Tuscola-Oakland County MI Archives Biographies.....Craw, Farley 1824 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 5, 2007, 11:06 pm

Author: Chapman Bros. (1892)

FARLEY CRAW. Having for many years been a resident of Caro, Mr. Craw is well
known, not only in the village itself but also throughout the community, as a
man of sound, sensible views and an influential citizen. Scrupulously honest and
just in all his dealings, these characteristics, together with his genial and
obliging nature, have won him many steadfast friends. He is alive to the
important issues of the day and is ever willing to lend a helping hand in
pushing forward all enterprises that contribute to the public good.

  A native of the old Bay State, Mr. Craw was born February 12, 1824, in
Cheshire Township, Berkshire County, and is the son of Harlow and Sarah
(McLauth) Craw. The parents were born in Massachusetts and were of Scotch
ancestry. Our subject was three years old when he was brought by his parents to
Oneida County, N. Y., where he grew to a stalwart and vigorous manhood. His
father, a poor man, having lost his health when about forty years old, Farley
became the chief dependence and the mainstay of the family. His time was
completely taken up with his duties at home so that he received only a very
limited education, but as he has always been a close student of public affairs
and a keen observer of men and things, he has gained a large fund of knowledge
and is a well-informed man.

  On the July following his twenty-first birthday our subject came to Michigan,
where he located in Oakland County. For two years he sojourned under his
cousin's roof, working to pay his board and employing his spare time in studying
with the cousin, who was a highly educated man. Later he was engaged as a common
laborer and by close observation gained practical ideas of business principles.
On July 4, 1847, he was married to Miss Milla Bonker, who was born in Montezuma,
Cayuga County, N. Y., April 17, 1830. This estimable lady is the daughter of
William and Amanda (Bunyea) Bonker, both of whom were born in New York State, of
German ancestry. After his marriage Mr. Craw worked as a laborer for several
years. When the late war broke out he was offered a commission as Colonel but on
account of throat trouble could not enter the service.

  The first time Mr. Craw was nominated for office was in Davisburg, Oakland
County, when he was elected Justice of the Peace in 1858. His defeated opponent
was a former member of the legislature. In 1861 Mr. Craw was appointed
Postmaster at Davisburg and held that position until he removed to Caro live
years later. He was successful as a public official, being accommodating,
painstaking and genial, and withal had the reputation of being the best
accountant in the vicinity. At the time of his removal to Caro he was serving
both as Justice of the Peace and Postmaster at Davisburg. He reached this
village March 20, 1866,and on the following day a caucus was held for nominating
officers. He received the nomination as Justice of the Peace and was in due time
elected, serving from that time continuously until 1883.

  In 1867 Mr. Craw was appointed Postmaster at Caro and served efficiently in
this position until 1888, it being made a Presidential post-office in 1880.
Finding his duties as Justice of the Peace and Postmaster too arduous, he
resigned the former office and continued to officiate in the latter capacity.
Such confidence did the Government show in him that his post-office was only
inspected once during his entire term of office. In 1889 he began to operate as
a pension agent and has been quite successful in this line. He was again elected
Justice of the Peace in 1890 and is now serving in this capacity, having the
greatest portion of the work in his jurisdiction. He and his excellent wife have
a family of eight children: Laura married Warren Leonard, a farmer in Aimer
Township; Lucy became the wife of Preston Cooley and lives in Watrousville;
Harlow resides in Caro; Adjet J. is living in Aimer Township; Frank S. makes his
home in Grand Rapids; Charles in Caro; Vina, the wife of Daniel Cummins, lives
in Caro; and Effie is the wife of J. M. Denyes, whose sketch appears elsewhere
in this volume.

  When Mr. Craw came to Caro he erected what was at that time the largest store
in the county and he has in various other ways been instrumental in advancing
the interests of the community. While in Oakland County in 1860 he began in the
mercantile business on a small scale, having gained practical knowledge of
merchandising through his former experience as a clerk. The store which he built
is now occupied by F. O. Watrous and is on the corner of State and Burnside
Streets. Through a successful career as a merchant Mr. Craw accumulated money
and was once worth $12,000, but through the chicanery of others he was forced
into bankruptcy. He is now comfortably situated with enough to provide his
declining years with the comforts of life and has been enabled to give his
children good educations and aid them in starting out in the world for themselves.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Portrait and Biographical Record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties,
Michigan, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens, Together with Biographies of all the Governors of the State, and of
the Presidents of the United States

Chicago:
Chapman Bros.
1892


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