Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1890-12-05
BIGGEST MAN In THE WORLD.

Indiana boasts Of having within its
borders tho largest man in the world.
This person is John Hanson Craig.
now resident Of Danville, town Of two
thousand inhabitants, nineteen miles
west of Indianapolis. on the Big Four
railroad, and the county seat of Hend-
rick county.
John, who was born in Iowa City.
Iowa, in 1866. soon moved to the blue
grass region Of Kentucky.
Az birth b. weighed II f6undv He
grew SO rapidly that at the age OF IL
months he had seven pounds of flesh to
show for each month Of his existence,
weighing II pounds
From this time on his gain in flesh
was phenomenal, and he was the talk of
the community.
When he reached the age of two years
his weight was BOG pounds. When he
was three years old, in 1858, p. Il.
Barnum inaugurated baby show in
New York and his parents hearing Of
this resolved to enter him in COMPETE
ton with the other contestants. lie
was awarded the prize offered for the
largest baby, present, 81 200.
At the age of five years his weight
had increased until be weighed 302
pounds. His weight the next six years
kept on increasing until he registered
405 pounds
The next eight years his weight in
creased 1919 pounds, making his total
weight 60l pounds. Ne made it 725
pounds when he was twenty-five years
old.
During the next two years he only
increased his weight to 1853 pounds.
but the next year he gained thirty-four
pounds, making the total 1872 pounds at
the age of twenty -eight.
From that time his weight has been
gradually increasing until at tho present
time, when he is only thirty FIVE years
old, he tips the scales at 907. pounds.
Judging from the past he has not stop
ped accommodating flesh, and although he
has not weighed himself very recently,
it is said he believes he is still increas-
ing in size, and will continue to grow
LOT SOME years 10 como
This immense amount Of flesh is not
caused by an extraordinary appetite.
Mr.. Craig, on the contrary, being q very
delicate eater, is not addicted to the use
of intoxicants, and does not use tobacco
in any form He suffers no inconven-
ivnce from his very heavy weight, aud
was never i'll day in his life.
lie stands six feet five inches in his
stocking feet, and measures eight feet
four inches at the hips. The cloth in
one of his suits of clothes will serve to
make several suits for ordinary men, it
requiring forty-one yards to make him
a full suit-coat, vest and pantaloons-
and it takes three pounds of yarn to
make him pair Of stockings
lie laughingly says that the cows al
ways smile when they see him going to
q shoe shop to leave his measure for
pair Of boots, as it will take whole
side to make him pair, No. IL being
the size he wears.
The father Of Mr.. Craig was II very
small man, weighing about one hundred
and fifteen to one hundred and twenty
pounds His mother was also u small
woman, not weighing over one hundred
and ten or one hundred and fifteen
pounds
His great-great-grandfather on his
mothers side was Governor Chittcnden
the first Governor Of Vermont, whose
birthplace was Ireland. DR.. Hanson
Catlott, his grandfather, was Assistant
Surgeon General of the United States
for thirty-fve years and died in the gov
eminent service at East Liberty, Pa.
He was born in England.
On his fathers side Mr.. Craig grand
father was native of Scotland, and his
grandfather German, having been
born in the city Of Frankfort. MIR.
Craig is first cousin of VIM. p. Hep
burn, at the present time solicitor for
the United States Treasury.
A few days ago Mr.. Craig's home was
frightened by Mrs. Craig giving birth
to girl baby This is the only child
they have, and both are very joyful
over the event Mrs. Craig's weight is
about 1870 pounds.