My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Saline 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.

* * * *

Thomas Y. Craig, a farmer and merchant of Brazil, Holland Township, carries a full line of general merchandise, and enjoys a lucrative patronage. He was born in Seneca County, S. C, in 1844, and was the third son in a family of four children born to William and Francis (Deshield) Craig. The father was a South Carolina farmer, who in 1859 emigrated to Arkansas with his family, and settled in Hempstead County, where he purchased a piece of land and improved it. He was a prominent Democrat of the community in his day. His death occurred in 1870, his widow following him in about two years. They were the parents of the following children: Nancy (now Mrs. Compton, who resides in Hempstead County, Ark.), Jane (now Mrs. Simpson, also of Hempstead County), Thomas Y. (the subject of this article), and Franklin (who is married and resides in Hempstead County, being engaged in farming). Thomas Y. Craig was reared to farm life, being educated in the subscription schools of South Carolina. He accompanied his parents to Hempstead County in 1859, resuming farm labor, and in 1861 enlisted in Capt. Neal’s company, in the Nineteenth Arkansas Infantry, at Nashville for one year, at the end of which time he reenlisted in the same regiment to serve during the war. He was in the battle of Wilson’s Creek and a number of noted engagements, when he was taken prisoner and sent to Chicago, where he was kept for four months, at the end of that time being exchanged and forwarded to City Point, Va., and then to Richmond. Following this he participated in the battles of Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Dalton, Atlanta and others. In 1865 he was paroled and returned to Hempstead County, where he again engaged in farming until the following year, when he went to Little Rock and learned the trade of carpentering, following it until 1876. Mr. Craig was married in Little Rock, in 1870, to Sarah Ray, a native of Alabama. By that union two children were born, who are both living: Alena and Nora. This wife died in 1878, and in 1879 he married, in Pulaski County, Miss Emily Bosher, of that county. They were the parents of the following children: Zephyr, Cora, Steen, Ola, Effie and Frank. In 1876 Mr. Craig bought a partly improved farm in Saline County of 380 acres, 100 of which were under cultivation. He now has over 200 acres improved, having added attractive surroundings to the farm. He raises large crops of grain and cotton, as well as fine cattle and mules. He is a member of Paran Lodge No. 319, A. F. & A. M., in which he has held the office of worshipful master. Mr. Craig takes an active part in all educational work and interests of an enterprising nature.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 100 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Saline County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Saline County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Saline County, Arkansas family biographies, click here

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