The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1890-12-13
Heaviest Man in the World.

Indiana now lays claim to the heaviest man
in the world in the person of John Hanson
Craig, of Danville, Hendricks county. Mr..
| Craig was born in Iowa City, Iowa, in 1875.
While quite small his parents moved to
Kentucky, where they lived until John was
about thirteen years old At birth he weigh
ed eleven pounds. When eleven months old
his weight was seventy seven pounds. From
this time on his gain in flesh was phenomenal.
At the age of two years his weight was 2O6
| pounds. During 1858 his parents took him
to New York city and entered him as a con-
testant in the baby show inaugurated by p.
4. Barnum, and he was awarded a cash prize
of 81 900 as the largest and heaviest child on
exhibition. At the age of five years his
weight had increased to 302 pounds.
During the next six years his weight in
creased to 405 pounds. The following eight
years his weight increased 1876 pounds, caus-
| ing him to tip the beam at COL pounds. At
the age of twenty-five his weight was 725; at
twenty seven it had increased to 758 pounds.
Daring the next year he gained thirty four
pounds, making his weight at twenty eight
1872. From that time on his weight has been
gradually increasing until he now tips the
scales at 907 pounds.
Mr.. Craig has never been i'll day in his
life, is very delicate eater, is not addicted
to the use of intoxicants and does not use
tobacco in any form. He stands six feet five
inches in his stocking feet and measures
eight feet four inches at the hips. ltrequires
forty.one yards of cloth to make him full
suit-cOat, vest and pantaloons-and it takes
three pounds of yarn to make him a pair of
stockings. He laughingly says the cows all
ways smile when they see him going to shoe
shop to leave his measure for pair of boots.
as it will take whole side to make him
pair. He wears No. ~ boots.
The father Of Mr.. Craig was very small
man, weighing from lis to 100 pounds; his
mother was a small woman, not weighing over
10 or rs pounds. His great grand. father
on his mothers side was the first Governor
of Vermont, Governor Chittenden, and was
born in Ireland. His grandfather, DIR. Han
sen Catlett, was assistant surgeon general of
the United States for thirty-fve years, and
died in the government service at East l4iber
ty, Pa. He was a native of England. On
his fathers side Mr.. Craig's grandfather was
a native Of Scotland His grandmother was
a German, having been born in Frankfort
Mr.. Craig is a first cousin to William p.
Hepburn, at the present time solicitor for the
United States treasury.
His wife is a beautiful woman about thirty
years old, small of stature, and will weigh,
perhaps, $50 pounds. Her luxuriant raven
black hair falls in graceful curls reaching
below her waist. Mr.. Craig says he fell in
love with his wife when they first met, and
still adores her as much as he did the day
they were married. Mr.. Craig is pleasant
conversationalist, and is well posted on the
current topics of the day; is member in
good standing of Adherent Lodge, No. AZ,
Knights of Pythias; Sicox Lodge, No. 1913,
Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Matilda
Lodge, No. 81, Daughters of Rebekah; Dan
vile Encampment, No AZ, Independent Order
of Odd Fellows, and Tuscarora Tribe, No. 40,
Independent Order of Red Men. He takes
deep interest in the secret work of the So
ceties of which he is member, and none
are better versed in the unwritten work. He
is jovial man, and his friends are always
glad of the opportunity of gathering at his
pleasant home for an evenings social chat.