Biographical Sketch of A. M. Craig, Knob Noster, Johnson County, Missouri >From "History of Johnson County, Missouri," by Ewing Cockrell, Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, Cleveland, 1918. ********************************************************************** A. M. Craig, public administrator of Johnson county and manager of the Johnson County Home Telephone Company of Knob Noster, Missouri, was born in 1858 in Jefferson county, Kentucky, the son of Reuben and Mary Jane (Guthrie) Craig, both members of prominent Colonial families. Reuben Craig was the son of Twyman Craig, a prosperous and influential farmer, who was a native of Kentucky and of Scotch descent. The Craig family has long been a distinguished and leading one in the historical annals of this country. Several different members of the family served in the Revolutionary War. The history, which at the present time is being used as a text in the public schools of Missouri, contains an illustration of early colonial life, a picture of Bryant Station, show- ing a stockade during a siege. The men were obliged to remain inside and the women are carrying the water. There are 21 women pictured and it is said that 18 of these were Craigs. The governor of Virginia granted the Craig family vast tracts of land near Lexington, Kentucky, where they were one of the first and most eminent families of the early days. Two widely known and distinguished men of our day are descendants of the Craig family of Kentucky: Governor Shirley of Kentucky, and Ed- ward Eggleston, the poet and historian, author of "True Stories of American Life and Adventure," "A First Book in American History," "A History of the United States and Its People," "Stories of Great Ameri- cans for Little Americans," and many historical novels. Mary Jane (Guthrie) Craig was the daughter of Livingston M. Guthrie, who was also a native of Kentucky and of Scotch descent. Reuben Craig and Mary Jane Guthrie were united in marriage in Kentucky and in 1867 came to Miss- ouri, where they located in Callaway county. They remained in that county seven years and in 1874 moved to Johnson county, where they settled on a farm in Grover township. To Reuben and Mary Craig were born three children: Leonval T., Knob Noster, Missouri; Mrs. Lucy Snell, who died in 1896; and A. M., the subject of this review. Reuben Craig was well known and highly respected in Johnson county. Mrs. Craig died in 1884 on the farm in Grover township and three years later she was followed in death by her husband, the death of Reuben Craig occurring in 1887. A. M. Craig was a boy nine years of age when he came to Miss- ouri with his parents. He attended school in Callaway and Johnson counties. He was 16 years old when the Craig family moved in 1874 to the farm in Grover township, near Knob Noster, and he attended school in Knob Noster. Marion Bigley taught the school and Mr. Craig recalls among his classmates, W. F. Denton, C. W. Weidman, T. E. Rigg, and S. J. Dudley. From earliest boyhood, A. M. Craig assisted his father with the work of the farm. He now owns a splendid farm in Washington town- ship, Johnson county. In 1883, A. M. Craig was united in marriage with Fannie E. Souther, the daughter of Simeon and Mahala Souther, who were honored pioneers of Johnson county, coming from Kentucky at an early day. To A. M. Craig and Fannie E. (Souther) Craig have been four children: Mary M., Gladys L., George M. and Francis A. Mr. Craig entered the real estate business in Knob Noster in 1896, in which he has since been successfully engaged. Land in Missouri has increased in value three fold since that time. Farmers in Johnson county are engaging more and more in the dairy business, which, in a large measure accounts for part of the increase in land valuation. Besides his farm in Washington township, Mr. Craig is owner of his real estate office in Knob Noster, his handsome residence, a modern structure of nine rooms, and several store buildings in Knob Noster. For the past 14 years, he has been public administrator and for 15 years, he has been manager of the Home Telephone company. Mr. and Mrs. Craig take active interest in church work, both being valued members of the Knob Noster Christian church. Mr. Craig has been superintendent of the Christian Sunday school for many years and an elder in the church. He is also a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Knights of Pythias, and the Modern Woodmen of America. ==================================================================== 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: <> Penny Harrell ====================================================================