Cravens began his education in the country schools in Hendricks County before moving to Danville, Indiana.
[2] John was elected clerk of Monroe County Circuit Court in 1890, and relinquished his job as superintendent.
In 1894, his term as court clerk ended, which allowed him to return to Indiana University as a student.
[3] Cravens served as Registrar of Indiana University for forty-one years, until his retirement in 1936.
[4] Cravens was married on his birthday in 1891 to a Bloomington native, Emma Lucille Krueger.