SAMUEL W. CRAFT. The Well-known family, of which this gentleman is a conspicuous member, are of German descent, and the earliest record of them now extant is of one Daniel Craft, who came to Fayette county, Penn., about the year 1750, and settling near Merrittstown, there entered a wild, uncultivated tract of land, which continued to remain in the family name until 1891. This Daniel Craft had three sons, Samuel, Daniel and Benjamin. Samuel Craft, son of the pioneer, Daniel, was born in Germany, and there received his early education. He learned and followed the trade of a silversmith in the Fatherland, and when a young man came to America. He had bought several teams, and carried goods across the mountains to Philadelphia and Baltimore, but finally abandoned that business, and took up the trade of clock making. He had two children, Samuel and Elizabeth. In religious faith he was a member of the Baptist Church. Samuel Craft, son of Samuel, was born and reared in Fayette county, Penn., where he attended the subscription schools. In early life he was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Adam Chessround, of Washington county, Penn., and the following children were born to this union: Adam, Peter, Washington, Jonathan, Abel, Leroy, Joshua and Eli. The father passes his life in agricultural pursuits. In 1821 he went to Vincennes, Ind., and resided there about ten years, and then returned to Washington county, and lived for sometime in Fallowfield township. Some years later he removed to Fayette county, Penn., whence in 1850 he went to Iowa, where he died. In religious faith he was a member of the Baptist Church; in politics he was an active Whig. Adam Craft, son of Samuel and Elizabeth Craft, was born in 1810, in Fayette county, Penn., where he was reared and educated. In early manhood he selected a life companion in the person of Margaret, daughter of Jacob Bird, and their children were Jacob, Samuel W., Elizabeth (wife of John L. Trent), Sarah (deceased wife of Jacob Huggins) and three who names are not given. After his marriage Mr. Craft settled on a farm in Fallowfield township, Washington Co., Penn., and followed farming in connection with the carpentry and building business. He remained on that place about four years, then moved to a farm owned by his father-in-law, and in 1844 came to East Pike Run township. In 1850 he moved to California, this country, and died in that village September 6, 1853, his widow surviving till February 22, 1887. They were members of the Baptist Church, and in political opinion he was a Democrat. Samuel W. Craft, whose name opens this sketch, son of Adam and Margaret Craft, was born at Jonestown, Washington Co., Penn., July 1, 1835, and was reared in the same county, attending school in the log schoolhouse of that age. He worked on a farm till he was seventeen years old, when he learned the trade of ship-carpenter, working as a common hand until 1859, when he became foreman on the yard, continuing as foreman till 1865, then becoming a partner in the ship-building business, and remained in the business till 1879, when the railroad completely destroyed their yard. He then open up in the furniture and undertaking business, which he is still successfully engaged in. He became a member of the M. E. Church at the age of sixteen years, was leader of choir about thirty years, retiring on account of failure of voice; serving also as class leader, trustee, steward and treasurer for many years. On May 24, 1862, Mr. Craft was united in marriage with Martha, daughter of Joseph Powell, a native of Washington county, Penn., and she has borne him nine children, of whom Josephine and Katharine are still living. Mr. Craft became deeply interested in the success and welfare of the Southwestern State Normal School, located in California in 1866, giving liberally of his time and money. In 1867 he was elected a member of the Board of Trustees, and has served continually ever since, serving as chairman of important committees, and as vice-president for years. Soon after Mr. Craft entered the Board he was recognized as its financial leader, and in 1873, when the school had reached the end of its resources, and the trustees had done all they were able to do, and the sheriff was pushing claims on them, it became imperative on the Board to raise money speedily, fell on Mr. Craft, who successfully planned a financial policy by issuing five fifteen-year and five twenty-year first and second mortgage coupon bonds which were successfully placed on the market at par, from which they realized in a short time sufficient funds to save the school financially, and since that time he is known as the father of the successful financial policy which saved the institution, and the guardian of the treasury. In politics, like his father, he has always been a Democrat and takes special interest in local affairs.

Text taken from page 1026 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed February 1997 by LuShelle Fletcher of Grand Island, NE as part of the Beers Project. Published February 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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