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• Gender	Male
  Person ID	I4197	McKinney and Stewart of Clarion County, Pennsylvania
  Last Modified	06 Jun 2009 15:03:55
  Father	Washington Craig, b. About 1807, Pennsylvania
  Mother	Nancy Thompson, b. 1808
  Family ID	F1329	Group Sheet

• Documents	The Gettysburg Address "Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether this nation, or any nation, so conceived and so dedicated, can long ¬endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a por¬tion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that this nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate – we cannot consecrate - we cannot hallow - this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have conse¬crated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can nev¬er forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the un¬finished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us - that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion - that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain - that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth." ******** World-famous speech delivered by President Abraham Lincoln at the dedication (Nov. 19, 1863) of the National Cemetery at Gettysburg, Pa., the site of one of the decisive battles of the American Civil War (July 1–3, 1863). The main address at the dedication ceremony was one of two hours, delivered by Edward Everett, the best-known orator of the time. In the wake of such a performance, Lincoln’s brief speech would hardly seem to have drawn notice. However, despite some criticism from his opposition, it was widely quoted and praised and soon came to be recognized as one of the classic utterances of all time, a masterpiece of prose poetry. On the day following the ceremony. Everett himself wrote to Lincoln, “I wish that I could flatter myself that I had come as near to the central idea of the occasion in two hours as you did in two minutes.”
  Histories	105th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Union Army, The Civil War

• Notes

  James Harvey Craig was reared in his native county and obtained his education in the common schools. He learned flourmilling at Greenville, and was employed at that business until he enlisted for service in the Civil war, in August, 1861, as drummer. He was mustered in Oct. 24th as a member of Company C. 105th P.V.I., which was attached to the Army of the Potomac, and participated in all the engaments of his regiment. He veteranized Dec. 20, 1863, in the same company and regiment, was promoted to principal musician Aug. 28, 1864, and was honorably discharged at "Camp on Field" in the rear of the breastworks, near Petersburg, Va., Sept. 24, 1864. Upon his return home again he engaged in the milling business, at Callensburg, Clarion county, owning a half interest with his father in the Callensburg Flouring Mills. Later he became sole proprietor of those mills which he operated until his removal to this section in 1875. He has since lived at New Bethlehem. The year of his arrival there he and others of his family purchased land at South Bethlehem and erected a new gristmill, operating the same until 1893. Mr. Craig then sold a half interest to C.C. Gumbert, and a few years later disposed of the remainder of his interest in the mill; it was he who built the race at South Bethlehem to run this establishment. Meantime Mr. Craig had also become interested in the lumber business, conducting the yard which he still owns, and for several years he was proprietor of a successful general store at New Bethlehem. In addition to his lumber trade he now has extensive real estate interests, owning valuable building sites in South Bethlehem. He has been recognized as a wide-awake business man since he settled at New Bethlehem, and has always been foremost in promoting interests that promised to benefit the town and advance its standing and prosperity. He has been associated with the Republican party but not active in politics, is a member of New Bethlehem Lodge No. 522, F. & A.M., and in religious connection is a Presbyterian. Mr. Craig was married to Elizabeth Patton Parsons, daughter of David and Maria (Wilkins) Parsons, of Limestone township, Clarion county, Pa., and they have four children: Maggie T., wife of J.C. Miller; Parepa, wife of Dr. R.L. Spencer; Lula Maud, wife of Robert A. Hoysett (they have one son, Robert F.); and Amy M. (Source - Armstrong County, by J.H. Beers, pub. 1914. pages 880-881

• Sources

  [S21003] Piney Township (Reliability: 3)