Robert Irvin Cratty, 1853-1940

CRATTY, HIRSCH, CANON

Posted By: Emmet County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 2/12/2011 at 20:41:22

One of the most prominent and influential citizens of Armstrong Grove township, Emmet County, is Robert Irvin Cratty, the proprietor of The Maples, located on section 11. He was born in Butler County, Pennsylvania, February 5, 1853, and is a son of William C. and Martha (Hirsch) Cratty, who were also natives of the old Keystone state. The father followed farming in Pennsylvania until 1863, when he removed with his family to Illinois and continued to engage in the same occupation in that state until his death in 1875. The mother had passed away in 1865.

Robert Irvin Cratty began his education in the schools of Pennsylvania and later pursued his studies in the schools of Illinois. On leaving the latter state in 1877 he came to Iowa, where he engaged in teaching school for twenty-one years. He was principal of the schools of Estherville from 1879 to 1882. Prior to this, in 1878, he purchased his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres on Section 11, Armstrong Grove township, and began its improvement. He now has a very valuable tract on which are good and substantial buildings and the land is under excellent cultivation.

Mr. Cratty was married April 19, 1878, to Miss Lovina E. Canon, who died on the 22nd of December, 1896, leaving four children, namely: Mabel E.; Edna R.; Alta M.; and Ralph W. On March 4, 1910, Mr. Cratty was united in marriage to Mrs. Mollie E. Webster, of Minneapolis, Minnesota. They are active and consistent members of the Presbyterian church and Mr. Cratty holds the office of Elder. In politics he is a republican and at present is serving as township clerk, which position he has filled for many years. He has also been township trustee, and, in fact, has held either one or the other of the two offices for twenty years. He was also treasurer of the school board for twenty years and is a stockholder of the First National Bank of Armstrong. Botany has become his hobby and he has made a large collection of Iowa and Minnesota plants, having a herbarium of six thousand species. He has also written much on the flora of Iowa and has devoted much of his leisure time to that study. He is one of the leading citizens of his community and is a man who commands the respect and confidence of all with whom he is brought in contact in both business and social life.

Submitted by: Ruth Hackett

Interment in Armstrong Grove cemetery
 

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