Biographical Sketch of J. L. McCraw, Jr., Greene County, Missouri, Taylor Township >From "History of Greene County, Missouri," St. Louis: Western Historical Company, 1883. ********************************************************************** John L. McCraw, Jr., was born in Taylor township, Greene county, Miss- ouri, September 30, 1838 and till he left, the oldest man in the town- ship who was born in it. He received such education as the log cabin schools afforded at that early date. In July, 1861, he enlisted in Captain F. E. Watterson's company of Home Guards. On the 10th of Aug- ust, 1861 he was taken prisoner by rebels while reconnoitering near the Wilson Creek battlefield. He was held prisoner five days, and fed upon raw roasting-ears once a day by his captors. He was exchanged in the early part of 1862, and in May of that year he enlisted in Colonel Wood's battalion, 6th Missouri cavalry, but was mustered out in July, because the battalion had two more companies in it than were allowed. In the same month he enlisted in Company L, 5th Missouri cavalry, under Capt. Robert V. Keller, and served as first sergeant. He was at the battles of Prairie Grove, Springfield, and Little Rock. He was in act- ive service until the close of the war, the last was at the surrender of the Confederates at Camden, Arkansas, where there was a general hand shaking and division of rations. He was mustered out at Little Rock, in August, 1865, and returned home, where he resumed farming. Mr. McCraw was married in September, 1869 to Miss Virginia A., daughter of Martin Ingram. He moved to Dakota in the spring of 1883. April 18, 1880 his place in Taylor was struck by a cyclone, buildings, fences and everything that would break, was swept away and crushed. Himself and wife found shelter under a bluff and escaped unhurt. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Joe Miller Penny Harrell ====================================================================