Hon. Alexander K. Craig and Sarah F. McLain
Husband Hon. Alexander K. Craig 1 2
AKA: Hon. Alex K. Craig 3 Born: 21 Feb 1828 - Buffalo Twp, Washington Co, PA 3 Christened: Died: 29 Jul 1892 1 Buried:
Father: Hugh Craig (1795-1854) 3 Mother: Hannah Henderson ( -1856) 3
Marriage: 12 Mar 1850 1
Wife Sarah F. McLain 4 5
AKA: Sarah F. McClain 2 Born: 7 Dec 1830 4 6 Christened: Died: Aft 1882 Buried:
Father: William McLain (1779-1872) 1 7 8 Mother: Margaret McClelland ( -1875) 4 9
Children
1 F Hannah M. Craig 1
Born: Christened: Died: Bef 1910 Buried:Spouse: Albert Sprowls ( - ) 1
2 M John E. Craig 1
Born: Christened: Died: Aft 1910 Buried:Spouse: Euphemia S. Coulter ( - ) 1
3 F Mary Evelyn Craig 1
Born: Christened: Died: 1858 1 Buried:Spouse: Did Not Marry
4 F Eliza J. "Lizzie" Craig 10
Born: Christened: Died: 2 Dec 1884 10 Buried:Spouse: James A. McKeown (1851- ) 11 Marr: Autumn, 1877 12
5 M William H. Craig 13
Born: Christened: Died: 9 Aug 1891 1 14 Buried:Spouse: Anna R. Rollstin (1861- ) 14 Marr: Spring, 1887 14
6 M Prof. J. Addison A. Craig 1 2
Born: 12 Feb 1862 - East Finley Twp, Washington Co, PA 2 Christened: Died: Aft 1910 Buried:Spouse: Jennie Johnston ( - ) 2 Marr: 20 Dec 1906 2
7 M Thomas B. Craig 1
Born: Christened: Died: Bef 1910 Buried:
General Notes: Husband - Hon. Alexander K. Craig
He 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 this profession, 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.
His entire family were members of the Presbyterian Church, of which, beginning in 1857, he 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 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 office of public trust he served his constituents 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. 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." The large crowd which attended his funeral showed in what high regard and esteem he was held by his fellow-citizens at home. The following fitting tribute was 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 deportment, 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."
He enlisted, during the War of the Rebellion, in Company H, Eighty-seventh P. V. I., serving under Captain Buford; he was sent to Petersburgh, Virginia, and there remained in active service until the close of the war, and was mustered out at Washington, D. C., in July, 1865.
1 Editor, Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893), Pg 70.
2 Joseph F. McFarland, 20th Century History of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens (Chicago, IL: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., 1910), Pg 906.
3 Editor, Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893), Pg 69.
4 Boyd Crumrine, History of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: L. H. Everts & Co., 1882), Pg 761.
5 Editor, Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893), Pg 70, 211.
6 Editor, Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893), Pg 211.
7 Boyd Crumrine, History of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: L. H. Everts & Co., 1882), Pg 760.
8 Joseph F. McFarland, 20th Century History of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens (Chicago, IL: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., 1910), Pg 608.
9 Editor, Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893), Pg 211, 1207.
10 Editor, Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893), Pg 70, 1070.
11 Editor, Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893), Pg 70, 453, 1069.
12 Editor, Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893), Pg 1070.
13 Editor, Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893), Pg 70, 1069.
14
Editor, Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893), Pg 1069.
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