HON. ALEX K. CRAIG. Success in any of the pursuits of life usually challenges the admiration of the world. It matters not whether in the profession of law, medicine or literature, or in the theological domain, in the military or civil life, or mercantile pursuits, it is the one distinguishing and distinctive characteristic of all business transactions. While not now a member of any of the acknowledged professions, the subject of these lines has, nevertheless, in his sphere of labor and activity distinguished himself as an active, energetic business man, and demonstrated the fact that to the man of merit belongs the full measure of success and worldly prosperity. Alex K. Craig was born in Buffalo township, Washington Co., Penn., February 21, 1828, a son of Hugh and Hannah (Henderson) Craig, the latter of whom was a daughter of John Henderson, of Washington county. His grandfather, Alexander Craig, a native of County Down, Ireland, when a young man emigrated with his parents to the United States, and on the same vessel came also, with her parents, a Miss Martha Kerr, to whom, soon after landing, he was married. They made their first settlement in Canton township, this county, when the place was an unbroken forest, teeming with wild animals, and frequented by the Indian on his hunting expeditions. This tract of land they improved, in 1813 sold it, and then came to Buffalo township, where they passed the remainder of their busy lives. The children born to this pioneer couple were eleven in number, viz.: James, Margaret (Mrs. Thomas Carroll), Arthur, Hugh, Jane (Mrs. John Harmon), John, Alexander, Ebenezer, Martha (Mrs. William Burns), Eleazer and Ann (Mrs. Hugh McClelland). The parents were active members of the Associate Reformed Church, and in politics Mr. Craig was a Democrat.
Hugh Craig, son of the above, was born in 1795, in Canton township, this county, where, and in Buffalo township, his boyhood and youth were passed, the subscription schools of the locality providing him with such mental pabulum as those early days afforded. He was a great reader, however, and was well posted in general topics. In 1821 he was married to Hannah Henderson, and they made their home on the old Craig farm until the day of their death. The children born to them were Martha (Mrs. J. W. Darby), John H., Margaret A., Alex K., Hugh K., Joseph F., William F., Hanna R. (Mrs. Joseph McGuffin) and Thomas B. The father died November 18, 1854, the mother November 24, 1856. Mr. Craig was a Jeffersonian Democrat, and held several prominent offices in both township and county. He was a justice of peace for years, and also school director; in 1841 he was elected county commissioner, serving three years. In 1852 he was elected a member of the State Legislature, and served one session. He was a recognized leader in his party, and was a strong supporter of the free school system. One of the earliest members of the Presbyterian Church at Claysville, he was a substantial supporter of the same, and for several years an elder.
Alex K. Craig, of whom this sketch more especially treats received his primary education at home, which was followed by a course of study at Science Hill School. At the age of seventeen he commenced teaching, and continued same, during the winter seasons, until the year 1884. He was not only an apt scholar but also a skillful preceptor. He held a life certificate from the State of Pennsylvania, and was closely connected with all educational movements in Washington county, being one of its leading educators. For three years he was engaged in general mercantile business in Claysville, after which he engaged exclusively in farming, and teaching.
