Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1906-11-01
DEATH ENDS CAREER
OF NOTABLE MUSICIAN
Passing of Professor s. F. CraVens,
Known Throughout the West as a
Talented Instructor and Choral
Leader.

Talented Instructor and Choral |
Leader.
Professor S. F. Cravens died yester-
day morning at II o'clock, at his home 1
No. 24O West jefferson street. He had |
been a sufferer OF consumption for (
the last twelve years, though for some /
years his affection did not materially 4
interfere with his professional work. I
About four years ago his health be- /
came so much worse that he decided to /
come to Arizona. and did so with Mrs. 1
CraVens who survives him and who /
has been his constant companion. Since /
coming here il has been the practice Of /
Mr.. and Mrs. Cravens to spend the !
summers in the east, returning each |
fan, before the weather became severe |
in the east. For the first two or three
years Of their residence there seemed to |
be no change for the worse in the sick |
mans condition and his rapid decline /
began with a severe cold taken at Ash
Fork a few weeks ago as they were re-
turning from the east.
Mr.. and Mrs. Cravens came to PhOe-
nix from Ottawa, Kansas, which had
been their home for about nine years, /
Mr.. Cravens spending the summers in
the west and the inclement weather of
the winters in the south, devoting at
tention during the months he found it
safe to live in Kansas 10 his profession,
that of instruction in music and the di-
rection Of large choral events. At the
time of their marriage in 1887, both
Mr. and Mrs. Cravens had already
achieved enviable regulations. both as
musicians and instructors in music.
They first made their home in Kansas
City where they formed the Apollo
club, musical organization which
gave a number of notable recitals.
Moving to Topeka, they opened
school of music assOciating with them
a number OF persons of international
reputation and also bringing to the
city at various times world famous
musical attractions. In 1892 both went
to Europe and devoted their time TO
study with the, masters, returning
thence to their Topeka home.
Failing health caused them to give
up their Topeka school and move to
Ottawa, where Mr.. Cravens was given
the dictatorship OF the conservatory of
music in connection with the univer-
( sity. With varying health he had
charge of this conservatory for some
thine and in the meantime was the ac-
/ tive figure in numerous choral enter
j.prises in other cities. Probably the
/ GROWING NOIk OF MS career " d. AAlE
Organization and direction of the Kan
! sas Musical festival in which there
were choruses from twelve different
| towns aggregating a thousand singers
/ in their bringing together at Ottawa.
! The oratorio Creation, was given, and
/ in it's presentation. besides this famous
/ chorus, We're many notable instrument
talists and soloists. Numerous other
! festivals were conducted by Mr.. and
/ Mrs. Cravens Jointly and their fame
/ was probably unequaled in the west for
work of that kind. their field of activ-
| ity being. everywhere between the Miss
issippi river and Denver.
Coming to Arizona in 1902, they open
! ed the Cravens school of music which
1 was the first institution of the kind in
the territory and which was under the
u direction OF Professor Cravens, though
/ Mrs. Cravens has been equally as
= prominent in its conduct and owing to
the i'll health of her husband, much
more active in teaching. Since coming
| to Phoenix both have made a wide
! acquaintance and were held in high
| esteem not only by the music loving
public. but by all who knew them. as
warm hearted personal friends, public
spirited and devoted to their art, not
alone as means of pecuniary profit,
but for the art itself. Mr.. Cravens last
winter had charge of two or three
memorable musical events, even though
he was then in very poor health and
| unable to give such projects the at
tentiOn he desired to.
Though he was yet only at that age
which for many men is their active
prime. their day of achievement. it may
be said of him that in living he ac-
complished more than many who have
been blessed with longer careers and
who have not been handicapped by
perpetual conflict with that most in
sidious disease. Few there be who
have climbed so high in their chosen
/ work, and few have better earned the
recognition of success. In his untimely
end Phoenix has lost an estimable citi-
zen, and one who will be mourned by
many, while his devoted wife will re-
ceive the kindly sympathy of all who
know her.
ii Funeral arrangements Will not be
announced until word is received from
relatives in the east.
Straight talk by Eugene Brady
III O'NeiU on things done that hadn't