U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: --------------------------------------------------------------------- Craig, Richard Edward (b. 1873) --------------------------------------------------------------------- A History of Preston County West Virginia Biographical Department, Supplied by J. R. Cole Kingwood, W. Va., The Journal Publishing Company, 1914 by H. S. Whetsell Pages 699-701, RICHARD EDWARD CRAIG. The engineer of the Big Mallet No. 2417, has worked himself up from a brakeman to his present position, which, like his Mastodonic engine, is an important one. Richard Edward Craig was born July 2, 1873, on a farm one and a half miles west of Kingwood, and lived there tilling the soil and going to the country schools until eighteen years of age. In the meantime, he drove The Company's team in the building of the West Virginia Northern R. R., but at the age above mentioned he went to Pittsburg and became a brakeman on the railroad. He went from there to Cumberland, Maryland. After seven years' service as a brakeman, he was made fireman, and on October 4, 1902, he came to Rowlesburg, where on September 30, 1908, he was promoted to the responsible position he now holds. July 16, 1895, Mr. Craig was married to Estella Maude Wotring, daughter of William Wotring, Captain Company H. 12th West Virginia Infantry, now of Dayton, Ohio. Captain Wotring enlisted as a private soldier at the beginning of the war, and was promoted from time to time until he reached the Captaincy of his Company. He was born December 15, 1844, married May 17, 1868, to Mrs. Nancy C. DeMoss Harvey, born March 16, 1840. She died August 6, 1900. Their children were, (1) Jerome H., born September, 1869, died of yellow fever in South America; Torbert W., born May 28, 1871, died May 5, 1893; married Orretta Posten, daughter of William L., of Morris Bottom. (3) Roscoe C., born September 28, 1873, and now living in Michigan. He married Jennie E. Emory, September 24, 1873, and now living in Michigan. He married Jennie E. Emory, September 24, 1895. She was born July 12, 1875. (4) Maude Estella, the wife of Richard Edward Craig. Their children are Albridge B., born January 23, 1896; Richard I., born January 5, 1898; Mary C, August 25, 1899. John Craig came from Ireland in boyhood. He lived first at Cranesville, but in 1848 settled at Morgans Run. His youngest son, Charles Craig, the well known auctioneer, married Miss E. C. Castle, January 9, 1862. She was born September 18, 1840. He was a contractor and a wagon master during the war. Their oldest son John W. Craig, born September 8, 1862, was in the railroading business twenty-five years. (2) James L., born May 9, 1864, is a fine stock grower, and in charge of the home place. (3) Charles A., born December 15, 1865, is also a fine stock grower, and owner of the old Snyder farm, west of Kingwood. (4) Mary A., born March 20, 1867, married to E. W. Thomas, February 25, 1902, had two children. She died August 20, 1905, near Howesville. She was a very large woman and weighed at one time 296 pounds. (5) Amanda E., born May 5, 1868, died March 17, 1873. (6) Thomas D., born March 1, 1870, was a school teacher. He married Cora M. Savage, daughter of H. G. Savage a well to do farmer living near Kingwood. (7) Sarah F., born February 18, 1872, married Mr. M. G. Wilson, July 2, 1894, and is living in Pittsburg. (8) Richard Edward, above mentioned. (9) Francis M., born June 21, 1875, is a large contractor in the cement and concrete business at Steubenville, Ohio, of which he is the first vice-president. The name of the company is The VanMeter Company. (10) Argansette, born September 5, 1877, is at home in charge of her mother. (11) Bertha, born October 6, 1879, was married to E. W. Bolyard, August 2, 1900. (12) Loulee, born May 7, 1882, died February 17, 1883. (13) Nora E., born April 14, 1885, married to E. W. Fiser, June 4, 1904, lives at Keyser, West Virginia. Mr. Richard E. Craig purchased his beautiful home in Rowlesburg, in 1907. He has an interesting little family, and has left them a twenty-five hundred dollar insurance legacy from a policy he holds in the Baltimore & Ohio Relief Department, and $15,000 in the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. --------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Preston County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/preston/bios.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------