| Name | Samuel Clarence CRAIG |
| Birth | 10 Jan 1898, Gearing, Nebraska |
| Death | 22 Mar 1968, Yakima, Washington |
| Father | Daniel Chester CRAIG (1859-1946) |
| Mother | Lydia Rebecca WILSON (1861-1952) |
| 1 | (Living) LITTLE |
| Father | Abraham Lincoln LITTLE |
| Mother | Hannah Esther WEDDLE |
| Children | (Living) |
| (Living) | |
| (Living) |
Naches, Wash.
Dec. 18,1964
I, Samuel C. Craig, better known as Sam Craig with the help of my brother, George Craig, from our memories and what we remember of the things my Father and Mother has told us will try to write down some of the facts of their and parts of the Craig family life from the time of leaving Iowa to moving to the Western Country until the present time.
Times were very hard at this time as our country was in one of the worst slumps in history of the U.S. Travel was very slow and jobs were nearly out of the question. I have left out lots of the hardships they have encountered.
In the Spring of 1890 My Father, Daniel Chester Craig, with Wife Lydia Rebecca Craig and two children, Mellissa Jane Craig and George Austin Craig left Des Moines, Iowa in train of five wagons for Oregon. The five covered wagons were owned and driven by Chester Craig and family, Potter Craig (Father of Daniel Chester Craig) with Wife and young Son Ben Craig, George Orange Craig (Son of Potter Craig) single, Abel S. Craig (Son of Potter Craig) married but left Wife in Missouri. George Mason, Wife (Daughter of Potter Craig) and Young Daughter Pearl Mason.
The route followed was North through Iowa to Omaha, Neb., up the North Platte River to Old Fort Larmie. Fourteen days back on the trail Daniel Craig had broken his leg. His leg was set at Fort Larmie by Army Doctor without antisetic, this was the nearest Doctor they could get. The train then followed the Old Oregon Trail on what was known as the Northern Route by Casper, Wyoming. Independence Rock, up the Sweet Water on to Green River. At this time there were very few towns and lots of these names have changeed.
The route led on through Steam Boet Springs, Coke Ville and the Devils Gate. From here they traveled down the Snake River to Blackfoot, Idaho over Camas Prairie to Boise, Idaho. They had been on the road for nearly three months, so at this point they decided to ship on through to Portland, Oregon. Chesters wagon left the train here and shipped to Sydney, Wash. (now Port Orchard, Wash.) When my Father broke his leg my Mother drove the wagon, on through with the help of the other teamsters. In crossing through Wyoming they were three days with only the water they carried. This stretch is known as the Red Desert. At one place close to the summit of the Rockies they came through an Agate bed where they picked up quarts of agates (Moss Agates) some of which are still in the family. While shipping on the train they were in a railroad runaway between North Powder and Hot Lake, Oregon. Members of the wagon train started suit through Potter Craig. Suit was settled out of court for $5000.
I have been told by members of the wagon train, game such as Sage Hens, Prairie Chickens, Geese and ducks in Neb. and antilope were plentiful most of the way through. Indian troubles were not to serious, but horse thieves through Western Wyoming and Eastern Idaho was dreadful as at this time there was the most bunches of horse thieves through this part of the country. My Father has told me he saw 10 to 12 wagons at one time with horses stolen.
My Father settled on an 80 acre homestead at Menott _ mile from Bremerton, Wash. a town of few houses. After six months residence he paid out on the homestead at one Dollar per acre. While he was here he drove oxen on the skid roads hauling logs to the Bay. This homestead is now part of Bremerton, Wash. and cannot even be located as it is all town.
In the late summer of 1891 Chester and his family started back to Neb. by wagon as they had had enough of the rain. They crossed back by North Bend, Ellensburg, Yakima. Crossed the Columbia River at Wallula by Walla Walla and over near La Grande, Oregon. Here they stayed over the winter, working on a ranch for a farmer by the name of Sam Cochran at $15 per month. While here he aquired a bunch of large horses very cheep. The Spring of 1892 they started on for Neb. by Baker, Oregon and to Boise, Idaho. George and Jane (8 and 10 years old) were driving the loose horses on horse back. While in camp at Pleasant Valley on Burnt River, three men with 50 head of horses went by. Two hours later a Sheriff's Posse came by and stated they were stollen horses. Next day they met the Posse coming back with the men and the horses. From Boise they traveled over the same route they come out over but with better luck. They stopped near Gearing, Neb. where they stayed for some time.
My Father, drove stage for several years. Sold his horses he had brought back for $125. each. He settled on 80 acre homestead and bought 500 head of sheep. During the last winter here it was very cold. It hit 58_o_ below zero and all but 100 head of sheep froze to death. So the family moved on to Iowa where Pearl Craig a Daughter was born. Two years later she died of Dyptheria, and was buried at Atlantic City. After this happened they moved back to Neb. near Gearing, and carried mail on a star route. I was born while here Jan. 10,1898 in a sod house. 1_ years later 1899, My Sister had married James Buford Kellum the two families decided to move back West as work was very scarce, and wages low. Three wagons returning were owned by Chester Craig, George Craig age 16 and Jim Kellum.
This trip went through very well out side of the natural hardships encountered on a trip of this kind, Horse thieves were as bad or worse. The agate beds were all fenced up. Game was getting scarce. The two families and George found work in Grand Ronde Valley out of La Grande, Oregon and in Nov 1899 Claude Kellum was born. The next summer they all moved on to the coast country. Working in the winter 1900-1901. While crossing the Blue Mt. on part of the trip one of my Dads horses started bucking and running down the Mt. My Dad ran them in the bank upsetting the wagon. My brother, George, ran back to help and his team ran off and tore his wagon to pieces.
After the winter of 1901 My Dad, Mother and myself and Baby Brother (who was born that winter) and Brother George returned to Summerville, Oregon where my folkes made their home for most of the rest of their lives. My Father passed away at 88 years. My Mother lived four more years and passed away in a fire accident. Both are buried at Summerville cemetary. Jane and Jim Kellum lived in Grand Ronde Valley in Oregon but moved later years to Selah, Wash. where they both passed away and were buried in Summerville cemetary. I was raised near Summerville, Oregon afterwards married and raised a family of three children, all are married and living in the Yakima Valley. At present, I am retired at age 67. George Craig married and raised a family of seven (six still living) He settle North of Summerville, Oregon where he and his wife still reside. Retired George is now 81 years old. At time of this writing he and wife are visiting me and wife.
Potter Craig and wife settled near Summerville and passed away there and are burried in Summerville cemetary.
George Mason and wife settled at Puyallupp, Wash. raised a large family where they passed away and are buried there. Most of the family reside near there at Present.
George Orange Craig, better known as Ore, returned to Omaha, Neb. married raised a family and worked on the Fire Department. When he retired he was Chief of Omaha Fire Department. He has since passed away and is buried there. Abel S. Craig returned to the east and raised a family. I do not know where he is buried.
Ben Craig lived in Ellensburg, Wash., where his wife died but retired and moved to Sumner, Wash. where he passed away.