On March 12, 1850, he was united in marriage with Sarah F., daughter of William McLain, and the following is a brief record of the children born to them: Hannah M. was married to Albert Sprowls; John E. was educated at Washington and Jefferson College, graduated in 1877, then studied law in Keokuk, Iowa, and was admitted to the bar in 1879 (he is a Democrat, and was elected a member of the State Legislature of the State of Iowa, in 1885, serving two terms; in 1889 he was elected mayor of Keokuk, and re-elected in 1891; he married Euphemia S., daughter of Moses Coulter, of Allegheny county and they have one child, Moses C.); Mary Evelyn, who died in 1858; Eliza J., who married James McKeown, and died in 1884; William H. (who was educated at Washington and Jefferson College, graduated in 1887, and married Anna Ralston, to whom one child, William H., was born; the father died in 1891); Addison A. was educated at Washington and Jefferson College, and in 1887 was appointed professor of mathematics in the public schools of Keokuk, Iowa; Thomas B. was educated at the common schools, graduated in 1889 from the State Normal School at Edinboro, Penn., studied law with his brother, John E., and was admitted to the Iowa bar in May, 1892. The entire family are members of the Presbyterian Church, of which, from 1857, Mr. Alex K. Craig was an elder. He was superintendent of the Sabbath-school for fifteen years, and a member of the choir for half a century. Politically he was always a Democrat, and was active in the party. He filled with distinguished ability various offices in his township, and in 1886 was elected a justice of the peace. He was nominated by his party a number of times for county offices, each time running ahead of his party ticket, but he held no public office except school director and justice of the peace. In 1890 he was nominated without solicitation, as a Democrat for a seat in the Fifty-second Congress, from the Twenty-fourth District of Pennsylvania, receiving, according to the official count, 21,585 against 21,708 votes for Andrew Stewart, Republican; 995 for Edward Campbell, Prohibitionist. This District two years earlier had elected J. W. Ray, Republican; by 4,438 majority. For one week after election it had been conceded that Mr. Craig had been elected, and when it was officially announced otherwise he decided to contest; his contest for a seat was successful, and he was seated a member of the Fifty-second Congress, February 26, 1892, by a vote of 132 to 57. In this last office of public trust he served his constituents with great care and fidelity until the middle of June, when he was obliged to go home on account of sickness. All efforts to remove his disease of jaundice proved of no avail, and he died July 29, 1892. The remark of Congressman M. N. Johnson, Republican, of North Dakota, to a press reporter shows in what esteem he was held by his associates in Congress. Mr. Johnson said: "Mr. Craig, whom I knew personally, was a man of rare honesty and of sound common sense. The Democrats lose a good man in him." His very largely attended funeral allows in what high regard and esteem he was held by his fellow citizens at home. The following fitting tribute is given to his memory by the Washington Journal:
In the death of Alexander K. Craig is sustained the loss of a citizen whose life and work adds largely to the already long list of those who have made illustrious the history of Washington county. He was one of whom it has always been said: He is a good man. Nowhere has this oftener been said, than within the radius of his direct personal influence. His home recognized in him the industrious toiling provider of its comforts and advantages, an affectionate husband, a wise and tender father. His neighborhood knew him as a friend in time of need, a counselor in trouble, a genial companion in all social relations. His church had in him a vigilant, prayerful and consistent member, a workman whose interest never flagged, a watchman always to be found at the post of duty. Intelligent, honest, strong in his convictions, and untiring in his efforts, his home, his neighborhood and his church are all the better for his having lived. In his death they have sustained a loss, which the tender sympathy of friends and the healing influence of time may mitigate, but can never restore. In person strong and self-reliant, in department, genial and courteous, in business, upright and honorable, Mr. Craig brought to bear upon all his relations to the times and community in which he lived, an influence that was widespread and always for good. An intelligent man, a reader, he was always well versed in the knowledge of current events and affairs of the day, whether from an educational, political or religious standpoint. And while his rugged character and strong self-reliance required him to adhere with tenacity to those views which his judgment and investigation led him to adopt, his sincerity was undoubted: his integrity unquestioned. Holding the warmest place in the hearts of those who knew him best, whether at the home fireside, in the circle of friendship, or within the sacred precincts of Sunday-school and church, his life and character have been a tower of strength, and his memory shall be a benediction to those who loved him so well. As has been said of another good man and true, whose loss is still fresh in the minds of many friends, may with equal truth be written of Alexander K. Craig:
"O! iron nerve to true occasion true, O! follow at length, that tower of strength That stood four square To all the winds that blew."Fired by the spirit of true patriotism, Mr. Craig enlisted, during the War of the Rebellion, in Company H. Eighty-seventh P. V. I., serving under Captain Buford; he was sent to Petersburgh, Va., and there remained in active service until the close of the war, and was mustered out at Washington, D. C., in July, 1865.
Text taken from page 69 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed April 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project.
Published April 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]