This is dedicated to my dad, Floyd M. Craig for all of the great memories he left with me. Of these, perhaps the greatest was his strength of character. This I have always associated with his full head of snow white hair that he had from his youth...Jewell Craig Glover, 1989

Revised, 1999 by Mary Lee (Glover) Burlison

Over one hundred years ago, on a cold January morning, high in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas a little boy was born in a small log cabin, warmed by a fire place, lit by a single kerosene lamp. He was the second son of Emma and Ernest Craig. Living nearby, and awaiting his birth were his father's parents, Sarah Jane and Leonard Claude Craig. His maternal grandmother, Martha (Stubblefield) Edwards also lived nearby on the mountain.

The parents, Emmaline (Edwards) and Ernest Monroe Craig chose the name, Floyd Monroe for their little son. His brother, Leonard Ervin Craig was only twenty one months old when Floyd was born.

Their father, Ernest Monroe Craig, a tall handsome man of Indian decent was already ill with emphysema when the baby was born. He knew his death was eminent, so he often wondered, and talked about what would become of his two little boys when he was gone.

In the summer of 1890, Patrick M. Edwards, Emma's younger brother had died and was buried beside his father, James Mordecia Edwards, who had died in 1885. James Edwards was the first person to be buried in the Moore (then Quincy) Cemetery. The land for the cemetery, as well as the adjoining land for the school had been donated to the community by Bart Abner Casey, son of C. C. & Kissie Casey, neighbors and close friends of the Edwards and Craig families. When Ernest Monroe Craig died he was buried beside his father-in-law, James M. Edwards in the Moore Cemetery.

James Mordecia Edwards

The baby, Floyd was ten months old when the father, Ernest Craig died, November 29, 1890 at the age of twenty-two. The mother Emma, moved back to the Edwards homestead with her two small boys. There, she and her little sons remained for the next four years. Her older brother, James Irvin Edwards vowed to help her raise her boys. The Edwards family lived in a large log house, built "dog trot" style with the inside porch dividing the building. They generously gave Emma and her sons one half of the home to live in. Her younger sisters, Arizona and Laura Bell were also living there with Martha (Stubblefield) Edwards, their mother.

Leonard and Floyd could remember walking the wilderness trail west from the Edwards homestead to Bart (Bartholomew Abner) Casey's General store, about a half mile away. On one such outing, they spotted a mountain lion lying in the sun on top of a large over hanging rock, switching its tail as the young boys passed by. Upon hearing about the experience, the family gave thanks to God for protecting the two young boys from tragedy.

In time, the sorrow of losing her first love, Ernest Craig, eased for Emma. Her younger sister Laura Belle's fiance', George Sisco, introduced her to John Wesley Cato, from Springfield, Missouri. Emma and Wesley fell in love and were married July 5, 1894. Leonard, who was almost seven years old when his mother remarried, and Floyd who was five years old, loved their new step father. They called him Wes, or Mr. Cato.

...Wesley Cato and wife, Emma Edwards Craig Cato
July 29, 1894

Sisters, Laura Belle Edwards Sisco and Emma Edwards
Craig Cato. Husbands, George Sisco and Wesley Cato.

Emma, with her two Craig sons and Wes Cato, left the Ozark mountains shortly after being married, going to Waxachatichi, Texas to live. Floyd and Leonard recalled their mother, Emma, cutting the tongues out of their leather shoes to make boots for their little dog who walked all the way to Texas beside the wagon. While living in Texas, Emma and Wesley Cato became parents of two little daughters, Lillian Beatrice and Mary Elizabeth (Mamie).

By the year 1899, the Cato family had returned to northern Arkansas. A son, George Cato was born to them at Harrison, Arkansas.

Emma and Wesley again decided to leave the beautiful Ozark mountains to find better working conditions. They moved to Mena, Polk County, Arkansas area about the turn of the century along with other members of the Edwards family. Emma and Wesley became the parents of Vera Venita, their third daughter, in 1902. The next child was a son, Reynolds Constantine, born July 4, 1904. He died at the age of three months, and was buried in the Foster Cemetery west of Mena. Emma and Wesley's youngest child, Mildred was born in 1906.

Soon after the turn of the century, Martha (Stubblefied) Edwards had moved to the Mena area to be with her married daughters, Emma, Arizona (Zone) and Laura Belle. She had the promise of the family, that when she died, they would return her to the Ozarks to be buried near her husband, James Edwards. However, the winter she died there had been a huge snow storm across the state, so from necessity, she was buried in the Foster Cemetery, four and a half miles west of Mena. The mountain roads which were covered with snow and ice would have been too treacherous for the wagons to travel to return her body to Moore.

Emma's Craig sons, although loved, were deprived of their own father's companionship and help. They received very little formal education and had to begin to work at early ages to help make a living for the growing family.

