My Genealogy Hound

Thomas B. Craighead was born near Nashville, Tenn., about 1800. He was a younger brother of David Craighead, also a lawyer. He came to Arkansas about the year 1838, purchasing a large tract of land opposite Fort Pillow, where he opened quite an extensive plantation. Mr. C. was a bachelor, and of the simplest of tastes. He was unambitious as a farmer, and continued after his removal to Arkansas to practice law, as he would say, to support the negroes on his farm. He rarely left his home except to attend court at Osceola or at the neighboring county seats in Tennessee. Mr. Craighead was a man of extraordinary character. At home he was simple in his habits, living in a plain log cabin, with no associates except his negroes, yet he was a man who would have shone conspicuously in any company in the United States. His mind was clear and active, well stored with information of every kind, his manners most fascinating; modest, generous, eloquent, hospitable, charitable, he is to this day remembered by and lovingly spoken of by the older inhabitants as the noblest man they ever knew. He was never known to collect a bill for legal services, although he was engaged on one side or the other in almost every case of importance in the county or neighborhood. If his client paid his fee, well and good; if not well also. Before the war Mr. Craighead, much against his will and inclination, was elected a senator to represent his county in the Arkansas legislature. Such was his popularity among his legislative brethren that against his vain protests they named a new county, then just formed, after him. The bombardment of Fort Pillow drove Mr. Craighead from his home, and being much exposed and in advanced years he was seized with pneumonia, and died on a neighboring farm belonging to one of his nephews, where his remains now lie.