Edward Matthew CRAIG

May 12, 1883 - January 23, 1928

*Obituary
Benton County Herald
Thursday, January 26, 1928

CRAIG, Edward Matthew - Edward M. Craig of Bentonville, son of the late C.R. Craig, died at his home here on Monday, January 23rd, 1928 at 2:30 o'clock a.m. at the age of 44 years following a short illness. His death was a great shock to his family and relatives and a great loss to the city and community. He was liked by everyone who knew him and always had a smile and handshake for every stranger he met. His entire life, since he reached manhood, has been to a great extent spent in the interest and welfare of the public, having been actively associated with every enterprise and public improvement in Bentonville. No enterprise or public improvement of any kind of merit was overlooked by him when called upon for his services. He had no selfish interests, always placing the welfare of his town and the public before his own. His place will be hard to fill, the entire city and community will feel greatly the loss of one of their most valuable and highly respected citizens. Edward Matthew Craig, son of Charles R. and Charlotte Reding Craig, was born in Bentonville, Ark. on May 12th, 1883 where he grew to manhood. After finishing high school he went to Panhandle, Texas where he hoped to receive relief from asthmatic trouble and while there attended Goodnight College. On his return to Arkansas he entered upon his business career in association with his father, the late Chas. R. Craig, and his brother, Jas. R. Craig, the firm being known as C.R. Craig & Company, Insurance and Real Estate. Since the death of his father and the removal of his brother to Fayetteville, Ark, he has continued the business until his death, under the firm name of C.R. Craig & Company. He was married to Miss Ela Black on March 10th, 1910. Of this union two children were born - Joe and Elizabeth Ann. He joined the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in early boyhood and remained a member of the same until its dissolution and then joined the South Methodist Church in 1916, serving faithfully as teacher of the young men's class in Sunday school, known as the "Ed Craig Young Men's Class." He also served actively as steward of his church the past two years. He was a member of the Knights of Pythias Lodge and of the Rotarians. His last public function was in the Rotary luncheon, from which he returned home and went to bed with his last illness, due to pneumonia, which was uncontrollable from the first. At one time some symptoms of improvement were apparent but in a short time it was found the dreaded illness had done its work. He leaves a wife and two children, Joe and Elizabeth Ann; his mother, Mrs. Charlotte R. Craig of Bentonville; one brother, James R. Craig of Fayetteville; and two sisters, Mrs. John Capp of Tarkio, Mo. and Mrs. Elmer C. Pickens of Bentonville; a large number of relatives and a great host of friends to mourn his untimely death. Funeral services were conducted by his pastor, Rev. W.T. Thompson, and the pastor of the Presbyterian Church, Rev. A.W. Henderson, at the M.E. Church, South at Bentonville at 2:30 p.m. on January 24th in the presence of many relatives and friends. Through respect and appreciation of the services he had rendered the public, all business houses of Bentonville were closed on the afternoon of the funeral from 2:30 until 5 o'clock. The Rotary Club, of which he was an active member, attended the funeral in a body and members of the Rotary Club served as active pallbearers.

*Obituary
Rogers Daily News
Monday, January 23, 1928

Ed M. Craig, well known Bentonville business man and Rotarian, died at his home on West Twelfth street Monday, January 23, 1928 at 2:30 a.m. following an illness of but ten days. His death was due to pneumonia and a complication of other diseases. He was 44 years of age. Surviving him are his wife, Mrs. Eula Black Craig; one son, Joe, age 13 years, and a daughter, Elizabeth Ann, 11 years old; also by his mother, Mrs. C.R. Craig; two sisters, Mrs. E.C. Pickens of Bentonville and Mrs. John Capp of Tarkio, Mo. and a brother, J.R. Craig of Fayetteville. He was the third member of the Craig family to pass away within a year and a half. His father, C.R. Craig, dying in October 1926 and a brother-in-law, John Capp at Tarkio, Mo. last December. Edward Matthew Craig, son of Charles R. and Charlotte Reding Craig, residents of Bentonville for over 50 years, was born in Bentonville May 12, 1883. Here he grew to manhood. After finishing high school here he went to the panhandle region of Texas where he hoped to receive relief from asthma with which he was afflicted. While there he attended Goodnight college. On his return to Arkansas he entered on his business career in association with his father, the late Charles R. Craig, and his brother, James R. Craig, the style of the firm being C.R. Craig and Co., Insurance, Real Estate and Loans, widely known in northwest Arkansas. Since the death of his father and the removal of his brother to Fayetteville he continued the business until his death under the same firm title. He joined the Cumberland Presbyterian church in boyhood days and remained a member of the same until its dissolution and then joined the Southern Methodist church in 1916. He served faithfully as a Sunday School teacher of the Ed Craig Young Men's Class and has served actively as steward of his church the past two years. Mr. Craig was married to Miss Eula Black, daughter of Mrs. J.S. Black and the late Mr. Black, prominent Bentonville people. He was a prominent and willing worker in everything pertaining to the interests of Bentonville. Outdoor life especially appealed to him and he enjoyed hunting and fishing. Gardening was another hobby of his and in Ed Craig's garden could always be found the earliest and best of vegetables. Ed Craig was a friend of all mankind and his cheery greeting and friendly hand-clasp to his friends and fellow townsmen will sadly be missed. The funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at the M.E. Church, South. Friends filled the church to its capacity with a hundred or more filling the aisles and vestibule. A large concourse followed the body to its last resting place in the City Cemetery.

Contributed on 6/23/13 by judyfrog
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Record #: 899536

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