About The Craig & Fleming Ancestry Home Page
The files of the Craig Fleming History are well into the year of 2007 and
living goes on. We look forward to many new happenings all over the United
States - the place we call home. Best wishes go out to each and every one. Let
us know when something nice, good or bad happens in your family.
History of John Craig family
of Ireland
The Craigs came from Ballyroney, County Down Northern Ireland about 1773. John
Craig, having come from Ireland in 1773 served as an apprentice cabinet-maker
with his brother, Henry, who had come over from Ireland a short time
previously, and had settled in Philadelphia Pa.
When the Revolutionary war began Henry enlisted in the Penn's Line, but owing
to the fact that he had a family, John took his place and served seven years
under Mad Anthony Wayne as Pvt. 4th Pa. Btn. and was wounded at Three Rivers
Canada. After John had gone to war Henry Craig re-enlisted and after going to
the front was never heard from again. There was also another brother who
served in the Rev. War, Alexander who later settled at Starnina near
Charleston, South Carolina where his descendants still live.
After the war John Craig came to Westmoreland County and married Betsy
Atkinson and had five children: Nancy, Peggy, Alexander, James and Samuel.
John settled in Fairveiw Township, Butler Co in 1796. About one mile south of
what is now Karns City on the left of the road. John and Betsy had two more
children: Elizabeth (Betsy),and George. James Craig b.1786,the eldest son of
John and Elizabeth (Betsy) Atkinson Craig had six children: Elizabeth
b.1810,George N. b.1822,James b.1817 d.1877, Mary b.1825,Susan b.1830 and John
Craig b.1823 d.1888.
Samuel Craig, 1796-1870, son of John and Elizabeth Craig had five children:
William H. 1830-1897, James Henry, 1832-1899, Sara J. 1834-1876,George 1840-
1858 and Rebecca A. Craig 1842-1916.
John was a large man physically and his sons were all men of great size. One
of them, George , was very tall and though not fleshy weighed 250 lb. The Bear
Creek Neighborhood was settled quite rapidly. Among the pioneers were John
Craig, William Wilson, William Ray, Paul McDormott, John Cambell and Alexander
Storey. Most of them located within the territory now comprised in Fairview
Township Butler Co. Pa.
About 1800 Samuel Kincaid , Joseph Smith , and John Craig constructed the
first church building, which was a small un-plastered log structure that could
be used only in summer. It was located about a mile east of the town of
Fairview in the present lower Bear Creek Cemetery , known as the Beer Creek
Presbyterian Church.
Of John Craig , the following anecdote is related: He remained away from
church one Sabbath , and the preacher , Mr. Johnson met him afterwards and
inquired the reason he missed. John explained that he had to watch the cattle
to keep them from his grain, But asked the preacher 'Could you not trust that
matter to providence?' 'What' exclaimed Craig in astonishment' Would you have
me make a cow-herd of providence?' In plowing John used a cow and a horse
hitched side by side.
Recent Past Craig History,
Parkwood, PA
by Samuel Ward Craig
To answer your question, I was raised in the Parkwood home. The family moved
from the farm in 1916-1917 before Bill was born. As for sleeping arraingements
in the Parkwood house: Mom & Dad (Martin Burton Craig, b. Jan 10, 1885, d. Aug
16, 1966; and Margaret Myrtilla Holstein, b. Aug 04, 1883, d. Jun 06, 1969)
had a room and one or two youngsters, then the girls room, and the boys room
with 6 or 7. I don't remember too much about it being crowded as I was young.
Edna (Edna Marie Craig, b. Apr 27, 1906, d. May 04, 2005) went to Indiana High
by train, then to Normal (College) School [Now Indiana University of
Pennsylvania for teaching, stayed for a time with Aunt Bell McKee in Indiana.
*1
Edna married (Eugene Ira Barclay, b. Dec 19, 1905, d. Nov 14, 1983) and left
home when I was 4 ½ years old. Merle (Clarence Merle Craig, b. Feb 20, 1908,
d. Jul 15, 1995) and & your Dad (Robert LeRoy Craig, b. May 28, 1910, d. Dec
26, 1968) were staying with the Henderson's, a farmer in the Elders Ridge
area, while attending Elders Ridge High School *2.
