Craig, Joseph H. 1850 - 1916

CRAIG, SANBORN, STORK, DRAKE

Posted By: Janice Sowers (email)
Date: 12/31/2006 at 12:30:16

Lime Springs Sun Herald March 16, 1916

Joseph Harwood Craig, the son of the Rev. Adam Craig and Mary Elizabeth Craig was born at Windsor, Broome County, New York, October 5, 1850. His mother died before he was five years old. His father, a Presbsyterian clergyman educated at Union College and Princeton Theological Seminary, moved to Milford, Delaware, to become principal of the Milford Collegiate Seminary, when Joseph was about six years old. Three years later they came westward to Hanover, Illinois, his father being sent there as a home missionary; just before the Civil War the family moved to Lime Springs, Iowa. Here the boy's early education was gained, largely in his father's home, for Rev. Craig maintained an accademy for the young people of the community in those years before the high school was evolved. As a young man, Joseph H. Craig did farm work and taught school.

His brothers and an uncle were all physicians, and he entered upon a course at Rush Medical College, Chicago in 1871, but his first experience in the dissecting room caused him to stop abruptly, and he entered a school for telegraphers. From this he was drafted as a special policeman during the Chicago fire of 1871. Being persuaded after to complete his medical training, he graduated from Rush Medical College in June, 1875 and immediately began to practice in Dundas, Minnesota.

March 28, 1877, occured his marriage with Mary Elizabeth Sanborn, at Lime Springs, Iowa. The first few years of their married life were spent in Woodside, now Glenwood, Minnesota, Humboldt, Nebraska and Lamont, Iowa. In 1881 they went to Volga City, Clayton Co., Iowa, where for twenty-three years he was to labor as the beloved physician. Here the last two children were born, here will we lay the doctor's body. In 1904 his active work was cut short by a stroke of paralysis, followed exactly twelve years later by the one which took him from us Thursday evening, March 10, 1916.

All his years in Volga and Fayette, where the first eight years of his invalidusm were spent, he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church sometimes Sunday School superintendent and a lay preacher. One of his son's early memories is of being perched upon one of the chairs in the pulpit, his brother in the other while father preached. On coming to Minnesota with his son, the membership of the family were transferred to the Presbyterian church at Rushford, Minn., and later to Highland Park church at Minneapolis.

The only daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Craig died in infancy, the oldest son, Ray, was taken in his 18th year.
The second son, Arthur I., lives in Paoma, Colorade. and the youngest, Harold S. in Minneapolis. The surviving brother Dr. N.S. Craig is in Jennings. Louisiana. Mrs. Grace Stork and Mrs. Eleanor Drake, his sisters, live in St. Paul and Lime Springs respectively.

Twelve years of inactivity did not embitter him, and an uncomplaining cheerful spirit has been perfected before our eyes, that we may be grateful for the privelege of his presence.

The funeral service was held at Minneapolis. A few of the friends were in attendance and the pastor of the Highland Park Presbyterian church spoke words of comfort. The funeral party left Monday morning for the old home in Volga City, where the large public service was held on Tuesday afternoon, Rev. D. C. Perry officiating. Rev. T. M. Nelson, the local pastor assisting. The large company of friends present spoke in very tender regard by their presence and the whole service did small tribute to the sterling worth of the man, the physician, the brother, the Christian. He was one of God's noblemen.