Full Name: Elijah Gersham Cravens

Alternative Name: Unknown

Case Status: Missing

Record ID#: 0110

*The names “Jane Doe”  and “John Doe” are English names used when the person’s true name is not known. If used above, the name refers to a person of unknown identity.

Date of Birth*: October 10, 1867 (by some estimates made via a genealogy search)
Birthplace: Unknown
Age at the Time: 30-40
Age Group: 30s
Biological Sex: Male
Hair: Unknown
Eyes: Unknown
Skin Complexion: Unknown
Shoe Size: Unknown
Ethnicity: Caucasian or White
Nationality: United States
Languages Spoken: Unknown

Date of birth is an estimate but has not been officially verified.

*If the date says January 1, this is often just a placeholder for an unknown specific date. It usually means “sometime that year”.

Physical Build:

Height:

Weight

Distinguishing Marks:

• Mustache

Medical Condition: Unknown
Physical Abnormality: Unknown
Dental Condition: Unknown
Scars & Other Marks: Unknown
Piercings: Unknown
Tattoos: Unknown

Other Descriptors: Unknown

Clothing

• Unknown

Possessions:

• Unknown

Date of the Disappearance*: January 1, 1902

Description: Elijah Gersham Cravens vanished under mysterious circumstances on January 1, 1902. At the time, he was living near Okmulgee, Oklahoma, and left home on horseback to attend a meeting of the Woodmen of the World, a popular fraternal benefit society known for offering life insurance and community support to its members. Cravens never arrived at the meeting and was never seen again.

Although the exact destination of his meeting was initially unclear, evidence suggests he may have been headed to a Woodmen lodge gathering in Muskogee, approximately 40 miles east of Okmulgee, scheduled for January 2 or January 16. These meetings were frequent, community-based events typically held in nearby towns like Henryetta and Muskogee, and often served both social and administrative purposes.

Over the years, numerous uncertainties have clouded the case. Official records list January 1, 1902, as the last known contact date, though some suggest this might have been a placeholder due to lack of precise information.

A possible birth date of October 20, 1867, was established through genealogy research, with family records indicating Cravens may have had two marriages and four children. A family legend claims he borrowed $500 from a bank and vanished shortly after.

Conflicting records add to the mystery—some genealogical sources list his death as occurring in Payne, Oklahoma, while others claim he was buried in Stanton, Texas. However, no matching grave has been located in Stanton’s cemeteries, and Payne is a small, unincorporated community far from where he disappeared. There is no known death certificate or physical evidence of his fate, including his horse or belongings, leading many to suspect that the family may have simply presumed his death over time.

Elijah Cravens’ case is the oldest currently listed in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs #MP9137) and remains unsolved more than a century later.

Multiple Victims?: Unknown

Rumored or Actual Sightings: Unknown

*If the date says January 1, this is often just a placeholder for an unknown specific date. It usually means “sometime that year”.

Date the Body was Recovered: Unknown

Description: Unknown

Possible Signs Of . . . : Unknown

Time of Death: Unknown

Cause of Death: Unknown

Recovered Remains (if partial): Unknown

Suspected Homicide?: Unknown

Multiple Victims?: Unknown

DNA Tested (No Match): Unknown

*If the date says January 1, this is often just a placeholder for an unknown specific date. It usually means “sometime that year”.

Description: Unknown

License Plate: Unknown

Description: Unknown