Craig, Eli

CRAIG, HESTON, BRUNTON, THOMASON, CARRINGTON, HOLMES

Posted By: Mary H. Cochrane, Volunteer
Date: 6/29/2019 at 10:57:18

ELI CRAIG

Pleasanton has among her citizens many retired farmers who have contributed much to the welfare of the town. Eli Craig was for many years actively engaged in agricultural pursuits but is now residing here and enjoying a leisure earned by former toil. He was born in Henry county, Indiana, September 22, 1841, of the marriage of Andrew and Mary (Heston) Craig, natives respectively of North Carolina and of Indiana. When but twelve years of age the father was taken to the Hoosier state by his parents and upon reaching years of maturity entered land there, which he operated until October, 1859. In that year he sold out and went with his family to Harrison county, Missouri. He purchased land just over the line in Mercer county, and resided upon that place until called by death, Christmas Day, 1890. During the Civil war he served in the militia for about two years. His widow survived him exactly four years, dying on the 25th of December, 1894.

Eli Craig was reared in Indiana and there attended the public schools. He was eighteen years of age when the family removed to Missouri and he aided with the work of the farm until August, 1862, when he enlisted for service in the Civil war in Company K, Forty-second Missouri Volunteer Infantry. After the cessation of hostilities he returned to Missouri and rented land in Harrison county, which he operated for twenty years. At the end of that time he purchased one hundred and three acres in Mercer county, Missouri, to the cultivation of which he devoted his time and energies until 1901. In that year he rented his farm and went to Woodward county, Oklahoma, where he filed on a claim. After proving up upon his land he improved and cultivated it for nine years, but at the end of that time retired from active work and removed to Pleasanton, Decatur county, Iowa. In 1911 he purchased a good residence here, where he has since lived.

Mr. Craig was married on the 4th of January, 1862, to Miss Sarah E. Brunton, a daughter of Cyrus and Martha (Ristine) Brunton, natives respectively of Illinois and Indiana. The family removed to Harrison county, Missouri, in 1855 and there her father rented land, which he operated until his demise in 1897. He survived his wife for many years, as she passed away in 1852. Mr. and Mrs. Craig have become the parents of nine children: W. Alexander, who is farming in Mercer county, Missouri; A. L., who is farming in Hamilton township, Decatur county, Iowa; Annie, the wife of Ervin Thomason, of Dayton, Washington; Minnie, who married Noah Carrington, of Pleasanton; Nora, the wife of D.M. Holmes, who lives in Linn county, Missouri; Ona, at home; and three who died in infancy.

Mr. Craig is a republican but has never desired public office as a reward for his party fealty. His church membership is held in the Baptist church and he is in sympathy with the varied lines of work of that organization. Through his affiliation with the Grand Army of the Republic he keeps in touch with others who went to the defense of the Union, and he finds much pleasure in that association.