R. M. CRAVENS, M. D., postmaster at Princeton, was born August 16, 1823, in Caldwell County, Ky., and is the second son of Michael M. and Elizabeth (Tovrea) Cravens, the father a native of Christian County, Ky., and the mother of Tennessee. Jesse P. Cravens, subject's grandfather, was born in the State of Virginia, and in a very early day moved to Christian County, Ky., of which he was one of the first permanent settlers, and which he represented in the legislature several terms. Michael Cravens was by trade a brick-maker; he came to Caldwell County when quite a young man, and was married here in the year 1820. He died, while on a southern tour, in 1845, aged fifty years. Mrs. Cravens departed this life in 1877, at the age of seventy-seven years. They were the parents of six children, James L., deceased; R. M., subject; Thomas Y., deceased; N. H., deceased; Michael M., deceased; Martha A., deceased. R. M. Cravens, in 1843, moved to west Tennessee and engaged in farming, which he followed for a period of twenty-seven years. In the year 1850, he began the study of medicine under the tutorship of Dr. J. B. McClellan, of Spring Hill, Tenn., and seven years later entered the Medical University of Nashville, from which he graduated in 1858. After graduating he commenced practicing medicine in his home neighborhood, and remained there until 1869, at which time he moved to Princeton and opened a drug store, which he carried on in connection with his profession for a period of two years. He then retired from active practice and removed to a farm a short distance from the county seat, on which he lived until 1882, when he received the appointment of postmaster of Princeton, and moved back to the city. Mr. Cravens is one of the leading Republicans in Caldwell County, and a gentleman of culture and refinement. He was married in February, 1843, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Augustine and Eunice Bumpass, of Tenn. To this union were born the following children: Tennie A., deceased; Cammie A., wife of J. T. Griffin; Elizabeth L., wife of Isaac Harper; and Elvira P., deceased. Mrs. Cravens died in November, 1869, aged fifty-two years, and on the twenty-sixth of July, 1871, Mr. Cravens married Mrs. Martha P. Stone, daughter of James and Hannah Cantwell of Caldwell County.
Source: J. H. Battle, W. H. Perrin, & G. C. Kniffin. Kentucky. A History of the State. Louisville, KY, Chicago, IL: Battey, 1885. Page 694.