John Henderson Craig

As printed in 1905

JOHN HENDERSON CRAIG.

History is held by writers and readers as a mighty mirror, reflecting the images and deeds of great men, and some of these heroes are pictured with such overtowering ])reportions that they monopolize the thought and admiration of the world.

It is one province of biography to correct the exaggerated and unjust discriminations of history and give a due proportion of praise to some of those who aided in elevating those heroes to their high historical plane and by many deeds, honest lives and eloquent words added to the progress and glory of our common county.

To portray human actions and characteristics with honest fidelity should be the aim of the biographer. And as a man worthy of high position and the dearest memory in the annals of Iowa and the Union we shall unhesitatingly place as compeer with the great men who have preceded him. Keokuk's honored and lamented citizen. John FT. Craig.

The subject of this brief sketch was born on a farm near Claysville, Washington county, Pennsylvania, July 31, 1824, of which county his parents were also natives. His early years were spent upon the farm, pursuing the usual duties of a farmer boy about the old homestead but receiving a good common-school education. These advantages were supplemented by courses in chemistry, philosophy, rhetoric and algebra. He studied later under the instruction of the pastor of his church. As early as at the age of fifteen years Mr. Craig left the farm, taught school one term and then attended the West Alexander Academy at West Alexander, Pennsylvania, for a period of four years. Completing the academic course in 1845, he engaged in teaching at the academy for a year, when he entered the junior class at Washington and Jefiferson College, from which institution he was graduated in 1848, meeting the expenses of this collegiate course by acting as a tutor of Latin and (creek in the college.

In the spring of 1849, l''- Craig commenced the study of law with Hon. T. M. T. McKennen, ex-secretanof the interior and ex-member of congress. He had, however, so closely confined himself to his studies in school that his health forbade his continuing them further, so, in the spring of 1850 he went to Natchez, Mississippi, where he devoted himself to literary pursuits and teaching. In the fall of 1853 his health being perfectly restored, he returned to his Pennsylvania home. The following year he went to Wheeling, Virginia, now West Virginia, and resumed his law studies.

The death of his father occurred al)out that time and he returned home to settle the estate. Afterwards he entered the law office of Hon. William Montgomery, of Washington, Pennsylvania, congressman from that district. Here he pursued his studies one year and was admitted to the bar in 1856. After the death of his mother, in November of the same year, Mr. Craig concluded to seek his fortunes in the West, having now no very strong ties to bind him to his native state.

In the following spring, 1857, he came to Iowa, stopping in Keokuk to isit friends. During this visit he was induced to form a law partnership with Judge R. P. Lowe, afterwards governor of Iowa, and John W. Noble, who rose to distinction as a general in the War of the Rebellion, became secretary of the interior in President Benjanun Harrison's cabinet, and now a prominent lawyer at St. Louis, Missouri. The fall of that year Judge Lowe was elected governor and the partnership was dissolved. Mr. Craig, however, continued in active practice until about 1888, when his health precluded the possibility of continuing professional jnirsuits.

During his practice he was associated with different attorneys. The last firm with which he was connected was that of Craig, McCrary & Craig, composed, besides himself, of A. J. McCreary and John E. Craig, a nephew. He was an earnest student, a conscientious lawyer. a finished orator. a valued citizen, and above all an honest man. He was a magnetic leader at the bar. and never allowed a difficult point of law to go unmastered. In life he lire the fame of being one of the ablest attorneys in the West and was regarded all over Iowa as a brilliant lawyer.

The first important case with which Mr. Craig was connected was that of Nash and Redoubt, charged with the murder of Harrison, partner of the late Patrick Gibbons, in which he ably assisted in the prosecution, and he was connected with nianv nf the important cases in Lee county and other counties of the state and in the supreme court of the state.

In politics Mr. Craig was a stanch Democrat but always declined to be a candidate for office though man)- times solicited to break the rule of his life. In educational matters he always took the deepest interest and was for sixteen years or more a member of the board of education of Keokuk. He was the president of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, one of the oldest and best-known medical colleges of the W'est. for a number of years prior to his death. For about thirty years he was attorney for the Iowa State Insurance Company, having made a special study of Insurance laws. He was a consistent and devout member of the first Westminster Presbyterian church and until he became broken in health was a constant attendant at the services, always taking an active ])art in religious matters.

Mr. Craig was of fine literary taste and culture and would have taken rank with the best in that tled had he chosen to enter it more largely. Some of his lectures were gems of the platform. But he was the kind of genius who hid his brilliant attainments from the world rather than proclaim them from the housetops. Mis writings and ])oems were never published but many of them are preserved as precious family relics in happy memory and as evidences of the power of the man.

John H. Craig was married December 24, 1863, at Madison, Wisconsin, to Miss.Mice Read, daughter of Hon. Daniel Read, who was for many years connected with the State L'university of Indiana, was later president of the State University of Wisconsin, ruid who at the time of his death was president of the State University of Missouri. Mrs. Craig survives her husband with the following children: Daniel Rend Craig, superintendent of construction of the XcMihwestern Telephone Company, of Illinois; Miss Rertha R. Craig, teacher of hi.story in the Keokuk high school; Theodore A. Craig, attorney in Keokuk, and ex-Mayor of the cit\ and Hugh H. Craig, attorney and mem1;er of the board of education of Keokuk. Mr. Craig was also eminent as a husband and father. He loved his home and family. Their welfare and happiness were his delight. The great lawyer, the busy citizen, the untiring student was never too engrossed in the affairs of life to turn the ear away from the cab of wife or child. His home was his loved paradise on earth, where rest and comfort and happiness came as a denison.

After an ilhiess existing over four years. during which time he was incapitated for the duties of his profession, Hon. John H. Craig passed away peacefully Monday, September 1 8, 1893. Ii"- Craig was first stricken during the march. 1888. term of the district court and while addressing a jury he sank to the floor and was borne to his home. From this attack, which the physicians said was caused by the rupture of a small blood vessel in the brain, he recovered sufficiently to resume the duties of his profession until in January. 1889, he suiifered another attack while sitting at his home. At the time it was thought this attack would prove fatal, but he again rallied so that he was able to walk about. From that time, however, his life work was over and the great legal mind and eloquent tongue ceased their labors, until after more than four years "he drew the draper of his couch about him and lay down to pleasant dreams." The end had come.

Citizens of every class and creed felt with moistened eye the great loss 'that had befallen the city. The State of Iowa echoed the lament from Keokuk. The Keokuk bar passed resolutions of regret and eulogy as did also the Iowa State Insurance Company and the Keokuk School Board of which he was so long a member and presiding officer. The press of Iowa, of Pennsylvania, the commonwealth which gave him Ijirth. and of other states gave high tribute to the goodness and greatness of Mr. Craig.

As printed in Biographical review of Lee County, Iowa; (1905). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.