History of Fredericktown, (Madison County) Missouri United States of America

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Biographies:

The Biography of Jordan E. Cravens

Jordan E. Cravens, representative, was born in Madison county, Mo., Nov. 7, 1830; grandson of William Cravens who came to America from Ireland after the Revolution and settled in Virginia. He removed with his parents to Arkansas in 1831, completed his preparatory education at Spring River academy, Mo., 1848-50, and was admitted to the bar in 1854. He was in the state legislature in 1860, and the following year joined the Confederate army as a volunteer on the staff of General Burrow. He fought in the battle of Dug Spring, Mo., in the regiment of his cousin, Col. Jesse L. Cravens, and at Oak Hills, Aug. 10, 1861, under Colonel Churchill, where he was wounded three times during the fight. At Fort Pillow he was promoted major of the 17th Arkansas regiment, October, 1862, and at Corinth in 1863 he was elected colonel of the 21st Arkansas as reorganized. He was taken prisoner in May, 1863, and was exchanged in February, 1864, after which he served in the trans-Mississippi department to the close of the war. He settled in Clarksville, Ark., where he was prosecuting attorney, 1865-66; state senator, 1866-68; presidential elector in 1872; and represented his district as a Democrat in the 45th, 46th and 47th congresses, 1877-83. In 1868 he was married to a daughter of Felix L Baston of the supreme court of Arkansas.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor