Isaac Hiestand/Heistand Craig (1832-1912)

CRAIG

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 9/4/2014 at 17:03:32

From Ames Intelligencer July 9, 1912

ISAAC CRAIG DEAD CAME TO STORY CO. MARCH 9, 1853

Traveled Across Iowa In 1846-7 With Brigham Young's Mormon Party

Isaac H. Craig, one of the last survivors of the historical pilgrimage of Brigham Young and his followers died at his home west of Ames this morning. The Craigs were not Mormons but for the purposes of traveling across the great wild country joined the Brigham Young party.

Isaac H. Craig was born in Harrison County, Indiana, on August 25, 1832, and he settled in Story County near what is now Ontario on March 9, 1853. He has been in Story county all of the time excepting two years since. He voted at the first county election and for the first Republican candidate for president, John C. Fremont. He enlisted in the 23rd Iowa and served for eight months when he was discharged for disability. For many years he lived on the west line of Milford township near Bloomington and always he has been a man of standing in his section of the county.

The editor of the Intelligencer had many talks with Mr. Craig about his experiences while with Brigham Young.

Isaac Craig's father and his family left Clay county, Indiana in the spring of 1846. Isaac was 14 years of age at that time. With ox team they reached Nauvoo, Ill., the week before Brigham Young made his move across the Mississippi river.

Mr. Craig described the "Temple of Nauvoo as the handsomest he ever saw." Brigham Young and his church passed through southern Iowa with teams stopping about 50 miles south of Des Moines and breaking about 1000 acres of prairie preparatory to planting corn. The work was left incompleted and journey continued.

In the fall of 1846 the column of moving people arrived on the present site of Council Bluffs. Pawnee Indians were camped and lived on the ground where the main city business street now runs. Here General Harney was recruiting troops for the Mexican war. He came into camp and called for volunteers for the war. Mr. Craig graphically described the beating drums, men forming in line as they volunteered, until the third day 500 recruits were in line and off across "the great American desert" for the war, with General Harney at their head.

During the early winter of 1846-7 Mr. Craig and family were all down with typhoid fever, save one Isaac remaining in good health. As soon as sufficiently recovered Mr. Craig left the Mormons and finished the winter in Missouri. In the spring of 1847 they turned about face and drove back to Clay county, Indiana, arriving there at the time the Mexican soldiers were getting home. In 1852, the family again faced the setting sun traveling west arriving in Story county in March 1853.

The first log house he built stands on the Dr. Niles farm or more familiarly known as the Craig farm, 2 miles north of Ames on the east side of the Skunk river.

Mr. Craig described Brigham Young as a large fine appearing man and capable of governing large bodies of people with characteristic ease and one of the finest managers of affairs of people. Great financiers credit Brigham Young as the leading financier of his age.

Commander A. H. Thayer of the G. A. R. Post has issued an order to the comrades calling attention to the funeral services which will be held at the home Thursday at 11 o'clock. The body will be laid to rest in the Ames cemetery.