The St. Joseph observer. [volume] (St. Joseph, Mo.) 1906-1932, 1917-07-21
DROVE IN SLEIGHS TO
ST. LOUIS FOR GOODS
Continued from Page /

- - Ill
town He haS Y country seat. some
miles out, and Came in every business
day in the weeB. rain or shine. and
went back In tie evening when his
work was donss His face was 90 ro-
tund and merry as funny picture of
a fun moon. TO him everything had
sunny side. Even the younger gem
Grafton of st. Joe will tell you today,
oh, yes, vi reshssrd our fathers and
gra andfsthers tea about A. NJ. saxton.'
II the time ever comes when st. Joe
/ will have sentimental sensation. it
| will put up a bronze figure OF y. NJ,
Saxton, IL any sculptor can be found
who can put the smile. which Saxton
carried all his hre. into the metal.
/ When one of the first towns on the
west end Of the Hannibal & st. Joseph
Railroad was started, 1t was called
/ Saxton. When ,'st. joe man went
away from hone and was asked
where he iiged, and, said st. Joe.' and
the stranger said. That's where A. NJ.
Saxton lives the st. Jocite' answered.
Yes and stopped That was enough.
Others might live there. but they
didn't count.
| The Only James Craig.
! There was another man in st. Joe
who had some of Mr.. Saxton's traits.
but he was a professional man and a
! politician. He had been a soldier in
the Mexican War. He was a lawyer.
When I went TO st. Joe. he was the
| Representative in Congress from the
4 'st. joe District. He couldn't have
looked solemn at funeral An ever
lasting smile mantled his face. He
was as alert as a gaZelle, rapid in
repartee and had an inexhaustible
storehouse of anecdote. He always had
a story on tap for any occasion. when
! he was a member OF the Lower House
of Congress- he wore a blue, spike
tail coat with brass buttons. tight
fitting trousers and a high hat. II 1t
was a warm day when he walked In
any street in st. Joe he carried his
hat in one hand. and when we stopped
anywhere to converse, a crowd gath
cred and stood as long as he stayed.
He was a natural-born stump speaker.
and never spoke to an empty house.
"When the Civil War reached that
stage in St Joe when it became
necessary 10 9rssnize a Home
Guard (volunteering had come to the
drafp. this, map was selected by
President Lptotn, as the commander
in-chief of ~ths home soldiers. and
some of thsIa had sons in the Con-
federate Army. 7e became president
of the Hannibal & st. Joseph Railroad
at time when the Government need
ed the system TO transport soldiers in
that section, SO. with all of his wit
and ever buoyant spirit, General
James Craig showed his ability as an
executive. He Was an untiring work
er, and a first citizen in every condi-
ton. President Lincoln loved him,
and Jim Craig was a frequent visitor
at the White House in the dark days
Brooks Dill Not Get 1t.
'If st. joe is ever moved to erect
a monument to A. VI. Saxton, it won't
stop until it puts up a bronze statue
of Jim Craig. The last time I saw
General Craig. he was in the Greeley
and Brown campaign. As editor of
The Rock Port (Atchison County,
Express. I had something to do with
getting General Craig to deliver the
big speech in a political turnout
After the meeting, he honored me
with a call.
what are you doing up here?'
he asked. replied that I was trying
to do my Bit in electing Greeley and
Brown.
what is there in II for you?' he
Inquired. replied that IL we won
out. was TO be given the plant which
printed The Express-it was owned
by the county COMMITTEES.
"'You1l never get it, said General
Craig with a big smile, and as he ex-
tended his hand for a goodbye. he
added, You had better go back to
st. Joe. where you belong and that
Is what I did after the campaign,
never saw him after his prophecy. II
there ever was u man of the people,
Jim Craig bad that distinction.
Lap Nrrr IL ppnnIrSn