W. C. CRAVIN is a son of Thomas Cravin, who was a native of Mifflin county, Penn., where he was reared and educated. When a young man he went to Guernsey county, Ohio, and was there married to Sarah Chalfant, a native of that county, who bore him six children, namely: Mary, wife of John Reed; Edith, married to Robert Jobes; Rachel, deceased; W. C.; Thomas, and Tilson, who died in infancy. For his second wife Mr. Cravin was married to Caroline Ingraham. He was a painter by trade, and followed that business throughout active life. He came to Brownsville, Penn., soon after his first marriage, and in 1852 went to California, Penn., where he died in 1886, and was buried in that village. In Politics he was formerly an Abolitionist, then united with the Republican party, and in religion was a member of the M. E. Church, which he served as class-leader and steward. W. C. Cravin was born February 16, 1843, in Brownsville, Fayette Co., Penn., and came with his parents to California, Washington Co., Penn., when but nine years of age. He attended the California Normal School, also Duff's Business College, at Pittsburgh. On September 21, 1861, he enlisted in Company C, 85th P. V. I., and was first sent to Washington, D. C., thence to the army of the Potomac. He was in the Peninsular campaign, and being sent to North and South Carolina, took part in the battles in the latter State. When Grant took command of the army of the Potomac, W. C. Cravin again entered that division, and participated in Grant's advance on Richmond. After the expiration of the three years for which he had entered the service, he re-enlisted, and was appointed captain of Company E, 199th Regiment P. V. I. He served in that rank until mustered out at Richmond June 25, 1865, when he returned to Washington county, Penn. On December 4, 1866, he was united in marriage with Nancy, daughter of Samuel Ray. In 1867 Mr. Cravin opened a grocery establishment which he conducted for twelve years, when he sold out and in 1882 entered the employment of the Yohe brothers, with whom he is yet engaged. In political opinion he affiliated with the Republican party until the Prohibition movement was organized, with which he is now in hearty sympathy. In religious faith he is a member of the M. E. Church.

Text taken from page 286 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed June 1997 by Marilyn K. MacKendrick of N. Charleston, SC as part of the Beers Project. Published June 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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