I recall that Art (Madison Arthur Craig, b. Aug 20, 1912, d. Mar 31, 2005) &
Paul (Paul Clifford Craig, b. Aug 02, 1914, d. Mar 31, 2005) stayed with
farmers some when in High School at Elders Ridge.
I don't recall what may have caused the family to leave the farm. It might be
that they, "M. S." Craig ("Grand-pap" Madison Stoner Craig [MS], b. Apr 09,
1860, d. Jan 30, 1938) & Dad (Martin Burton Craig) wanted to go into business
at the store. M.S. Craig and grandmother, "C.A." (Catherine Arnetta 'Netta'
Anderson ["CA"], b. Jan 23, 1856, d. Nov 04, 1925) lived in the house at the
corner of Parkwood & Shelocta Roads, up the hill from the store (At the
crossroad), C.A.C. died in 1925 (I - S. W. Craig was 7 mo. old). "M.S." lived
alone, before the house burned due to an overheated furnace. He moved with
Uncle Bill for a while, but moved in with us, Mom & Dad moved downstairs and
M.S. had a room of his own.
The store went out of business due to the depression, and "M.S." being kind-
hearted in allowing too much credit to those in the Parkwood area in need at
this difficult time. Much of the debt was never paid off.
I recall that when I [SW] had the Scarlet Fever in Feb/Mar 1937. Merle
(Clarence Merle Craig, b. Feb 20, 1908, d. Jul 15, 1995) & Peg (Margaret Rose
Manners, b. Jul 04, 1911, d. Feb 13, 2003), your Mom & Dad (Robert LeRoy
Craig, b. May 28, 1910, d. Dec 26, 1968; and Hannah Jemima Fleming, b. Aug 13,
1913, d. Jul 21, 1982) were married. The family from "Art" down (Art, Paul,
Press, Bill, Hazel, Glenn, S.W. (Ward), and Ruth [8]) still lived at home, and
with "M.S." that made 11. Because of the Scarlet Fever Quarantine and they
wanted to work, Dad, Bill & Press moved into the store building, Art moved in
with Millen's, and Paul with Blakleys. I was in Mom & Dads bedroom, Mom moved
upstairs with Hazel & Ruth, Glenn had a room, "M.S." had a room, he died the
next January.
Yes Dad "M. B." & "Uncle Bill" (William John Craig, b. Aug 17, 1892, d. Aug
21, 1970) had the farm in Christmas trees. "Uncle Bill" hired a man, and he
and I planted most of the tree before I went into the service. Dad had worked
at trimming the trees the in the morning, and went into the hospital in the
afternoon the week he died (Jan 30, 1938).
I am sending photo taken at Kiwanis on Tuesday, February 20, 2007. *3
Also Dan's Swim Records (Daniel Craig Thurston, b. Nov 06, 1990). *4
LOVE Uncle Ward [Samuel Ward Craig, b. Feb 24, 1925 - Parkwood, PA]
Notes:
*1 With its original building from 1875 still standing at the heart of
the campus, IUP has a long tradition of academic excellence. The university
was founded in 1875 as a Normal School with 225 students and became a State
Teachers College in 1927. By 1959, the institution was the fifth largest
institution of higher education in the State of Pennsylvania. The university
changed its name again that year to Indiana State College.
*2 Elders Ridge High School,
*3 February 20, 2007;
*4 Michigan Boys Swimming
14 12 Fs 500 4:48.51 4:57.49
17 11 Fs 200 1:45.95 1:49.59
56 36 Fs 100 50.00 50.69
43 28 Fs 50 22.69 22.99
Relay
13 9 Md R 200 1.41.13 1:44.79
14 10 Fs R 200 1:30.87 1:31.99
14 9 Fs R 400 3:20.48 3:23.29
Close
49 35 I Md 200 2:04.26 2:04.09
- D1 = Division One, Largest Schools
- D2 = Division Two, Smaller Schools
- Fs = Individual Freestyle
- Freestyle = Swimmers Choice
- Medley = 4 Specified Different Styles
- Relay = 4 on a team, each Swin 1/4 of Distance
- Md R = Medley Relay
- Fs R = Freestyle Relay
- I Md = Individual Medley
Might we expect to see "Dan" at the next Olympics . . . ?
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