James Craig

    James Craig, deceased, was  born April 20, 1807, in Ireland, near Belfast. He was married in 1834 to Miss Margaret Roberts, daughter of Mr. John Roberts, of Belfast, Ireland, a noted merchant in the linen business.

    In 1838 Mr. Craig came to America, leaving Belfast in May of that year. He engaged in the coal business in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for about two years, when he came to Jefferson County, Indiana, and settled on a farm in Monroe Township, where he continued to reside to the end of his life. He died, after a short illness, at his home, May 26, 1876.

    In later life, he combined farming and school-teaching as his professions, and was an energetic man in both lines of business. He occupied many positions of profit and trust at the gift of the voters of his township. He was a prominent Mason. He was a man of strong convictions, and when once fixed in an opinion would hold out tenaciously.

    He was a kind father and husband and a strong friend. He enlisted, with four of his sons, in the Sixth Indiana Regiment, and served until he was disabled, when he returned home and taught school the balance of his life. He had many of the prominent men of the county and State among his pupils.

    His family consisted of ten children, viz: Charlotte, Maggie, William R., John T., George D., Lizzie, Robert T., Susan, Hunter (died when two years old) and James.

    His widow resides on the old homestead, with her youngest son, James.

Source: Biographical and Historical Souvenir for the counties of Clark, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Jefferson, Jennings, Scott and Washington, Indiana. By John M. Gresham & Co., 1889.