CRAIG, William

CRAIG, PATTERSON, HALE

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/18/2014 at 04:32:01

Biography ~ William Craig

"Biographical and Historical Record of
Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa"
(Lewis Publishing Company (1887)), pp. 666-67:

WILLIAM CRAIG, mayor of Davis City, settled here in April, 1857. At the election held the following August, in the township of New Buda, only sixteen votes were cast, and only one of these was Republican; that was cast by ALFTED CUMMINGS, who is still a resident of the township. In Burill Township there were but two Republican votes cast at the election held at the same time. The first school taught in New Buda Township was taught by Miss ELLA PATERSON, now wife of GEORGE HALE, in 1857. Mr. Craig was born in Jackson County, Ohio, in April, 1827. His father, SAMUEL CRAIG, was a native of Virginia, and was a soldier in the regular army, and an officer in the Black Hawk war. He died in 1838. Just before his death he was engaged in removing the Indians from Indiana to their reservation west of the Mississippi River. In this expedition he contracted a malarious disease that caused his death. The CRAIG family are of Scotch origin. The grandfather, THOMAS CRAIG, came to America just before the Revolutionary war. He was accompanied by six brothers and all seven served through that war for independence, and all survived it. After the war THOMAS settled in the Territory of Ohio, where he passed the remainder of his life. SAMUEL CRAIG and wife had four children, who grew to maturity, WILLIAM being the only son. He was married in Ohio to ROXANA PATTERSON, a native of Vermont. Mr. CRAIG has been engaged in various occupations since coming to Decatur County. His general occupation has been farming. Early in life he was engaged in the mercantile trade for a time, and after coming to Iowa was engaged in the manufacture of lumber for several years. He has always been prominently indentified with the interests of the county. He served as county surveyor eight years, and as justice of the peace eight years. In early life he was a Democrat, but when the Rebellion occurred he, with many other identified himself with the Republican party, with which he had ever since affiliated. Religiously he is independent, believing that every person is responsible for his own actions, and that he that does the most for his fellow man is the better Christian. Mrs. and Mrs. CRAIG have eight children – SAMUEL L., DANIEL T., WILLIAM W., ORRIN L., ARETUS G., ORLENA, NORA and MARY. EUDORA died at the age of six years. The children are all living with in two miles of the homestead. Mr. CRAIG is possessed of a retentive memory, and is a great reader. Few men in Decatur County are better informed on the early history of the county. He has served as mayor of Davis City several years.

Transcribed by Sara LeFleur, Decatur County Historial Society Musuem, January of 2014