education in the neighboring schools. In 1850 he was united in marriage with Melinda, daughter of Edward Gregg, who was born and reared in Washington county, Penn. Edward Gregg was married to Mary Maple, and their children were Mary J., wife of James Baker; Stephen; Melinda, wife of Jonathan West; Seth; Maria; John and Maple. Mr. Gregg was a prosperous farmer and stock raiser. He voted with the Whig and Republican parties, and was a member of the Taylor M. E. Church, in which he officiated as elder, class-leader, and Sunday-school superintendent. He and his wife were buried in the Taylor Church cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. West resided on a farm in West Pike Run township until 1861, when they moved to Virginia, where he enlisted in Company B. Eighty-second O. V. I. He was then sent to the army of the Potomac, and participated in numerous engagements. On July 2, 1863, he was captured at the battle of Gettysburg, and was first taken to Belle Isle, thence to Andersonville, where he died the following June. The children of this soldier were born as follows Mary E. (deceased), Margaret E. (wife of D. H. Lewis), Mary J. (married to Emerson Reed), Dora I. (wife of John S. Beazell), Myrtilla (married to Frank Craven) and Kate.

Text taken from page 671 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed March 1997 by John R. Mort of Salt Pointe, NY as part of the Beers Project. Published March 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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