From the book History of Walworth County Wisconsin, by Albert Clayton Beckwith, 
publ. 1912 - Page 506
 
PROSPER CRAVATH, eldest son, and one of sixteen children of Deacon Prosper 
CRAVATH and Miriam KINNEY, was born at Cortlandville, New York, May 28, 1809; 
began study of law in 1829; married Maria Prudence, daughter of Solomon NOBLE, 
March 27, 1834.  He came in 1839 from Lime Ridge, Huron county, Ohio, to the 
north half of section 13, Lima - about three miles from the site of 
Whitewater.  The earliest settlers did not bound all their affairs strictly by 
county and town lives.  Thus it may have been that Mr. CRAVATH appeared at 
Squire MEAD's court in June, 1839, as counsel in the cause of William BIRGE vs. 
Willard B. JOHNSON, an account for labor and goods and against it an account in 
offset; Warner EARLE for plaintiff, CRAVATH for defendant.  EARLE was out-
generaled and lost.  Thus began legal contention at Whitewater.  In 1843 Mr. 
CRAVATH was admitted to practice in courts of Jefferson county, and in 1845 
removed to Whitewater.  He served town and village variously as clerk, 
supervisor, justice, and the village as postmaster.  He was member of Assembly 
for the first session, June 1848.  He was defeated for county judge in 1848 and 
for district attorney in 1850.  He died May 20, 1886.  Mrs. CRAVATH, born at 
Blandford, Hampden county, Massachusetts, August 20, 1813, died at Whitewater, 
February 11, 1890.  Early Whitewater was in many neighborly ways indebted to 
this grand old couple, and these obligations are still willingly admitted.  To 
Mr. CRAVATH more than to any of his neighbors the county, town, and city owe 
the gathering and preservation of most of the names, dates and facts relating 
to the settlement and development of the old town of Elkhorn.  As not seldom 
happens, the historian has told much less of himself than posterity would read 
with interest and pleasure.  He need not have told all, nor was there need to 
suppress anything.

Submitted By:  Carol
(carolann612@charter.net)