The Cragun House construction was completed in 1893, by Strange Nathaniel Cragun. Born in Boone County in 1857, Strange left Boone County for a short time as a young adult, but returned in 1881 to begin a career in education. He served as principal of Whitestown, Zionsville, and Lebanon schools. In 1891, he purchased a local newspaper, the Lebanon Patriot (later to become the Lebanon Reporter), and began a long careeer as a Boone County business and civic leader.