ROBERT CRAIG,
Farmer and grape-culturist of Washington county, was born near
Tazewell C. H., Virginia, March 22, 1834. In 1861 he entered service,
Company F, 54th Virginia Regiment, C. S. A., and in 1863 was discharged
for disability. He had two brothers in service, James H., twice
wounded, served till Lee's surrender, and Dr. Thomas C., captured, held
a time at Fort Delaware, again in service after exchange until the surrender,
his regiment in the "Stonewall Brigade."
Robert Craig is a son of Dr. Robert M. Craig, of Pulaski county,
Tennessee, a self-made man, who rose to eminence, representing his
county in the State legislature. His father was David Craig of Montgomery
county, Virginia, whose father, Benjamin Craig, died on board
ship while coming to America from Scotland. The mother of Benjamin
Craig was a Gillespie, of Scotland. The mother of Robert Craig was
Elizabeth, daughter of Jesse and Elizabeth Law, of Pulaski county, Virginia.
Her mother was the daughter of Michael Cloyd and Elizabeth
Nealy, his wife, the latter a Campbell, her mother killed by Indians,
near Amsterdam, Virginia.
Robert Craig's first wife was Virginia Lee, born in Bedford county,
Virginia, April 2, 1853. They were married January 6, 1870, and she
died March 31, 1874, leaving two children, Lucy Lee and Robert V.
He married secondly, December 13, 1874, Sarah C. Walters, born in
1847, died August 18, 1887. Their children were Robert Thomas,
Elizabeth, Lillie, Sarah; Butler T., deceased; Chrysalis, deceased; David
T. deceased.
Mr. Craig married again, his wife Mary L., the daughter of Thomas E.
Noel of Bedford county, Virginia, son of Cornelius Noel, of that county.
Her mother is Ann S., daughter of William Saunders, who was a quartermaster,
war of 1812, and granddaugher of John Saunders, of New
Kent, Virginia, a Revolutionary soldier.
