History of cragun family most current.docx

FIRST GENERATION
1. Elisha Cragun was born 22 February 1786 and was the son of Patrick Cragun and mother
is unknown. According to family records he was born either in Castlewood, Russell County,
Virginia or Sullivan County, Tennessee. At this time no records have been found to verify his
birth. He married Mary Elisabeth Osborne about 1811, according to family records they were
married in Russell County, Virginia. Mary was 21 years old and Elisha was 25 years old at time
of marriage. At this time no records have been found to verify the place of marriage. Mary was
born 17 December 1790 in Russell County, Virginia to James Osborne and Mary Whitaker.1
Mary Elisabeth Osborne was the daughter of James and Mary (Whitaker) Osborne who
were wealthy slave and land owners of Virginia. Their first child, Rebecca was born in Sullivan
County, Tennessee in the year 1812, at which time Elisha was serving under General Andrew
Jackson at New Orleans in the war of 1812. (Further research is needed to verify his service with
Andrew Jackson).2
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a defining period in the early history of Tennessee. When war was
declared on Great Britain in June 1812, it was a Tennessean, Congressman Felix Grundy of
Tennessee, who was given the lion’s share of credit (or blame) for steering Congress toward a
declaration of war. Tennessee’s accomplishments on the battlefield during the Creek War (1813-
1814) gave the country something to cheer about in a period of otherwise dismal campaigns
against the British.
When President James Madison called on Tennessee to help defend the “Lower Country,”
Tennesseans volunteered en masse, earning the nickname “The Volunteer State.” Tennessee
Governor Willie Blount was asked to send 1,500 troops for the defense of the lower Mississippi
region and an expedition under the command of Andrew Jackson, major general of the
Tennessee militia, was outfitted in December 1812.3 Elisha’s move to Indiana was delayed by
service in the War of 1812 in which his brothers Isaac and John also served.4
Migration Patterns of Elisha and his family
Mary’s (Osborne) Cragun’s older brother, Jonathan Osborne, migrated to the area that became
Franklin County, Indiana in 1811, the same year that the land was opened for settlement after
having been obtained from the Indians in 1809 by the Twelve Mile Purchase Treaty.
In 1809, the settlers bought from the Indians a strip of land, whose western boundary was
parallel to the Greenville Treaty line. Because the line was 12 miles west, the area became

1 Eva Cragun Heiner, Patrick Cragun – Descendants in America 1744-1969, Page: 31, (HBLL) book CS 71 .C8854
1969, Provo, Utah.
2 Eva Cragun Heiner, Patrick Cragun – Descendants in America 1744-1969, Page: 31, (HBLL) book CS 71 .C8854

1969, Provo, Utah.
3 Tennessee Department of State, Tennessee State Library and Archives, Brief History of Tennessee in

the War of 1812, Searched: Jackson at New Orleans in the War of 1812, http://www.tennessee.gov/tsla/
history/military/tn1812.htm, accessed: 6 April 2010.
4 Eva Cragun Heiner, Patrick Cragun – Descendants in America 1744-1969, page 31, (HBLL) book CS

71 .C8854 1969, Provo, Utah.

1

known as the Twelve Mile Purchase. This line crossed the National Road in the western part of
Cambridge City, and is present in Treaty Line Road south of Hagerstown, Indiana.5
In 1813 Elisha was among the first to draw land. The next year, in 1814, Elisha and Mary left
Sullivan County, Tennessee with their daughter, Rebecca, and on September 16th he entered four
surveys of land near Jonathan’s property, the land was at the junction of Metamora and Butler
Townships in Franklin County, Indiana.
Elisha bought land in Indiana through the Cincinnati land office. In the film that was searched
some of the book that was filmed was torn. Elisha Cragins is listed in the index for buying
property in 1814.6 Elisha had moved with his family and with many of his brothers and sisters
to the fertile state of Indiana. We find him in Connorsville, Fayette County, Indiana, where his
second child, James Cragun was born 26 July 1814.7
Elisha was an early settler of Franklin County, Indiana, purchasing land in Metamora Township
as Elisha Cragan in 1814; and in Butler Township as Elisha Cragon in 1814. Another tract book
entry calls him Elisha Cragun (5 September 1815).8 Elisha Craigen was a taxpayer of Brookville
Township in 1817;
On 2 March 1819, Elisha’s younger brother, Caleb, twin of Joshua, entered a survey in the same
area in Franklin County as Elisha and married the widowed Sarah (Alley) Jones who had two
children.9 The Atlas of Franklin County, Indiana by J.H. Beers and Company states that Elisha
Cragun was a Pioneer of Metamora and Butler townships in Franklin County.10 In the Indiana
1820 census he is also listed as the head of the family. He was living near his brother Caleb
Cragun. The info from the census coincides with the information that we have on the family. In
addition to Rebecca and James, Hiram was born 8 December 1816, and Mary, born 17 December
1819.11
The Treaty of St. Mary’s (also known as the Treaty with the Miami, 1818) was signed on 6
October 1818 at St. Mary’s, Ohio between representatives of the United States and the Miami
tribe and others living in their territory. The accord contained seven articles. Based on the terms
of the accord, the Miami ceded to the United States territories beginning at the Wabash River. 12

