History of Washington Co., PA Cross Creek Twp., p. 721
Walter Craig was a native of Ireland, born in 1786. When still quite young he came with his father's family to America, and to Washington County, Pa., settling near West Middletown, in the northern part of Hopewell township. On August 24, 1818, Walter Craig purchased property of John Marshall in Cross Creek township. It was the tract "Justice," situated on the waters of Cross Creek, adjoining the lands of William Rea, Nicholas Reed, Thomas McConkle, Thomas Meason, James and Thomas Marshall. In 1818-19, Walter Craig was a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and in 1820 he removed to this township, to occupy the property he had bought here. In 1828 he became a member of Cross Creek Church, and in 1831 was elected a ruling elder. The latter position he retained during his life. In the year 1838 he was a delegate to the State Constitutional Convention, and from 1843 to 1845, inclusive, was a member of the State Senate. While on a visit to his daughter in Indiana Walter Craig died, Feb. 10, 1875 in the eighty-ninth year of his age.
HON. WALTER CRAIG.
Hon. Walter Craig was born in Ireland Dec. 1, 1786. He was the youngest in a family of seven children, and when six years of age he came with his family to America, and settled near West Middletown, Washington Co., Pa. He received a good English education, and learned the business of surveying. He was also in early life a "down" river trader. In 1818-19 he was a member of the House of Representatives of the State. In 1837-38 he was a member of the State Constitutional Convention. In 1843, '44, and '45 he was a member of the State Senate. He also held important county offices. All of these trusts he fulfilled with honor to himself and profit to the State. His character for incorruptible integrity was not excelled by any of his compeers. A part of his life was spent in farming, but about 1830 he sold his farm and engaged in mercantile pursuits in the village of Cross Creek, where he continued for about ten years, after which he retired from active business.
Aug. 3, 1819, he was married to Elizabeth Scott, who was born in Washington County, Pa., Aug. 8, 1794. She died Aug. 18, 1866. The children by this marriage were Jane, the wife of Maj. William Lee; Margaret A., the widow of Dr. P. W. Dryden, deceased, of Christian County, Ky.; Elizabeth, the wife of Rev. A. H. Kerr, of Rochester, Minn.; David married Amanda White. He was a prominent lawyer of New Castle, Lawrence Co., Pa. He was a member of the convention which formed the present Constitution of the State, and died Nov. 10, 1873; John married Catharine Phipps. She died in 1852, and he has since spent much of his time in the western country. Henry Martin married Mary Templeton and resides in Nebraska; Joseph died in 1855, aged twenty-one years; three others, Walter Scott, William, and Walter Stockton, died in infancy.
In 1828, Hon. Walter Craig became a member, and in 1831 was elected, ordained, and installed as a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church of Cross Creek, Pa., and continued to be one of its strongest pillars to his death. He was wise in counsel, remarkably attentive to all the ordinances of divine worship, and ever ready to sacrifice his time, labor, and money to promote the cause of Christ. He died Feb. 10, 1875, at the house of his daughter in the State of Indiana, whither he had gone on a visit, and at his request his flesh was brought to sleep with the dust of his deceased wife in the cemetery of Cross Creek, Pa. "Mark the perfect man and behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace."
