My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Jackson County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

* * * *

William H. Craige, dealer in groceries, drugs, and plantation supplies, also postmaster, Kenyon, Ark. Among the important industrial enterprises which contribute to the commercial standing of the thriving town of Kenyon is the establishment of Mr. Craige, who is acknowledged to be one of the prominent business men of the place. He was born at Chapel Hill, N. C., on the 30th of November, 1840, and his father, Rev. John M. Craige, was a Methodist minister, and a member of the East North Carolina Conference. The elder Craige’s health failing during his ministerial duties, he was obliged to abandon this calling, and betake himself to agricultural pursuits, which he continued until his death, in 1864. His excellent wife, formerly Miss Elizabeth Barbee, a native of North Carolina, survived him until 1869. Both were of Scotch-Irish descent. They became the parents of three children: James, married, and resides at Chapel Hill, N. C., on the old homestead. He enlisted in the Twenty-eighth North Carolina Infantry, in 1861, and served during the war. Wesley enlisted in the Eleventh North Carolina Infantry in 1862, and remained in service until the time of his death, but contracted sickness at Petersburg, Va., went home and died there in 1864; and William H. The latter at the age of fourteen was put under the tutelage of F. M. Hubbard, D. D., of the University of North Carolina, and there remained for two years, receiving the preparatory course. Then, at the age of sixteen, he entered the University of North Carolina, and remained in college until 1859, when he was obliged to leave on account of ill health. In 1862 he enlisted in the Confederate navy at Charleston, S. C, but was transferred to heavy artillery at Wilmington, N. C., where he remained until February, 1864. He was then put in charge of engineering corps, and remained in that capacity until the close of the war. After this he settled at Chapel Hill, N. C., where he followed agricultural pursuits for one year and then, at the solicitation of Gov. Swain, entered college, finishing his course and graduating with the class of 1868. After this he followed teaching for some time, and then came to Lawrence County, Ark., where he still continued that avocation at Powhatan for two years. In 1878 his alma mater conferred on him the degree of A. M. Since that time he has been engaged in merchandising and farming. He moved to Kenyon, Jackson County, in the spring of 1872, embarking in mercantile pursuits, but has also been engaged in farming since 1879. He owns a good farm of 1,000 acres, with 500 acres under cultivation, has nearly 300 acres in cotton and 200 acres in corn. He raises considerable cattle, and has one of the best stock farms in the county. He has not been very active in politics, but votes with the Democratic party. He has held the office of postmaster since 1879, and in all his relations with the public, as well as in all other respects, he is strictly honorable and upright. He was married in Jackson County, in August, 1871, to Miss Lavinia Holford, a native of Tennessee, and the daughter of William and Martha A. Holford, natives of Tennessee. Her parents came to Jackson County in 1859, settling on a farm, and there both passed their last days. Their family consisted of the following children: Mrs. C. W. Winfree, Mrs. B. F. Manning and Rev. B. F. Holford, a Baptist minister, residing in Lawrence County, Ark., and Mrs. Lavinia (Holford) Craige. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Craige were born these children: Hubbard, Augustus G. and Barbee. Mr. Craige is a member of the Episcopal, and Mrs. Craige of the Baptist Church.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 144 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Jackson County, Arkansas published in 1889.  View the complete description here: Jackson County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Jackson County, Arkansas family biographies here: Jackson County, Arkansas Biographies

View a map of 1889 Jackson County, Arkansas here: Jackson County, Arkansas Map

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.