James Craig

As printed in 1881

GENERAL JAMES CRAIG, was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, February 28, 1817, and when only two years of age was taken by his parents to Richland County, Ohio, where his father, James Craig, engaged in working at his trade, that of a tailor. The subject of this sketch was obliged to work hard, never attending school more than ten or twelve months in his life, and at the age of twenty-two he entered the office of Harris & Brown, to study law in Canton, Ohio. After leaving that city, he settled at New Philadelphia, Tuscarawas County, continuing the practice of law, and in 1844, moved to Oregon, Missouri. In the summer of 1846, he was elected to the Legislature as a representative from Holt County. At about the close of his term, the Mexican War broke out, and, by order of the Governor, he organized a company which was ordered to the west to protect trains and emigrants. They took part in many exciting engagements with the several tribes of Indians. In the spring of 1849, Captain Craig crossed the plains to California, and after being successful in the rich gold mines of that state, he returned to St. Joseph in the summer of 1850, and, in company with Mr. Lawrence Archer, he engaged in the practice of law. On the first year of his return, in the contest for

District Attorney, Mr. Craig, then, as now, a Democrat, was elected. In 1856 he was elected to Congress, and at the expiration of his first term was re-elected. He declined a third term. Soon after the breaking out of the war, he was commissioned a Brigadier General, by President Lincoln. He was ordered, by the Commander-in-Chief, Halleck, again among the Indians. He took charge of the troops at Fort Kearney, Fort Laramie and all the district lying between the Missouri River and Utah, including that territory. In the summer of 1863, he resigned his commission in the United States Army and was appointed Brigadier General by the Governor of Missouri, which position he accepted. He was then placed in command of the troops in Northwest Missouri. After a faithful discharge of his duties, late in 1864, he again resigned, thus closing his military career. Since 1861, General Craig has been extensively engaged in building and operating railroads; for fifteen years he was connected with the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad, part of the time as President. In August, 1843, he was married in Wayne County, Ohio, to Miss M. Pfouts. The result of this union was was five children. One daughter married Captain Wilcox, of the Fourth Cavalry; his oldest daughter is the wife of Major Samuel A. Garth, of St. Joseph; his oldest son, Louis, is a Lieutenant in the United States Army.

As printed in The history of Buchanan County, Missouri (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.