James H. Cravens

James Cravens
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana's 4th district
In office March 4, 1841 – March 3, 1843
Preceded by	Thomas Smith
Succeeded by	Caleb B. Smith
Personal details
Born	(1802-08-12)August 12, 1802 Harrisonburg, Virginia, U.S.
Died	December 4, 1876(1876-12-04) (aged 74) Osgood, Indiana, U.S
Political party	Free Soil Party
Other political affiliations	Whig (before 1852)
Military service
Branch/service	Union Army
Rank	Lieutenant colonel
Unit	83rd Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry
Battles/wars	American Civil War

James Harrison Cravens (August 12, 1802 – December 4, 1876) was a U.S. Representative from Indiana, second cousin of James Addison Cravens.

Biography

Born on August 12, 1802 in Harrisonburg, Virginia, Cravens studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1823 and commenced practice in Harrisonburg, Virginia. He moved to Franklin, Pennsylvania, in 1823 and resumed the practice of law. Later, he moved to Madison, Indiana, in 1829 and engaged in agricultural pursuits. He served as a member of the State house of representatives in 1831 and 1832. He moved to Ripley County, Indiana, in 1833, where he practiced law and managed a farm. He served as a member of the State senate in 1839.

Cravens was elected as a Whig to the Twenty-seventh Congress (March 4, 1841 – March 4, 1843). He was an unsuccessful candidate of the Free-Soil Party for Governor of Indiana in 1849, and a member of the State house of representatives in 1856. He was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the attorney generalship of the State in 1856. He served as lieutenant colonel of the Eighty-third Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in the Civil War. During Morgan's raid in Indiana, he and his soldiers were taken captive. He died in Osgood, Indiana, December 4, 1876, and was interred in Versailles Cemetery, Versailles, Indiana.

References

• United States Congress. "James H. Cravens (id: C000884)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved on 2009-5-12

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress