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Kinyon Digital Library

History of Madison
County, Iowa, 1915.

Biographical.  Volume 2.

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Walter F. Craig.

Walter F. Craig, representative from the twenty-eighth district of Iowa in the state legislature, has filled various local offices and has been actively connected with educational interests in Madison county.  He makes his home in Winterset and has a wide circle of friends, who entertain for him warm regard.

The county numbers Mr. Craig among its native sons, his birth having occurred near Truro in Ohio township, on the 4th of August, 1881, his parents being George H. and Clara (Payne) Craig.  The father, a native of Henry county, Illinois, was still quite small when the family removed to Knox county, that state, establishing their home near Yates City, where he was reared and acquired his education in the public schools.  He early became familiar with the work of tilling the soil and caring for the crops and when a young man he removed to Warren county, Iowa, where he carried on farming until 1881.  In that year he came to Madison county and purchased the farm on which he now resides northeast of Truro in Ohio township.  He has never desired office nor taken an active interest in politics.  Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.  His wife was a native of Ashtabula county, Ohio, where she was reared and attended school.  Her parents removed with their family to Knox county, Illinois, and afterward to Warren county, Iowa, where she gave her hand in marriage to Mr. Craig.  They came to this county in 1881 and here Mrs. Craig spent her remaining days, her death occurring January 8, 1910.  She left two children, the daughter being Myrtle, now the wife of James E. Young, who is living east of St. Charles in Warren county, Iowa.

Walter F. Craig, the younger of the family, spent his boyhood days upon the home farm and after attending the district schools continued his education in the high school of St. Charles, from which he was graduated with the class of 1902.  He then pursued a teacher's summer course at Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, after which he entered upon the profession of teaching, which he followed in his home district and in neighboring schools until 1903, when he entered Drake University.  After leaving that institution he again taught in a district school and became principal of the Truro schools in the fall of 1904.  He resigned on the 1st of January, 1905, to accept the position of deputy clerk of the district court, in which capacity he continued for four years.  At the end of that time, or in 1908, he was elected clerk of the court on the republican ticket and made such an excellent record in office that he was reelected in 1910, serving altogether four years.  In 1912 he was made the candidate of the republican party for the office of representative in the state legislature and the election returns showed that he was the successful candidate.  He served in the general assembly and gave to each question which came up for settlement his careful consideration.  He never had opposition in his own party for any of the offices which he has filled and he has always been accorded good majorities at the polls.  His business are represented by an interest in the Security Loan & Title Company of Winterset, to which he now devotes most of his time.

On the 3d of January, 1912, Mr. Craig was united in marriage to Miss Sadie Shirk, of Springville, Iowa, a native of Jackson county, and for seven years a teacher in the schools of Winterset.  They have one child, Walter F., who was born February 5, 1914.  Mr. and Mrs. Craig are members of the Presbyterian church and take an active and helpful interest in advancing its work and extending its influence.  Mr. Craig belongs to the Masonic fraternity.  He has membership in Model Lodge, No. 315, A. F. & A. M., of St. Charles, and in Lebanon Chapter, No. 11, R. A. M., of Winterset, of which he was high priest in 1911 and 1912.  Both he and his wife are connected with the Order of the Eastern Star and he is also identified with the Knights of Pythias.  He has always taken an active interest in the historical society of Madison county, of which he was secretary for several years.  He has likewise been president of the Madison County Chautauqua Association for two years and his influence is always on the side of advancement and improvement, while his labors have constituted a potent force for progress at various times.

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