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CRATTY WILLIAM,
P. O. Elmwood. Among the many people who came from Ohio
and settled in the fascinating Prairie State were the
Cratty family, from that State, in the year 1853, from
Delaware county, and settled in Knox county, Ill.; from
thence moving to Elmwood, Peoria county, in March, 1865.
William Cratty, the father of the family, was born in
Butler county, Pa., June 28. 1805, and came with his
father to Delaware county, Ohio, in the Fall of 1814, it
being the extreme Western State at that time. When the
slavery question came to be agitated, and the antislavery
party became recognized among the political parties of the
country, the subject of this sketch took a decided stand
in favor of human rights, and voted for James G. Birney as
the first candidate for the Presidency, brought forward by
the Anti-Slavery party, and ever after voted the
antislavery or abolition ticket at State and National
elections. For twelve or fifteen years he lived about half
way from Cincinnati to Cleveland, on the main traveled
road between the two places, and being well known as an
abolitionist, his house was made the headquarters for
escaping fugitives endeavoring to get across the lake to
Canada, and he was considered and dubbed as conductor on
the underground railroad, and often heard violent threats
made against him by slave hunters. They offered a standing
reward for years to any one who would deliver Mr. Cratty
to them on the south side of the Ohio river. There had a
great many escaped slaves passed through his hands and
under his roof. All these escaped in violation of law, and
all those who assisted them, either in word or deed, were
liable to prosecution in any court of the United States
for the assessed value of such slave, as the property of
such pretended owner, without any regard to the conscience
of the individual or the humanity of his nature.
The subject of this sketch was married in 1826, in
Champaign county, Ohio, to Candice Bennett, a native of
Rhode Island, and raised a large family of children, seven
of whom are living — two sons and five daughters. The
sons are known as the law firm of Cratty Brothers, in
Peoria, and their ability and success are widely known.
Having been brought up in the Presbyterian Church, Mr. C.
has always been partial to that society; has been three
times elected ruling elder in that church, and holds the
office at present. When the late rebellion broke out, one
of the boys enlisted, and when serving his third year died
in camp at Little Rock, Ark. The youngest, Josiah,
enlisted, and was discharged at the close of the war,
having been in service about eight months. (pages 739-740) (39)
William Cratty,
was born in Butler county, Pennsylvania, June 20, 1805,
but in 1814 removed to Ohio, and in April, 1826, was
united in marriage to Miss Candis Bennett, a native of
Rhode Island, born December 25, 1805. He was a man
of strong anti-slavery principles and his home was
supposed by the friends of slavery to be a station on the
famous underground railroad. In consequence a reward
of three thousand dollars was offered for his body, dead
or alive, if delivered south of the Allegheny river.
For many years he was an industrious, energetic farmer,
but spent his last years in a well earned retirement from
labor, his death occurring in 1897. His wife passed
away January 27, 1875. Her noble life, kindly manner
and exemplary Christian character endeared her to all who
knew here, and of the Presbyterian church she was a most
faithful member, as was her husband. Their family
numbered twelve children, four sons, and eight daughters. (38) |
