An Illustrated History of Central Oregon, Western Historical Publishing Company, Spokane, WA. 1905, pages 302-303 JACOB CRAFT, well known as "Grandpa Craft," is a venerable citizen of Wasco county. He spends much of his time is Dufur and The Dalles, but his home is at Nansene. Everyone who knows of him, and there are hosts, will be greatly pleased to read about his career. He is a benevolent gentleman, always cheerful and kind, and the result is that everyone loves Grandpa Craft. Jacob Craft was born in Botetourt county, Virginia, on June 25, 1819. His father, Daniel Craft, was born in Pennsylvania, of native German parents and was bugle major in the War of 1812, in General Breckenridge's command. He was in the entire conflict and his old bugle is now owned by John Craft, a son, if he is still living, in Virginia. That venerable gentleman married Mary Hamilton in his youth. She was a native of Botetourt county, Virginia, and her parents were natives of Scotland. He moved to Virginia shortly after the war and there remained until his death. During those days he would not hold slaves, being opposed to the principles. When our subject was nineteen, having previously secured a fair education, he came west to visit his uncle, George Craft, who lived in Ohio. His mother had died just previous to his journey. In Ohio he learned the molder's trade at Leffel's foundry in Springfield and continued there seven years. Then he went to Cincinnati, and for seventeen years followed his trade there, his home being across the river in Newport, Kentucky. During this time, he enlisted in Company I, of the mounted Riflemen, under Captain Ruff and Colonel Harney, afterward General Harney, and fought through the entire Mexican war. He was in the battles of Cerro-Gordo, San Antonio, Contreres, Terrebustoo, Melina-Del-Rey, Tepultepec, and entered with the balance of the victorious army through St. George's gate into the City of Mexico, after fighting two days and nights without cessation. Mr. Craft was shot in the forehead at the battle of Melina-Del-Rey, and also had a shoulder broken by the fall of his horse. After the war was closed he was honorably discharged and he has been of late years receiving a pension for his services. At the breaking out of the Civil war, he bought a farm near Coldsprings, Kentucky and thither moved his family, there being a United States camp there. Here he gave his time freely to drill recruits, being too crippled to go to the front himself. For this service he received no pay, doing it for his friend and neighbor, Colonel Murnann. In 1867, he sold his property and removed to Shelbyville, Illinois and for two years did stone mason work and prospected for coal. He discovered a two foot vein but the expense crippled him financially. Cholera broke out there and he went to Nevada, Missouri, and there he did building and contracting until 1883, when he crossed the plains with a party of ten families. They came direct to Wasco county and here he selected land on Central Ridge and settled to farming. Since then he has followed that business until his retirement from active life. He still owns four hundred acres of good land and the income of this is sufficient to make his years comfortable in this the golden period of his life. On October 22, 1852, Mr. Craft married Miss Rossana Decker, the wedding occurring in Cincinnati. Mrs. Craft was born in Missouri and her parents died of cholera in Cincinnati. She was then reared by a wealthy maiden lady. On September 12, 1899, after a long life in the Christian faith, she fell asleep, amid many friends and relatives. She was comforted and sustained by her faith to the last and her memory is fragrant with the virtues of Christianity. To Mr. and Mrs. Craft, the following named children have been born: William, a farmer near Dufur and ex-city marshal of that town; Edwin, farming near his father's place; Joseph, a farmer near Nansene; Walter, a blacksmith in the railroad shops in Sacramento; Alice J., the wife of Charles Edmonds, a drayman in Nevada, Missouri; Katurah, the wife of William R. Haynes, a farmer near Nansene; Emma, the wife of Ellsworth Haynes, a farmer near Nansene; and Edith J., the wife of Thomas Harris, a sheepman at Fayette, Idaho. Mr. Craft had six brothers and two sisters, John, George, Jacob, Joseph, Daniel, David, Margaret and Annie. These were all living in Virginia before the war and since then Mr. Craft has never been able to ascertain the whereabouts of any of them, although he has frequently attempted so to do, except he ascertained that his brother, Daniel, was a captain in the confederate army and was killed at the battle of the Wilderness, having been pressed into it contrary to his will. Mr. Craft joined the I.O.O.F. in Springfield. Illinois, when twenty-one years of age, passed the chairs, was demitted when he came here, but has never affiliated since. He also belonged to the K.P. and passed all the chairs in that order in the east, but is not active here. When he was sixteen years of age he was baptized in the Missionary Baptist church, was deacon when twenty-two and in 1862 transferred his membership from that denomination to the Christian church, in which capacity he is at this day. He has traveled along the pilgrim way for many years in the power of the faith that sustains him now and his life has been such that he has been a bright testimony for the truth. He is honored by all and holds a warm place in the love and esteem of everyone. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in January 2005 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.