Craig, Mary Elizabeth (Sanborn) 1858 - 1916

CRAIG, SANBORN

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 3/7/2019 at 11:07:52

Elkader Register & Argus, Thur., 23 Nov. 1916. Volga City News column.

Mary Elizabeth Sanborn was born in Lime Springs, Howard County, Iowa, November 4th, 1858, and was fifty-eight years and two weeks old at the time of her death. She was the first of eleven children of Lucius and Mary Jane Sanborn, who had moved to Iowa from Wisconsin, and who for many years lived on the homestead two miles west of Lime Springs. Her girlhood was spent at home and included the years of her education in the rural school and in an academy at Cresco, Iowa, after which she taught school not far from her home for two years.

Her marriage to Joseph Harwood Craig, a physician, whose boyhood was largely spent in Lime Springs, occurred March 28th, 1877. Then for twenty-seven years she was the ever-busy wife of a busy physician, until his illness in 1904 cut short his active work, and Mrs. Craig took chief command of the family ship. Dr. and Mrs. Craig had four children, one girl and three boys. The girl died when but two weeks old; the oldest son left the home desolate by his death as a youth of seventeen years; the second son, Arthur L. Craig, is located at Paonia, Colo., and the youngest, Harold, is in Minneapolis, Minn. Mrs. Craig's aged father and four brothers and sisters survive her, also two grandchildren, the sons of Alfred L. Craig. Her husband died in Minneapolis but eight months ago.

For years Mrs. Craig was active in the Methodist Episcopal Church at Volga, as organist, chorister and member or officer of the various ladies' societies. She gave freely of her ability. The past four years she had been a member of the Presbyterian Churches at Rushford, Minn., and Highland Park, Minneapolis, Minn.

Mrs. Craig's own efforts kept the family going for years after the Doctor's illness. They moved to Fayette, Iowa, that same year, and it was her work that enabled the youngest son to continue his education. When he went to Rushford, Minn., for active school work, Dr. and Mrs. Craig also went, and the mother continued her ceaseless ministration in the home. While at Rushford a slight stroke of paralysis made her a semi-invalid, and presaged the attack which cut her off so suddenly on Saturday morning, November 18th, 1916.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, November 21st, at Volga, from the Methodist Church. Rev. D. C. Perry, of Lime Springs, a former pastor, preached the sermon.