Benton Co., AR - Biographies - James T. Craig

***********************************************************
Submitted by:
        Date: 20 Jun 1998
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ar/benton/bentonco.html
***********************************************************

----------------------------------------------------------------------
SOURCE: History of Benton, Washington, Carroll, Madison, Crawford,
Franklin, and Sebastian Counties, Arkansas. Chicago: The Goodspeed 
Publishing Co., 1889.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

James T. Craig, retired merchant, Bentonville, Ark., was born in Ray County, Tenn., December 22,
1818, and is one of the oldest and most respected citizens of the county. He is the son of Samuel
and Jane (Henderson) Craig, natives of Pennsylvania and North Carolina, respectively, the former
born in 1781 and the latter in 1790. They were married in North Carolina, whither the father had
immigrated when a young man, and after marriage they moved to Ray County, Tenn. Here the mother
died in 1827. The father moved to Cane Hill, Washington Co., Ark., in 1848, and there died two
years later. He followed the occupation of a farmer, and was also a teacher by profession. He was
the father of only two children who lived to be grown-James T. the only one now living. Samuel
Craig's father was a native of Scotland, and after coming to the United States settled in
Pennsylvania. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. James T. Craig was only eight years old
when his mother died, and at that age was taken by one of the neighbors, with whom he lived for a
few years, and did what work a small boy could do on the farm. At the age of fifteen he began
working at the tailor's trade in Pikesville, Tenn., where he remained one year. He then worked in
a store for some time, and in 1838 went to Lynchburg, Ala., where he resumed clerking. He worked
for James Lyle, and in a letter of commendation written by the latter, dated Lychburgh, De-Kalb
Co., Ala., February 11, 1838, and which is now in the possession of James T. Craig, are the
following words: "With the bearer, James T. Craig, I have been acquainted with more than twelve
months, the greater part of which time he has done business in my store. As a young man of honest
principle, virtuous, and business habits and amiable disposition, he is surpassed by none and
equalled by few. I therefore confidently commend him as a salesman and clerk to any who wish to
employ a person in the above line of business. [Signed] James Lyle." Immediately after the above
was written Mr. Craig went to Fort Smith. Ark., and clerked there for one year, but his permanent
location was at Fort Gibson, where he acted as salesman for a year. The following year he
purchased a stock of goods and began merchandising on his own responsibility. In 1846 he married
Miss Samantha Reagan, who was born in Tennessee in 1827, and who died in 1848. The same year Mr.
Craig moved his stock of goods to Cane Hill, Ark. In April, 1850, he disposed of his goods, and
with the determination of obtaining his share of the hidden wealth in California, turned his
[p.822] face westward, and after a long, perilous journey over the vast plains that stretched
between, reached that State. He remained in the mining regions from August until May of the
following year, and not meeting with very good success he returned via the Isthmus, and resumed
his former business in Cincinnati. Ark. June 12, 1851, he married Miss Elizabeth A. Russell, a
native of Ray County, Tenn., born August 20, 1830. To them were born three children: Charles R.,
Edward A. and George M. Charles R. was born in 1854, and is in the real estate business at
Bentonville; is also engaged in the mercantile establishment of Craig & Sons. March 27, 1876, he
married Miss Lottie Redding, on the anniversary of her twentieth birthday, and to them have been
born five children: James R., Carrie M., Eddie M., Ethel and an infant daughter. Edward A. Craig
was born in Bentonville, Ark., in 1860, and is a member of the firm of James T. Craig & Sons.
January 14, 1884, he married Miss Wincie McDaniel, who bore him two children: Bessie and John.
George M. was born at Cane Hill, Ark., in 1862, and is also a member of the above mentioned firm.
September 14, 1886, he married Miss Jennie A. Taliaferro, and is the father of one child. Annie
B. In February, 1852, James T. Craig became a resident of Bentonville, Ark., and engaged in
merchandising, continuing the same until the breaking out of the late war. He then returned to
Cane Hill and engaged in farming, which occupation he continued until 1871, when he again
returned to Bentonville and resumed merchandising. In 1882 he turned his business over to his
sons. Mr. Craig is now seventy years of age, and lives a quiet, retired life. During his active
life he lived and acted the characteristics set forth by his employer, James Lyle, in his
commendation. Mr. Craig is the oldest merchant in Bentonville, and he has met with good success.
He erected the first two-story business houses ever built in Bentonville. He is Democratic in his
political views, and he and wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.