When the Cato family and the Craig brothers, Leonard and Floyd moved by wagon to the little community of Rocky, west of Mena, in the year 1900, they were welcomed by their long time friends from the Ozarks, Tom and Mollie Casey. Tom and Mollie had left the mountains a year or so earlier and were settled in. Floyd was about nine years old then, was glad to see his friend, Emma Casey, who was eight. That first day, when the Cato's arrived Tom and Mollie suggested that Leonard and Floyd stay over night with them so their girls, Martha Jane (Janie) and Mary Emmaline (Emmie) could show the boys the way to school the following day.

...young and handsome, Floyd Craig

On the way to school the next morning, Floyd found a pretty gray-blue marble as they walked along the dusty road to school. Floyd knew right away what he was going to do with it. He shyly gave the marble to Emmie Casey. Emma tucked the marble in her pocket for safe keeping. It was 'love' from that moment on, for both of them. Floyd moved away in his teen age years to work on the Rock Island Railroad being built in Indian Territory, near the town of Bridgeport. There he met and courted other girls, but Emmie was always on his mind. During that time Emma remained with her family near Wister, Oklahoma. Eventually Floyd returned to court her as she felt he would. When Emma Casey was eighteen and Floyd Craig was nineteen, they were married in the community of Kennedy, near Wister, Oklahoma, June 15, 1909. Because they took seriously the marriage vow that said "Until death do us part," they stayed married seventy one years.

Floyd worked at many different jobs while rearing his family, but whatever the job, he always took his work seriously.

First, Floyd Craig worked along side his father-in-law, Thomas Benton Casey, as a surveyor for the Choctaw lands in Le Flore Co., in eastern Oklahoma, then for the Rock Island Railroad Company, where he received many commendations. Next, he was a barber at Kiowa, Oklahoma. He took much pride being able to cut hair in the latest fashions. After awhile, he decided to farm and moved to Ashland, Oklahoma community where he became renowned for having the cleanest fields and straightest rows of crops in the county. At this time, he served as Superintendent of the Baptist Church at the Ashland and was known for his faithful service.

Emma and Floyd Craig raised three of their children to adulthood in the Ashland area. Sadness also visited them there when their beloved four year old daughter, Wanda Irene died, and again when their baby son, Ernest Monroe died. After the children, Opal, Archie, and Jewel, were grown and married, Emma and Floyd moved to Savannah, Oklahoma where Floyd began to do carpentry. He built a home there and worked building housing for the newly constructed Naval Ammunition Depot. Floyd and Emma moved to the nearby McAlester in 1943 where Floyd continued to work as a carpenter. The Craig family has boasted a number of carpenters through the years. Leonard Craig, Floyd's brother became an accomplished cabinet maker in the McAlester, Oklahoma area.

Last of all, but certainly not the least, Floyd Craig became a minister for the Church of God (Seventh Day). The day he received his credentials was the happiest day of his life. Many times he was heard to say that he loved the Church of God and its work for Christ more than he loved his own life. Floyd drove many miles and preached many sermons, wherever he was needed, declaring all the while, "this was the most satisfying work that he had ever done."

Floyd realized the importance of the day in which he lived. He often quoted the prophecy and "They shall run to and fro and knowledge shall be increased". During Floyd's lifetime he saw the mode of cooking change from his grandmothers cooking in fireplaces to his family having microwave ovens and modern kitchens. He also, saw the mode of travel change from using the horse and buggy to a time when men traveled by rockets to the moon. He saw other great changes in our world, one of the most dramatic being the advances in communication. He believed that his life spanned the most wonderful age that had ever been.

That cold day so long ago, January 14, 1890, may never be recorded in man's history books of earthly deeds, but those who knew him (Floyd Monroe Craig) feel confident it is recorded in the most important history book of all, "The Lamb's Book of Life". Floyd Craig died August 29, 1982 at McAlester, Oklahoma and is buried Ashland Cemetery, Ashland, Oklahoma.

According to her request, when Emma (Casey) Craig died September 1, 1992, at the age of 101 years, she was buried beside her beloved Floyd, holding the precious 'marble' that he had given her when they were children. That marble that she had kept for ninety three years was a token of their love and a symbol to her family that true love can endure a lifetime, through the good times and bad. Mary Emmaline (Casey) Craig is buried in the Ashland, Oklahoma Cemetery.

...Marriage License

...70th Wedding Anniversary

newspaper article, Childhood Sweethearts

Note: In addition to the photographs that appear in this article, Mary Lea has also submitted several other family photos. All appear in the Newton County, Arkansas Scrapbook®

You can reach me by email, Mary Lea Burlison

Back to Newton County Families®

Back to my Newton County, Arkansas Page