Yolo-Nevada-Yuba County CA Archives Biographies.....Craig, Joseph 1849 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 6, 2007, 6:50 pm Author: Lewis Publishing Co. (1891) HON. JOSEPH CRAIG.—The Old Dominion has probably done more than any other State in the Union toward building and assuring the status of her young sisters in the roll of statehood, giving freely of her best sons and representatives of her oldest families to help them form a solid basis for the future. In this regard, at any rate, California has certainly fared well, for wherever we go in this "Golden State" are found prominent and efficient men who owe their lineage to Virginia, and whose names recall circumstances that stand out brightly in the early annals of our country. One such name is that of Hon. Jeseph [sic] Craig, of Woodland, who, though born in Missouri, and his parents both natives of Kentucky,—that State with the most stirring and romantic early history of all,—yet is descended directly on his father's side from the celebrated Craig family of Virginia. His mother, too, who is still living, at a good old age, and now a resident of San Francisco, is a granddaughter of Captain Jack Ashby, the great scout and Indian fighter of Kentucky, and is therefore of the well-known Ashby family. Mr. Craig was born August 14, 1849, in Clinton County, Missouri, and is the son of Randolph R. and Minerva R. (Darneal) Craig. The parents were both born in Versailles, Woodford County, Kentucky, but removed to Missouri about the year 1837, settling in Clinton County. Later they went to Liberty, Clay County, where they remained until they came to California. The father came in 1849, attracted hither by gold discoveries. He mined with success until 1852, when he returned to Missouri, and in August of that year brought out his family. Mr. Craig was interested in mines all his life, and was long one of the most prominent men in the Sierras and foothills. He located in Nevada City, and lived there for many years. In later years he made his home in San Francisco, looking after his mining interests from that city. He died at Auburn, Placer County, in March, 1866. He left seven children, five sons and two daughters, all now living in California. The subject of this biographical sketch is the youngest of these. His early life was spent chiefly in Nevada County, where he attended school, and at the same time laid the foundation of a practical knowledge of mining, which has shown its results, among other ways, in the invention and patenting, in 1869, when he was twenty years of age, of the hydraulic monitor, which has since then been almost exclusively used in hydraulic mining, and almost revolutionized the whole business. For about two years Mr. Craig lived in Marysville, running a foundry and machine-shop, during that time largely devoted to the manufacture of the monitors. In the winter of 1872 he went to San Francisco and engaged extensively in the same manufacture. In 1875 he was elected to the State Senate from the Tenth district of San Francisco, and is probably the only Democrat ever elected from that Republican stronghold, a sure test of Mr. Craig's popularity. He filled the seat for two sessions, and has had the good record of being one of the five Senators who voted against the new constitutional convention. Mr. Craig began his legal studies in Nevada County, and continued them for some five or six years before applying for admission to practice. He was first admitted to practice by the district court in San Francisco, and three years later was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court. While in San Francisco he was a member of the law firm of Marshall, Smoot & Craig, at that time one of the leading firms in that city. In 1878 Mr. Craig removed to Yolo County, taking up his residence in Woodland, and immediately beginning the practice of law. In 1882 he was elected District Attorney of Yolo County and served one term. He declined to be a candidate a second time, preferring to devote his attention to his extensive private practice On January 17, 1889, he was appointed a member of the Board of State Prison Directors, in which board he is now serving. The legal firm of which he is the head, is Craig & Hawkins, well known throughout the State. It goes without saying, of course, that Mr. Craig is an active Democrat, and has been all his life. He was married May 1, 1874, to Miss Kate Stephens, daughter of John D. Stephens, of Woodland. They have had four children,— two sons and two daughters,—of whom, one son, John S., and one daughter, Mary A., are living. Those that died were Tilden J. and Josephine Marshall. Mr. Craig is of an inventive turn of mind, and besides the mining monitor previously mentioned has conceived other valuable mechanical devices. The principal one is what might be termed a combined plow, as it not only loosens the ground to the desired depth but also leaves it in such a condition that no harrowing is needed. The plow is constructed under a new principle, one never before advanced in connection with the subject of farming, and is capable of doing much more work with a great deal less power than any plow ever constructed on the old system. If it proves the success that is now promised this invention will revolutionize farming, or at any rate that portion of it which consists of preparing land for crops. Mr. Craig was the first one in Yolo County to take measures for the propagation of the German carp, which are now to be found in the greatest abundance in a natural fish-pond on his ranch. To give an idea of the matter to those who may be interested, the following is taken from a letter written by Mr. Craig in answer to inquiries from a gentleman in another country: "In 1882 I purchased from a gentleman at Lakeside, in Sonoma County, forty German carp,—twenty brood and twenty small,—and placed them in a natural pond about two acres in size. They multiplied very rapidly, and grew to large size, some weighing from six to ten pounds. The high water of the following season carried a number of them into a stream called Cache Creek, where they did well and increased with wonderful rapidity, until now both the pond and creek are alive with them. It would be impossible to estimate the number taken, as the public have had free access to both pond and creek, and the number now remaining is without limit. "When first put in, the pond contained bullhead in large numbers, but the carp have either destroyed them or driven them away, until they are almost extinct. From my experience, I am prepared to say that they are a fine food fish, and easily propagated. Persons having water facilities can, with little or no difficulty, raise the carp for food." Mr. Craig, while one of the hardest and closest workers in business and professional matters, is a pleasant, genial gentleman, and enjoys a State reputation of being one of the best civil and criminal lawyers in Central and Northern California. Additional Comments: Extracted from Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California. Illustrated, Containing a History of this Important Section of the Pacific Coast from the Earliest Period of its Occupancy to the Present Time, together with Glimpses of its Prospective Future; Full-Page Steel Portraits of its most Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of many of its Pioneers and also of Prominent Citizens of To-day. "A people that takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote descendents." – Macauley. CHICAGO THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY 1891. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/yolo/bios/craig690gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/cafiles/ File size: 8.0 Kb