Ellis County Texas Archives Obituaries.....Craig, Edward Everett 1914 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/tx/txfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Virginia Crilley http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00003.html#0000642 August 16, 2006, 8:10 pm Ennis Weekly Local Ennis Weekly Local Thursday, August 6, 1914 Vol XXX No 32 Edward Everett Craig Died Thursday Night Pioneer Merchant of Ennis Gone to His Reward - Was a man above Reproach Ennis is mourning the loss of one of her best citizens and her pioneer merchant. It was a great shock to the entire community when news of the death of E.E. Craig, Sr. was learned last Friday morning. Mr. Craig was at his place of business Thursday morning as usual, but about 9 o'clock began to feel badly and went to a physician for some medicine. He went home just before noon, and throughout the afternoon told his family and friends that he was suffering from a pain about the heart. About 10:30 that night he suddenly passed away, his trouble being given as neuralgia of the heart. His devoted wife and daughter, Mrs. Harry Atwood were at Winslow Ark, for their summer vacation. A message was sent them during the afternoon while he was sick and Mr.s Craig left there that night and arrived on the interurban at 10 a.m. Friday not knowing that her companion had passed away until she arrived in Dallas. Mr. Harry Atwood having met her in that city. Mrs. Atwood and children left Winslow Friday morning and arrived at home Friday night. Edward Everett Craig was born in Colbert County, Ala, formerly called Franklin County on August 2, 1845 and therefore lacked but two days of being 69 years of age at the time of his death. He served in the Confederate army in Newsome's company, Johnson's Alabama brigade and was a true soldier. He came to Texas to Red River county in 1870 and to Ennis in 1873 when he took the agency for the Express Company and soon afterwards in partnership with Billy Park entered the hardware business at the present location, where he did business continuously for forty one years. His partner, Mr. Park was killed, and the late J.W. Dunklerly, father of the Dunkerley family, in Ennis, who then resided in Alabama and who had been a friend of Mr. Craig, volunteered to come to Texas and enter the firm, telling Mr. Craig to invoice the stock and have everything ready as he was willing to take Mr. Craig's word for anything about the business. Mr. Dunkerley joined the firm in 1877 and for thirty years these two men were partners in business and it is said that during all that time there was never a disagreement, hard word or thought one for the other. When Mr. Dunkerley voluntarily retired from the firm the same confidence in Mr. Craig's honesty and integrity was shown for Mr. Dunkerley told Mr. Craig to estimate what his share was worth and take it. Mr. Craig did so and asked Mr. Dunkerley if he thought he had received all that was due him. Mr. Dunkerley expressed himself as being satisfied, his only concern being as to whether Mr. Craig had paid him too much for his share. The firm then became E. E. Craig & Co and has remained so to this day, never a word or suspicion attaching to his business integrity and honesty. Truly he was a man against whom no word of censure or criticism has ever been heard. Mr. Craig is said to have been the oldest hardware dealer, in point of service on the H. and T.C. railroad and most probably in the state. In 1876 Mr. Craig was married to Miss Emma Harlan, a cousin of W.M. McKinney, here, who with two sons, E.E. Craig, Jr. and Randolph M. Craig, two daughters, Mrs. Harry Atwood and Miss Kathryn (Tot) Craig, two brothers, John F. Craig of Ennis and D.C. Craig of Malone, Hill County and one sister, Mrs. Mattie Keton, also of Malone, survive him. In early life Mr. Craig joined the Methodist church and lived a consistent Christian life. He had also long been a loyal and zealous member of the Masonic lodge and chapter here and was also recognized as a model citizen and a friend to the needy. The bereaved family has the sincere sympathy of the entire community in their great grief, many close friends sharing their bereavement with them. Funeral at 5:30 pm Saturday from the family home, 408 W. Belknap street, corner Belknap and North Preston streets at 5:30 o'clock Saturday afternoon, conducted by Rev. Umphrey Lee, pastor of the Methodist church of which he was a member. The Masonic lodge then took charge of the remains and convey them to the cemetery where they were laid to rest with Masonic honors. The family has named the following friends as honorary pallbearers: N.L. Worley, P. Freeman, D.W. Burchfield, Mark Latimer, Floyd W. Dunkerley, George Fugate, Jno. P. Mann, Hix McCanless, Jno. S. Telfair and Dr. J.C. Loggins. The active pall bearers were selected from the Masonic fraternity in attendance at the funeral. Craig Funeral Saturday was Largely Attended A very large number of friends assembled at the Craig home on West Belknap Street at 5 o'clock Saturday afternoon to pay a last tribute to the memory of E.E. Craig, Sr. who died Thursday night. A short but very impressive funeral service was conducted at the home by Rev. Emphrey Lee of the Methodist church, who paid a beautiful tribute to the life and character of the deceased. A great many beautiful floral wreaths were sent in by loving friends. After the service at the home the remains were taken in charge by the Masonic lodge, of which he was a charter member, and taken to Myrtle cemetery and there tenderly laid to rest with the beautiful and impressive ceremony of that order. The following were the active pallbearers: J.S. Brown, B.H. Brewer, Jno. M. Weekley, Claude Brewer, Claude Dietrich and James M. Baldridge. The follwoing were named by the family as honorary pall bearers: N.L. Worley, P. Freeman, D.W. Burchfield, Mark Latimer, Floyd W. Dunkerley, George Fugate, Jno. P. Mann, Hix McCanless, Jno. S. Telfair and Dr. J.C. Loggins. Additional Comments: 1900 United States Federal Census > Texas > Ellis > Ennis Ward 3 > District 25 Craig, Edward E. Aug 1845 54 AL NC AL Emma H Feb 1854 46 TX KY IL Everett E. Jr Apr 1877 23 TX AL TX Bettie Nov 1878 21 TX AL TX Randolph M Dec 1885 14 TX AL TX Kathryn Dec 1888 11 TX AL TX Marchbanks, Hal Boarder Jun 1879 23 Bennett, Laura Servant b f 1860 40 Taylor, Anderson Servant b m 1879 21 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/tx/ellis/obits/c/craig222gob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/txfiles/ File size: 6.7 Kb