THOMAS B. CRAIG was born in Buffalo township, this county, June 6, 1840. He came of a talented Scotch-Irish family, one of the most influential and successful in the county a parentage that exercised no little influence in laying the foundation of modern government and religion. This has made Washington county widely known, in State and Nation; has given her sons no little pride in saying "I hail from Washington county." His parents were Hugh and Hannah (Henderson) Craig. His father, though a farmer, was needed in official position, and served his township and county, and finally the State Legislature, to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. Thomas B. Craig is the youngest of eight children, among whom were Rev. Dr. Hugh K. Craig, who ranked high in the pulpit, and was president for a time of Monongahela College. Hon. John H. Craig, another brother, distinguished himself for his scholarly attainments at college, and is widely known in Iowa as a platform orator. Hon. A. K. Craig, who served his party in Congress, and a sketch of whose life is found in this volume, was also a brother. Thomas B. Craig was raised on the old Craig farm near Claysville, where he imbibed those principles that gave to his character the elements necessary for complete success. He always held his own with the brightest pupils at Science Hill School, among whom was the Hon. S. J. McCarrel, now a member of the State Senate of Pennsylvania.
Scarcely having attained his majority, the Civil war broke out, and fired with zeal for the cause of right, as it appeared to him, enlisted in August, 1862, in Company B, "Ringgold Cavalry" Battalion, serving in it for some two years, at which time the battalion was reorganized into a regiment, known as the Twenty-second P. V. C. He served in Company C, of this regiment, until the close of the war. He was a member of the corps under General Sheridan in his "famous raid" in the Shenandoah Valley, and took part in the engagements, the most important of which were the battles of Winchester (the scene of "Sheridan's Ride," immortalized by Buchanan), Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek. After the war Mr. Craig entered into partnership with L. C. Truesdell in general mercantile business at Claysville, which continued for four years. He then embarked alone, conducting a general store in which he has since been very successful, and for many years has been recognized by the public as the leading merchant of Claysville. In 1871 Mr. Craig married Rachel, daughter of James Noble, of Buffalo township, one of the most successful farmers of the county. To them were born four children, James, who is assisting his father in the mercantile business; Homer, a student in Washington and Jefferson College, McWilliams and Clarence, who are attending the public schools at Claysville.
Mr. Craig has always been a strong Democrat, and has taken an active interest in politics; and the Democratic party owes a great deal to his zeal and fidelity for its success, and especially for its late success, in having a Democratic representation in the Twenty-fourth Congressional District of Pennsylvania, of which this county is a part. A late writer in speaking of Mr. Craig says: "Among the well-known and enterprising business men of Claysville, none occupy a more prominent position, or are more worthy of confidence and respect, than the subject of this sketch." Mr. Craig has been and is at present a member of the City Council, and has been frequently a member of the school board, besides holding other offices of trust. He and his family are members of the Presbyterian Church, the church of his boyhood, to which he has given his liberal support and work.
Text taken from page 882 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed March 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project.
Published April 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]