The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1911-03-06

Oscar J. Craig, first president of the
University of Montana and Who for
/ II years labered at the institutions
head. an educator OF national promi-
ncnce. Il man well known In every
town In Montana and whose personal
! friends and aequaintances here were
many. died yesterday morning at .
o'clock at San Diego. California, fol-
lowing severe illness of Bright's dis
ease Although Dr Craig was known
| to have been III for u number OF
months. news of his death vas unex-
pectcd and was n severe shock tn
] friends and relatives. DR. Craig was
| In MIssoula last late In August, 1910,
when he and Mrs. Craig left for Cali
fornia. They were at Long Beach for
n month and then took mp their resi-
dence In San Diego. Several times
since then his condition has peen re-
ported very low but the last few
weeks the word from him was more
encouraging and there appeared
grounds for the belief that he might
recover. It was while hopes were
| thus encouraged that the message
came yesterday 10 his daughter. Mrs.
! warren WILCOX, Ol the shi7'
Craig was the only member Of the
family at the deathbed and the funeral
arrangements were not Announced last
night.
Missoula and Montana knew Oscar
j. Craig best as the university presi-
dent and as an educator. His undi-
vidcd attention was given to managing
the institutions affairs during Its ten
der years when the foundations We're
being laid and when the work pro-
gressed under great many disadNan-
tages and a shortage of funds. After
It was well started the president then
lent his efforts throughout the state In
raising the standard of education of
the verious high schools which were
the feeders of the states Dig school.
| While the results of his work could
not but begin to manifest themselves
! during his lifetime. they We're none
the less important and they Will live
to enrich his memory. TO the very
last he was loyal to the university. IL
was only last charter day. an occasion
which he instituted as an annual af-
fair six years ago, that from him, as
he lay suffering in his bed. came his
oft repeated sentiment by way OF
greeting: "The University of Mon
tana. II Must Prosper
Oscar ]. Craig was born on April u.s.
1876, In Madison. jefferson county
Ind, the son of Miles w. aud Mary >
(Feather) Craig. the former born in
Highland county. Ohio. and the latter
in Berks county. Pennsylvania Tho
father, n farmer. removed to OHIO
from Indiana In 1926, Becoming pio-
neer of jefferson county. where he
passed long and useful life The
parental grandfather of Oscar Craig
was Walter Craig, a native Of Wheel
ing. West Virginia. As surveyor In
the employ of the federal government
he assisted In the original surveys or
Ohio Indiana. Michigan and Wiscon-
sin. He married Miss Mary Stuart,
representative of an old and influ-
ential family. Walter Craig was sup
posed TO have been killed by Indians
In Wisconsin, the exact nature of his
fate being veiled in obscnrily. The
family Is of Scotch-1rish extraction,
and the original American ancestors
came hither prior to the revolution.
The maternal grandparents Of Oscar
j. Craig were of Engieh decent. the
ph'l III ~ ~ 'Sp''
! don. Miles W. Craig enlisted In the
Sixth Indiana infantry In 1861 and was
drowned while embarking on the Ohio
river at Madison,
Oscar u. Craig. the sixth of the five
> sons and two daughters OF his parents,
attained mature life on the paternal
farmstead, receiving his early educa-
ton In the public schools. In 1868 he
enlisted In the First Indiana heavy
& artillery, being but II years OF age,
:, and his command was sent to the de-
I, partment of the gulf. where he par
G tcipated in the battles of Baton
4 Rouge. Alexandria and Fort Balow, La.
d He, was honorably discharged from
: service In 1863 In 1866 he matrieu-
= lated In Asbury university, at Green
q castle, Ind, but before completing the
prescribed course engaged in teaching
in Indiana and Illinois, eventually re-
turning to the university, where he
graduated In the class Of 1881 with
i. the degree of bachelor of arts. his
y, alma mater comforting upon him two
n years later the masters degree, while
i In 1887 the degree of doctor of phil
|, osophy was given him by Wooster
Il A)Hlp1 university, III loeo ne Mis-
elected superintendent of the city
: schools ut Sullivan. Ind. and at the ex-
piration of three years service he was
elected principal Of the academic de-
partment of Purdue university In In
diana, retaining his incumbency -four
years after which he was advanced to
the chair OF history and political
science which he held until 1895, when
he was elected president of the newly
= established University of Montana.
I, President Craig arrived In Missoula
in July 1895, and the outlook was not
d flatterlng, for nothing had been done
IL toward the erection of the university
h buildings, while the work had scarcely
ID been outlined, 1t was Herculeaf
= TASK to which he set himself, but his
courage and confidence were ample