BIO: Thomas E. CRAVEN, Beaver County, PA
  
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  BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES.  This Volume Contains Biographical Sketches 
  of Leading Citizens of Beaver County, Pennsylvania.  Buffalo, N.Y., 
  Chicago, Ill.: Biographical Publishing Company, 1899, pp. 432-433.
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  THOMAS E. CRAVEN is a large stockholder in, and superintendent of, the
  American Porcelain Manufacturing Company of New Brighton, Pa., and he is the
  inventor of a composition, which is used in the making of pottery, that
  surpasses all other preparations used in the making of such wares. He was
  born in New Brighton June 3, 1856, and is the only child of John Craven, Jr.,
  and grandson of John Craven, Sr.
  
  BEAVER COUNTY  433
  
  The grandfather of Thomas E. was of English extraction and spent the greater
  part of his life in Beaver county, Pennsylvania. In 1830, he began the
  manufacture of threshing machines at Fallston, in this county, and after
  several years of success, his establishment was burned down, and he sustained
  a severe loss. He then applied himself to contracting in New Brighton, and
  followed that line of business until his death, which occurred at the age of
  seventy-eight years. His wife, Catherine, died when ninety-four years old,
  and they are buried in the Grove cemetery. They reared a family of children,
  all of whom grew to maturity; their names are: James, Sarah, Benjamin,
  Matilda, Isabella, John, William, Minerva, Charles, and Madison. The father
  of Thomas E. was a carpenter by trade; he died in the prime of life.
  
  The subject of this memoir was reared by his grandfather, and the day before
  he was twelve years of age, he entered the pottery works as an apprentice; he
  worked in all the departments, and became a master of the trade. His inventive
  turn of mind led to the making of an enamel superior to pottery, and his
  secret process was not revealed until the organizing of the American
  Porcelain Manufacturing Company, of which he is superintendent, and a
  stockholder. This company was organized November 24, 1894; they purchased the
  tile factory of Scott Brothers, located on Allegheny street, and their kilns,
  engine house, storage and ware house, and shipping house cover three acres of
  ground. Thirty skilled hands are employed by this company, who turn out a fine
  grade of porcelain ware, which consists mostly of porcelain tubs, sinks, and
  kitchen and pantry utensils; they also have many orders for specialties in
  the porcelain line. Much of the success of this company is due to the
  untiring energy of the subject hereof, who is not only thoroughly acquainted
  with this line of business but is a man of good business ability. He is
  popularly known throughout the county and possesses many warm friends.
  
  Mr. Craven erected, and lived in, the residence now owned by E. Liddell, on
  Fourteenth street; he now resides at No. 120, Tenth avenue. Mr. Craven first
  wedded Flora Hoagland, a daughter of John Hoagland, of Rochester; she died
  aged twenty-two years, leaving one child, Elva May. His second union was with
  Alice Thompson Foster, a daughter of Harry S. Foster, of Beaver Falls, and
  their home has been blessed by the birth of six children: Nellie Luzetta;
  Alice Verna; Luverne Eugene; Harry; Thomas H.; and a son who died early in
  life.