Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Craig, James 
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Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 February 2, 2008, 2:59 am

Author: Past & Present Will County, 1907

James Craig, who since 1869 has been a resident of Will county, being now 
closely associated with the farming and industrial interests of his locality, 
was born in Straid, County Antrim, Ireland, in 1849. His parents, James and 
Agnes Craig, were natives of Glasgow, Scotland, although both died in Ireland. 
The father became an agriculturist of that country and also bought and sold 
stock there. Both he and his wife were members of the Moravian church. His 
death occurred in 1891, his wife's in 1898, and they had each reached the 
venerable age of four score years when called to their final rest. Only four 
of their twelve children are now living, as follows: James; John, who is 
living on the old homestead farm in Ireland; Priscilla, who is the widow of A. 
McDowell and resides on the Emerald isle; and Hannah, who likewise lives on 
one of the old homestead properties in Ireland. James Craig spent the first 
ten years of his life in the land of his nativity and in September, 1869, made 
the voyage to the new world on the steamship Minnesota of the Cunard line. 
After a week passed in Brooklyn visiting friends and relatives, he continued 
on his way to Joliet and spent two or three years there working at the trade 
of horseshoeing. He then located in Wilmington in 1872 and in 1879 removed to 
his farm, whereon his time and energies have since been given to the 
development of the fields and to the trade of horseshoeing. He is an excellent 
workman in that line. He also breeds Percheron horses and Poland China hogs 
and as a farmer and stock-raiser is doing a successful business. His place is 
well equipped with modern appointments and everything about the farm indicates 
his careful supervision by reason of its neat and thrifty appearance. On the 
9th of April, 1877, Mr. Craig was united in marriage to Miss Minerva Rockwell, 
who was born in Wilmington township, September 19, 1849, a daughter of Stephen 
and Mahala (McClure) Rockwell, both of whom were natives of Highgate, Vermont. 
Her father died August 16, 1886, at the age of seventy years, and his wife on 
the 13th of December, 1879, when fifty-seven years of age. They were married 
in Vermont. In 1859 Mr. Rockwell came to Illinois with horses and teams, 
locating in Florence township, Will county. The family had made the journey by 
rail. He first purchased forty acres of land and subsequently he bought land 
in Wilmington township, embracing a half section. He hauled the lumber from 
Chicago to build his first house and he hauled his wheat to Chicago to market 
it. He was one of the pioneer farmers and stock-raisers of his locality and 
aided in the development of the county along modern lines of progress and 
improvement. His political allegiance was given to the republican party and he 
served as highway commissioner and as school director for many years. He also 
belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church and his life was an exemplification 
of high and honorable principles and manly conduct. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Craig 
have been born fourteen children, of whom eight survive: Arthur, who is 
engaged in buying and selling horses at Idaho Falls, Idaho; James, who was 
graduated as a civil engineer from the Illinois University in June, 1906, and 
is now employed by the state soil surveyor; George, who has been a student in 
the agricultural department of the State University; David, who is studying 
civil engineering at Champaign, Illinois; Eunice; Alice; Marie; and Walter. 
Mr. Craig is a stalwart advocate of republican principles, stanchly supporting 
the party. He has served as school director for twenty years or more and is 
filling the position at the present time. He is likewise connected with River 
camp, No. 94. M. W. A. He has recently returned from, the old country, having 
spent two months with his brother and sister in Ireland. He has never had 
occasion, however, to regret his determination to make America his home, for 
in this land he has found good opportunities and, working persistently and 
energetically, success has attended his efforts and his labors have made him 
one of the substantial residents of Will county.

Additional Comments:
PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS By W. W. Stevens President of the 
Will County Pioneers Association; Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1907

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