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 J. CRAIG, who is located on section 11,
Seven Hickory Township, is a native of
Morgan Township, this county, where his
birth took place on the farm of his father,
Isaac Craig, Sept. 11, 1840. He is consequently a
gentleman in the prime of life, and by his industry
and enterprise years ago, became an important
factor among the agricultural and business interests of this part of Illinois. Mr. Craig remained a resident of his native township until a boy nine years of age, when his parents removed to Edgar County, where he lived until reaching his majority, being engaged mostly in the labors of the farm. In the meantime he had also acquired a good education and taught school for six months. This occupation, however, had little attraction for him and desiring a more active life he returned to this county and located on a tract of land which is now included in his present homestead. He commenced with energy the task of its improvement and cultivation, and was greatly prospered in his labors, in due time adding to his real estate until he was the possessor of 440 acres. He has of late years been largely engaged in the breeding of fine horses, the head of his stables being a magnificent Clyde stallion which he and his brother Lafayette own together, and which has already become a favorite in this part of the county. The subject of this history is one of fourteen children born to Isaac and Elizabeth (Bloyer) Craig. The former was a native of Kentucky, born near West Liberty, Sept. 25, 1810, and remained a resident of his native county until his removal to this State. He first located in Edgar County, subsequently coming to this county, then returned to Edgar, and finally retraced his steps to this section, locating in Charleston, where he is still living, retired from active labor but still competent to look after his banking and real estate interests. The first wife of Isaac Craig became the mother of six children, namely, Lafayette, Robert, Elizabeth, Harriet, William R., now deceased, and one who died young. Mrs. Craig died at the homestead in Coles County. He was subsequently married to Miss Elizabeth Bloyer, a native-of Lancaster, Pa., who had come to this State with her parents and located in Morgan Township. Of this union there were born eight children, of whom the record is as follows: Catherine is married, and a resident of Charleston Township; her first husband was T. Beatty, who died while a soldier in the late war, and she was afterward married to Robert McMullen; of her first marriage there were born two children, and of her second, five. The second child, James, was born June 29, 1844, and is engaged in the practice of law at Mattoon; he married Miss Mary E. Chilton, and they have five children. Andrew J., born Sept. 11, 1846, married Miss Sarah Zinks, a native of Edgar County; she was born Aug. 9, 1848, and is the daughter of Emanuel and Delilah (Wright) Zinks, natives respectively of Kent. Pa., and North Carolina. They were the parents of eight children, Mrs. C. being the youngest. Of this marriage there are three sons: Luther, born April 19, 1873; Frank H., Aug. 9, 1875, and Arthur E., March 8, 1877. Ellen Craig was born in April, 1848, and became the wife of Newton Swango, a native of Kentucky, where his parents are still living; Mr. and Mrs. S. had six children, of whom two are deceased; they are residents of Charleston. Isaac B. Craig, Jr., was born in 1850, and married Miss Helen Hasbrook ; he is engaged in the practice of law in Mattoon; they have no children. Benjamin F., born in 1852, died at home in the fall of 1873. Thomas J., born in 1865, married Miss Martha Mountjoy; they have no children, and are residing with the father in Charleston; Mary F. died when young. Andrew J. Craig since locating in this county permanently, has been prominently identified with its local affairs, and in June, 1874, was elected to represent Seven Hickory Township on the County Board of Supervisors and re-elected two years thereafter. He has of late been largely engaged in stock-raising, feeding large numbers of cattle and shipping them to Chicago and other Eastern markets. He takes a genuine interest in the welfare of his community, uniformly votes the Democratic ticket, and is a member in good standing of the Christian Church. |
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