MARTIN BOM CRAIG, a substantial farmer of Franklin township, is of Irish parentage, his father, William Craig, having been born in the Emerald Isle, and when a small boy emigrated with his parents to America. The sole method of navigation in those days was by sailing vessels, and the emigrants were nearly two and a half months in crossing the ocean, the weather being extremely rough, but the journey was at last ended in safety. The Craig family settled in Franklin township, Washington Co., Penn., where William grew to manhood and was married to Lydia Stokly, a daughter of one of the oldest pioneers of that township. The following children were born to them, their names and dates of birth being given: Eli, May 17, 1788; Otho, April 2, 1790; John, September 2, 1792; Arthur, July 13, 1794; Thomas, March 13, 1796; Elizabeth, July 31, 1798; Samuel, June 22, 1800; Prudence and Cornelia (twins), February 14, 1803, and Martin B., February 8, 1808. Mr. Craig resided in Washington borough several years after his marriage, and then purchased the farm now occupied by his son Martin B. It was then an uncultivated tract of land, and its present comfortable and homelike condition is due wholly to the efforts of Mr. Craig and his children. He was an energetic man, and earned the success which he won. In political life he was a Democrat, and for many years served as justice of the peace in Franklin township, a position which he filled to the entire satisfaction of every one. He died July 30, 1823, his widow on June 26, 1848.
Martin B. Craig passed his childhood on the home farm in Franklin township, but was obliged to begin life for himself at a very early age, and the experience thus gained has since enabled him to overcome many obstacles to success which would have proved insurmountable to those possessing less practical knowledge. He received a very limited education at the subscription schools, and retains a most vivid recollection of the scenes there enacted, and the primitive surrounding of his boyish days. The schoolhouse was an old deserted cabin, with a puncheon floor, upon which the slab seats and writing desks were placed beside the walls. The windows consisted of a single pane of glass, or a slip of greased paper placed over an opening made by the removal of a portion of a log. The old fireplace extended nearly across one end of the room, and was fed by huge logs, which were cut down at noon time by the larger boys.
On December 24, 1831, Mr. Craig was united in marriage with Sarah, daughter of Abram Elliott, a native of New Jersey, and their children are Jane (deceased), Adeline, Elizabeth, Lydia, William, Atkinson and Sample (all three deceased), and Nancy, living at home. After his marriage Mr. Craig settled on the home place, having purchased the interest of the other heirs, and in 1851 he erected the handsome brick residence which is his present home. He commenced life with very little, but by industry and enterprise has become a most prosperous citizen. In politics he is an ardent Democrat, outspoken in his opinions. He is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
Text taken from page 1313 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed February 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project.
Published February 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]