James Craig | |
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 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives from Missouri's4th district | |
| In office March 4, 1857 – March 3, 1861 | |
| Preceded by | Mordecai Oliver |
| Succeeded by | Elijah Hise Norton |
| Circuit Attorney ofMissouri's 12th Judicial Circuit | |
| In office 1852–1856 | |
| Preceded by | Samuel Archer |
| Succeeded by | James M. Bassett |
| Member of theMissouri House of Representatives | |
| In office 1846–1848 | |
| Preceded by | Stephen Cooper |
| Succeeded by | James Foster |
| Constituency | Holt County |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1818-02-28)February 28, 1818 |
| Died | October 12, 1888(1888-10-12) (aged 70) St. Joseph, Missouri, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Helen Pfouts (m. 1843) |
| Relations | Malin Craig (grandson) Louis A. Craig (grandson) |
| Children | 6 |
| Profession | Attorney |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States Union |
| Service | Missouri Militia Union Army |
| Years of service | 1847–1849, 1863–1865 (Militia) 1861–1863 (Army) |
| Rank | Brigadier General (Militia) Brigadier General (Army) |
| Commands | Northwestern Department of Missouri (Militia) Department of the Platte (Army) |
| Wars | Mexican–American War American Civil War |
James Craig (February 28, 1818 – October 22, 1888) was an American lawyer and politician fromSaint Joseph, Missouri. He representedMissouri in theU.S. House from 1857 until 1861. He also served as a militiacaptain in theMexican–American War.
During theAmerican Civil War, Craig served as abrigadier general of U.S. volunteers. From April to November 1862, Craig was the military commander in charge of the overland mail routes in Kansas and Nebraska. On November 2, 1862 he assumed command of the District ofNebraska Territory and commanded until May 5, 1863 when he resigned. Craig again served as a brigadier general, this time in the Missouri State militia, in 1864 and 1865.
James Craig was born inWashington County, Pennsylvania on February 28, 1818, the son of tailor James Craig and Margaret Slater (Sleator) Craig.[1][a] He was two years old when his family relocated toRichland County, Ohio, where Craig was raised and educated.[1] At age 22, Craig began tostudy law in theCanton, Ohio office of Harris and Brown.[1] After attainingadmission to the bar, he practiced briefly inNew Philadelphia, Ohio.[1] In 1844, he relocated toOregon, Missouri, where he continued to practice law.[1]
ADemocrat, in 1846, Craig was elected to representHolt County, Missouri in theMissouri House of Representatives and he served one term.[1] During theMexican–American War, he organized a company of theMissouri Militia's Oregon Battalion which he commanded as acaptain as it provided protection for wagon trains of migrants and supplies in western Missouri, Kansas, and other western states.[1] In 1849, he traveled west to take part in theCalifornia gold rush. In 1850, he returned to Missouri and settled inSt. Joseph, where he practiced law in partnership with Lawrence Archer.[1]
In 1851, Craig was electedcircuit attorney of the 12th judicial circuit, and he served two terms.[1] A supporter of theUnion during theAmerican Civil War, in 1861 he was commissioned as abrigadier general ofUnited States Volunteers and assigned to command theUnion Army's Department of the Platte, where he was directed to maintain federal relationships with thePawnee andSioux in Kansas, Nebraska and other nearby states.[1] He resigned in 1863, and was soon appointed a brigadier general of the Missouri Militia and appointed to command the Northwestern Department, with headquarters in St. Joseph.[1] In this command, he was responsible for curtailing the activities of pro-Confederatebushwhackers.[1] Craig served until the end of the war, and resigned in 1865.[1]
In addition to practicing law, Craig was active in railroads and other business ventures, including serving as president of theHannibal and St. Joseph Railroad.[1] Craig died in St. Joseph on October 21, 1888.[2] He was buried atMount Mora Cemetery in St. Joseph.[3]
Craig was the namesake ofCraig, Missouri.[4]
In August 1843, Craig married Helen Pfouts ofWayne County, Ohio.[1] They were the parents of six children, James, Benjamin, Louis, Willard, Ida, and Clara.[5] Louis A. Craig Sr. was a career army officer who attained the rank ofcolonel and was the father of army generalsMalin Craig andLouis A. Craig.[6]
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromMissouri's 4th congressional district 1857–1861 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
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