Benjamin Craig (abt. 1836 - 1861)

Born about 1836 in Kentucky, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Mary C. Brewer — married 22 Apr 1858 in Morgan, Missouri, United States

Died 7 Nov 1861 at about age 25 in Mississippi, Missouri, United States

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Biography

Pvt Benjamin Craig served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: Mercer County, Ill.
Mustered out: Nov 7, 1861
Side: USA
Regiment(s): 27th Illinois

Benjamin Craig was Killed in Action at Belmont during the United States Civil War.

Benjamin was born about 1836. He was the son of David Craig and Abigail Campbell. He married Mary Brewer in 1858. He enlisted in the Union Army at Mercer County, Illinois and fought in the Civil War. Benjamin was killed at the Battle of Belmont in 1861.

Sources

• "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDZF-5HR : 4 April 2020), Benjamin Craig in household of David Craig, Mill Creek, Morgan, Missouri, United States; citing family 561, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
• "Missouri, County Marriage, Naturalization, and Court Records, 1800-1991," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:WBQ2-Z16Z : 24 October 2019), Mr Benjamin Craig, 22 Apr 1858; citing Marriage, Morgan, Missouri, United States, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City; FHL microfilm 007514171.
• "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHZB-46L : 11 November 2020), Benjamin Craig, 1860.
• Benjamin Craig listed among those killed at the Battle of Belmont, Daily Missouri Republican St. Louis, Missouri, Tuesday, November 12, 1861

Research Notes

There is evidence that this is the same Benjamin Craig that served in the 27th Illinois Infantry, Company G and was killed at the Battle of Belmont, November 7, 1861. This unit was primarily composed of men from Mercer County, Illinois, which borders Missouri. Gilbert Brewer is listed as a wagon maker in Mercer County, Illinois in 1850 with daughter Mary, aged 9. His brother, Branson Brewer, and parents also appear to have lived in this county. While Gilbert Brewer has a long history as a tradesman in this county, he seems to have had a roving entrepreneurial spirit, with occupations listed variously as carpenter, millwright, farmer, as well as sawmill and gristmill owner. His children were born in a variety of locations, including Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, and Iowa. One son, Samuel C. Brewer married Susan Shadrick in Versailles, Morgan County, Missouri, in 1857. It appears that the family may have lived there for a couple of years. Benjamin Craig married Samuel's sister Mary C. Brewer in 1858. In 1859, Gilbert Brewer purchased 80 acres next to Gravois Creek in Morgan County. Soon afterward, the Brewer family left, and Benjamin Craig apparently went along with them. He and his young wife are listed next door to her father in the 1860 Census of Mercer County (Missouri, not Illinois), another border county next to a river. It's possible that they were trying to establish another mill when the Civil War broke out. Mary's older brother Lewis is listed nearby with occupation of miller. They seem to have left Mercer County, Missouri at this time and moved back to Mercer County, Illinois, their main base of operations. It was there that Benjamin Craig enlisted in the Union Army.