Biography - Andrew L. Craig
ANDREW L. CRAIG. Beginning life as a pioneer in the State of Indiana,
our subject removed to this state at an early day, where the country was as
undeveloped as his native place was at the time of his birth. He settled in
Shelby County, in June, 1839, and has since made this State his home. As
before said Mr. Craig is a native of the State of Indiana, having been born
in Fayette County, January 6, 1827. He is a son of James and Mary
(Barrickman) Craig, both natives of Pennsylvania. They met, however, and
married in Kentucky, whence they removed to Indiana, being among the
earliest settlers of that state.
On first coming into this state our subject's parents settled on Robinson
Creek, Ridge Township, Shelby County, where James Craig purchased four
hundred acres of land, and entered six hundred acres of Government land. For
the former he paid $8 per acre but was permitted to enjoy his new home only
a short time, for in 1841 he died. His wife survived him by a number of
years, finally passing away in 1864, at the age of seventy-six year's.
James and Mary Craig were the parents of eleven children, eight of whom
lived to reach years of maturity. Their names are as follows: Jane, James,
Robert, Jacob F., John R., Mary, William and Andrew. Of these the eldest
daughter died in 1864; James makes his home in Boone County, Iowa; Robert
died in Shelby County; Jacob F. resides in Boone County, Iowa; John R. lives
in Shelbyville; Mary married Madison Busby and died in Christian, leaving
one son to her bereaved husband; William died in Shelby County, in 1864.
Andrew L., our subject, is the youngest member of the family, he was reared
on the farm and received an early training in the way in which to conduct a
farmer's work. He attended such schools as the county afforded at that time.
The first school that he attended was a log cabin with a great fireplace at
one end that scorched the children's faces while their backs were freezing.
The seats were of slabs with pegs set in the ends for legs. There were no
desks and the books were a promiscuous and heterogenous mixture. He resided
with his mother until her death.
In 1870 Mr. Craig was united in marriage with Sarah Fakner, a daughter of
Thomas and Jane (Rodman) Fakner. The lady was born in Ohio, March 12, 1829,
but came to Illinois when very young. She is the eighth of a family of nine
children. Our subject settled on section 14, of Rural Township, in 1885, and
here he is the owner of two hundred and twenty acres of good, arable land
that has been well improved. It has a fine residence well located,
commodious and comfortable, and the appliances for carrying on its owner's
calling in a thorough and scientific manner are many and perfect.
Politically he of whom we write inclines toward Democracy, finding the
breadth of platform claimed by that party to accord with his views of equity
and freedom. He has held several offices in the township, having heen
Collector, Assessor, and Supervisor. His attention has been mainly directed
to the raising of stock, of which he has a great deal that will compare well
with any in the country.
Extracted 26 May 2018 by Norma Hass from 1891 Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties Illinois, page 549.
