Biography - SAMUEL L. CRATTY
Samuel L. Cratty, who
was classed with Litchfield's prominent citizens, was born April 17, 1858
near Walshville, Illinois, and his life was passed upon a farm in that
locality and also near Sorento, Illinois. He remained in the latter
neighborhood until his removal to Litchfield in the fall of 1880. He
acquired his education in the public schools and following his removal to
Litchfield he entered the employ of Pierson B. Updike in his hardware and
machinery store. In 1896 after long and faithful service with Mr. Updike he
became connected with the Mundy-Settlemire Company, grain merchants, and he
also extended his efforts to another line of business activity by becoming a
member of the firm of Rose & Cratty, insurance agents. Throughout his
business career his industry and perseverance were numbered among his
salient characteristics and led to a gratifying measure of success.
On the 17th of March, 1886, Mr. Cratty was united in marriage to Miss May
Updike, and they became the parents of two children: Fay and Grace, aged
respectively seventeen and fifteen years.
In his political views Mr. Cratty was a stalwart Republican, having firm
faith in the principles of the party. He was popular with his fellow
townsmen because of his genuine worth, social nature and unfailing courtesy,
and when he died on the 16th of May, 1899, his death was deeply deplored by
many friends as well as his immediate family. He died very suddenly and not
long after the death of Mr. Updike and his loss thus came particularly hard
upon his wife, who had so recently lost her father. Mrs. Cratty was educated
in the Litchfield high school and occupies an enviable position in social
circles where true worth and intelligence are received as passports into
good society. She is a very earnest worker in the Sunday-school, a most
capable teacher and also assists in various departments of the church
activities. She now lives with her mother in a beautiful and commodious
brick residence at No. 523 Union avenue.
Extracted 11 Apr 2020 by Norma Hass from 1904 Past and Present of Montgomery County, Illinois, by Jacob L. Traylor, pages 28-33.
