Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 459 - 460 

WILLIAM A. CRAIG is a successful and enterprising farmer located in Union Township, Sedgwick County, where he pre-empted the southwest quarter of section 26, on the 1st of April, 1872, and has since resided on the same. He is a native of Illinois, his birth occurring in Jersey County, Sept. 5, 1848.

      Our subject's father, Archibald Craig, was born near Princeton, N. J. In 1844, when still a young man, he migrated to Jersey County, Ill., and soon after married Catherine Hankinson, a native of Ohio. Her parents were natives of New Jersey, but after marriage settled in Ohio, and later removed to Illinois. The parents of our subject owned a farm and were engaged in agriculture in Jersey County until 1885, when they removed to Medora, Macoupin County, that State, where they now live. They have had eleven children, eight of whom are still living.

      The subject of our sketch was the eldest child, and remained with his parents until after he had grown to manhood. He received a common-school education, and a practical training in farming. In 1872 he came to Kansas, performing the journey with a team, and pre-empted his present farm, on which he at once commenced work. He has since been enabled to add to his original quarter-section, and now owns 240 acres of land, all of which he has improved and has under a high state of cultivation. He has erected a good dwelling and substantial farm buildings, a view of which we give in this connection. His wife is also the possessor of 160 acres of land situated in the southwest quarter of section 22, in Union Township, which is partially improved. When Mr. Craig came to Kansas he had few possessions save those with which nature endowed him, but he was courageous and energetic, and soon the rich soil of this fertile region yielded to him abundant harvests, in return for the care and labor he bestowed upon it; his undertakings prospered and he soon found himself on the highway to success.

      The subject of our sketch was married, Feb. 25, 1880, to Alice Goodrich, a native of Port Byron, Ill. Her parents, Calvin and Emily (Fisher) Goodrich, were natives of New York State. Some time after marriage they removed to Rock Island County, Ill., where her father died. Mrs. Goodrich survived him and is still living in that county.

      In politics Mr. Craig does not connect himself with any political party, but supports such men and principles as he deems will best benefit the people and the country at large. Neither is he connected with any religious or social organization, but leads a moral, honest and upright life, and as a result has won the respect and esteem of the community in which he lives.

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