Biography of Thomas Y. Craig, Saline Co, AR

***********************************************************
Submitted by:
        Date: 25 May 2002
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
***********************************************************

SOURCE: Goodspeed's History of Saline County

Thomas Y. Craig, a farmer and merchant of Brazil, Holland Township, carries a
full line of general merchandise, and enjoys a lucrative patronage. He was born
in Seneca County, S. C., in 1844, and was the third son in a family of four
children born to William and Francis Deshield Craig. The father was a South
Carolina farmer, who in 1859 emigrated to Arkansas with his family, and settled
in Hempstead County, where be purchased a piece of land and improved it. He was
a prominent Democrat of the community in his day. His death occurred in 1870,
his widow following him in about two years. They were the parents of the
following children: Nancy (now Hire. Compton, who resides in Hempstead County,
Ark.), Jane (now Mrss. Simpson, also of Hempstead County), Thomas Y. (the
subject of this article), and Franklin (who is married and resides in Hempstead
County, being engaged in farming). Thomas Y. Craig was reared to farm life,
being educated in the subscription schools of South Carolina. He accompanied
his parents to Hempstead County in 1850, resuming farm labor, and in 1861
enlisted in Capt. Neal's company, in the Nineteenth Arkansas Infantry, at
Nashville for one year, at the end of which time he reenlisted in the same
regiment to serve during the war. He was in the battle of Wilson's Creek and a
number of noted engagements, when he was taken prisoner and sent to Chicago,
where he was kept for four months, at the end of that time being exchanged and
forwarded to City Point, Va., and then to Richmond. Following this he
participated in the battles of Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Dalton, Atlanta
and others. In 1865 he was paroled and returned to Hempstead County, where he
again engaged in farming until the following year, when be went to Little Rock
and learned the trade of carpentering, following it until 1876. Mr. Craig was
married in Little Rock, in 1870, to Sarah Ray, a native of Alabama. By that
union two children were born, who are both living: Alena and Nora. This wife
died in 1878, and in 1879 he married, in Pulaski County, Miss Emily Bosher, of
that county. They were the parents of the following children: Zephyr, Cora,
Steen, Ola, Effie and Frank. In 1876 Mr. Craig bought a partly improved farm in
Saline County of 380 acres, 100 of which were under cultivation. He now has
over 200 acres improved, having added attractive surroundings to the farm. He
raises large crops of grain and cotton, as well as fine cattle and mules. He is
a member of Paran Lodge No. 319, A. F. & A. M., in which hehas held the office
of worshipful master. Mr. Craig takes an active part in all educational work
and interests of an enterprising nature.