Entrepreneur, Titanic Disaster Victim. John Bertram Crafton was born in February 1853, in the southern part of Monroe County, Indiana; the son of poor Kentucky farmers. As a young man, began his accomplished career as a telegraph operator at the Monon Railroad station, later earning promotions to conductor and then "train master". Not satisfied, he then dabbled in real estate, but it was in Monroe County's rich limestone deposits where he would make his fortune with the founding the Crafton Quarry Company. Around 1880, Mr. Crafton married Sarah 'Sally' Alexander, the daughter of Nancy and James J. Alexander. To this union, two sons were born, Harry R., born in 1885 and Woodard, born in 1887; and would die of a brain fever when only seven months old. After his successful involvement in the limestone quarry business, Mr. Crafton sold his assets in Monroe County, and moved his family to Roachdale, Putnam County, Indiana pursing an interest in the lumber industry in the Southern United States, and during 1911, he managed the Mississippi Stone and Lumber Company in Starr, Mississippi. Beginning to wind down from a lifetime of hard work, Mr. Crafton got his business affairs in order, and took a little recreation, visiting European spas where he hoped the hot springs would cure his arthritis. One week prior to leaving for Europ,e Mr. Crafton spent time visiting his brother, David, and other Bloomington friends. It was during this time that Mr. Crafton purchased cemetery plots in Rose Hill Cemetery, and placed the rose granite family monument, stating he wished to be buried where so much of his life had been spent. In early in 1912, he departed New York on the "Cincinnati", frequently expressing his wish to return home. While in Europe, he spent some time in Carlsbad, taking the cure for rheumatism. From Milan, Italy, Mr. Crafton telegrammed his wife that he was coming home. He originally planned to leave Europe aboard the the German steamer "Kaiserin Auguste Victoria" scheduled to leave port on April 17th. However, he exchanged his original ticket for a first class passage aboard the Titanic which was set to sail a week earlier. He stayed at the Victoria Hotel in London before boarding the ship in Southampton (ticket number 113791, £26, 11s). It was on April 19, the White Star Line's telegraph, confirming his death, arrived at the home of his brother, David in Bloomington, where the family had gathered to await the final word. Crafton's body was never recovered from the sea. His monument at Rose Hill Cemetery, in Bloomington, bears the inscription "Lost on the Titanic". The back side of the monument also marks the final resting place of his infant son Woodard, his wife Sally, who died in 1937 and his son Harry R. Crafton, who died in 1938.