Page 10 - The CRAIG family

2) Michael Craig - Born about 1828 census reports show Kentucky and Pennsylvania. Married Leticia Rex (sister of Dove Rex, wife of William Craig, Jr.) on March 21, 1850, marriage performed by Francis Craig. Marriage document shows that he was 22 and she was 14. Michael is said to have worked for a time in a coal mine in White Sulphur Springs, W. Va., with his brother-in-law, Samuel W. Rex.
Michael and his wife Leticia had 9 children, 6 girls and 3 boys that included a set of girl twins. A male son, born in 1853, died in 1855 at the age of 2. Cause of death was an accident. Two of the girls grew up to marry and died later in life but from relative/genealogist, Linda Craig, it is believed that Leticia and many of her children died during the smallpox epidemic which took the lives of a lot of the Craig’s. Michael died in 1905 of throat and mouth cancer that was so bad that it was said to have eaten a hole through his cheek large enough to stick one’s fist through. Apparently he must have been a heavy tobacco chewer.
3) Allen Craig born 1832 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Little is known about him except that he is the namesake of my great grandfather Colmore Allen Craig. There are varying versions of his name – Albert and Alfred. Since there was so much illiteracy, the census data taker often spelled phonetically. The death certificate of son Henry shows his name as Albert and there is an 1880 census that shows him as Alfred. He married Roxsian (Roxann and Roxy Ann) Rebile on August 18, 1959 – he was 27 and she was 14.
They had 5 children, the first being born when Roxy was 15 years old. The only death certificate that could be found was for their son Henry who was born 7/21/1867 and died 11/1/1952 of senility. The death certificate shows his mother’s name as Roxy Ann Robolee Craig and his father as Albert Craig.
Linda Craig stated that Allen was in the 1884 flood of Louisville and that he is believed to have married several times after this. There are marriages of an Allen Craig to a Mary Stodgull on 3/7/1876 and Polly Ann Pearce on 8/9/1881 but I am not so sure this is correct.
4) Sally Craig – born 1833 in Kentucky. Nothing is found on her except for the 1850 census when she was 17 years old, living with her parents and next door to her older brother, William Craig, Jr.
5) Martha Craig – born 1835 in Indiana. Nothing is found for her except for the 1850 census when she was 15 years old, living with her parents and next door to her older brother, William Craig, Jr.
6) SAMUEL CRAIG – born 1836 in Indiana. My 2x Great Grandfather and father of Colmore Allen Craig, my Great Grandfather. He and 4 of his sons died from Smallpox during an epidemic. His story is outlined separately.
7) Benjamin Craig – born 1840 in Indiana. Nothing is found on him except for the 1850 census when he was 10 years old, living with his parents and living next door to his older brother William Craig, Jr.
It is well documented that many persons in the Craig family died from Small Pox or other epidemics that were common at that time. Genealogists have stated that during these times it was very common that there was no death certificate issued. The families buried their own and no further records exist.
William could not read or write.
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