Alexander Kerr Craig

Alexander Kerr Craig (February 21, 1828 – July 29, 1892) was a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania. Born near Claysville, Washington County, Pennsylvania, he spent his early years in a rural setting that would shape his later commitment to agricultural pursuits and local public service. He attended the common schools of the area and, in addition to this basic education, was instructed by a private tutor, reflecting both his intellectual promise and the value his family placed on learning.

Craig began teaching school at the age of sixteen, marking the start of a long association with education. While engaged in teaching, he commenced the study of law, but ultimately chose not to enter legal practice, instead devoting himself primarily to agriculture. He continued to teach during the winter months and later became principal of the public schools in Claysville, Pennsylvania. His dual role as educator and farmer established him as a prominent figure in his community and laid the groundwork for his later involvement in local governance.

During the closing months of the American Civil War, Craig entered military service. He enlisted in February 1865 in the Eighty-seventh Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. Although his period of service came near the end of the conflict, his enlistment reflected the widespread mobilization of citizens in support of the Union war effort. After his military service concluded, he returned to Washington County and resumed agricultural pursuits near Claysville, continuing the farming work that had become central to his livelihood.

In addition to farming and education, Craig became active in local public affairs. He served as a school director, helping oversee the administration of local education, and also held the position of justice of the peace, a role that placed him at the center of minor civil and judicial matters in his community. These offices enhanced his reputation as a responsible and engaged citizen and provided him with experience in public administration and the application of law at the local level.

Craig’s growing prominence in Washington County and his affiliation with the Democratic Party led to his entry into national politics. As a member of the Democratic Party representing Pennsylvania, he contributed to the legislative process during one term in office. He successfully contested, as a Democrat, the election of Andrew Stewart to the Fifty-second Congress, securing the seat after the contest was resolved in his favor. His service in Congress occurred during a significant period in American history, as the nation continued to grapple with the long-term consequences of the Civil War, industrial expansion, and shifting political alignments. In this capacity, he participated in the democratic process and represented the interests of his constituents from Pennsylvania.

Craig served in the Fifty-second Congress from the time his contest was decided until his death in office. He died in Claysville, Pennsylvania, on July 29, 1892, while still a sitting member of the U.S. House of Representatives. His death placed him among the members of Congress who died in office during the nineteenth century. He was interred in Claysville Cemetery in Claysville, Pennsylvania, close to the community where he had been born, educated, and had spent the greater part of his life in teaching, farming, and public service.