5 Morrisson-Reeves library, Greenville Treaty, Twelve Mile Purchase, http://www.mrl.lib.in.us/history/
bicentimeline/treatyline.htm, accessed: 7 April 2010
6 Land records of the various districts of Ohio, Register of entries at Cincinnati v. I (1814-1816), FHL film 182614,

searched Elisha Cragun, A Elisha Cragins is listed in the index on page 107, and the record was not located when
searching the film, some of the book that was filmed was missing.
7 Eva Cragun Heiner, Patrick Cragun – Descendants in America 1744-1969, (HBLL) book CS 71 .C8854 1969,

Provo, Utah
8 Jean Tombaugh, History of the Craguns, www.fulco.lib.in.us/Tombaugh/Family%20Books/Html/cragun.htm,
9 Ben Cragun, History of Elisha Cragun, http://bellsouthpwp.net/b/e/bencragun/ben42/elisha.htm, accessed: 7 April

2010

Provo, Utah
11 1820 U.S. Census, Brookville, Franklin County, Indiana, and Searched: Elisha Cragun accessed: 7 January 2010.
12 Wikipedia, Treaty of St. Mary’s, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_St._Mary's, More information in

the article, also info can be found at Ohio History Central – An online Encyclopedia of Ohio History, http://
www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=1410, accessed: 7 April 2010.

2

Elisha moved from Franklin County sometime between 1825 and 1827 to Richland, Rush
County where a son, Simeon, the 8th child, was born 13 August 1827. Two more children were
born at the home in Richland. Elisha is found in the 1830 census for Rush County, Indiana. The
ages of the children match up with family records.13
One can only be impressed with the way Elisha and his family kept following the frontier. As
new lands were opened for settlement, they moved into them and developed farms bringing
civilization along with them. They settled land and cultivated it in contrast to speculators of the
time who claimed and simply held land against the hope of increased prices thus retarding both
settlement and development of the frontier as it moved west.
Settlement and speculation
The townships were in an early phase of settlement when speculative fever hit in the early 1830s,
the economic bubble ended in nationwide economic depression, the Panic of 1837
Forty-acre parcels began to be sold in the Pike Township in 1831 and in Eagle Town in 1831 and
in Eagle Township in 1832. These parcels in Pike Township, along with certain larger parcels
from, and earlier date, were apparently speculative purchases. Most were resold before 1855,
including all entered as patents in 1833. Five of the 40-acre parcels were located near the future
right of way of Indianapolis, Cincinnati, and Lafayette Railroad where tracks were laid in 1852.
In Eagle Township, where the complete record was examined and partially analyzed, patents
were entered from 1822 to 1838. Sixty-eight parcels of 40 acres were included among patents of
larger sizes. Of the small parcels, roughly 40 percent formed part of a land accumulation among
family members, who assembled a holding either all at once or over several years. An example
is the Cragun family. From 1835 to 1837, James, Hiram, and Elisha Cragun purchased three 40-
acre parcels and two 80-acre parcels, 280 acres total that were all located in T18N R2E, sections
21 and 22, at the northwest corner of Eagle Township. As shown on a township plat map of
1878, Cragun’s owned 220 adjacent acres (not all in the original purchase location). In Eagle
Township, 40-acre parcels were more likely to be retained. Their availability ten years after
patents were first offered coincided with the later arrival of the bulk of Eagle land purchasers. 14

131830 U.S. Census, Rush County, Indiana, www.ancestry.com, online: Elisha Cragun, accessed 7 January 2010
14National Register of Historic Places, Prepared by: Eliza Steelwater, Ph.D. Independent Consultant in Historic
Preservation, Searched: Eagle and Pike Township for Cragun’s, Patent records are archived in the Indiana State
Archives, Indianapolis, The author of the article thanks Mr. Geoffrey Scott, Records Archivist, for his assistance.
Accessed: 7 April 2010.

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The following map shows a portion of Eagle Township and surrounding area. The Cragun’s
parcels were in section 21 and 22.
The land records that were found at the Bureau of Land Management show, Elisha Cragan
bought 40 acres in section 22 in 183715 Aaron Beaman the son-in-law to Elisha bought 40 acres
in section 22 in 1837.16 Two of Elisha’s sons bought property in Section 21. Hiram bought 40
acres in 1837,17 James bought 80 acres in 1837 and in 1839 he bought 80 more acres.18
With the exception of Rebecca, who had married and established her own home with Aaron
Beaman in Rush County, in 1835 Elisha, Mary, and their nine other children claimed land in
Boone County, Indiana. They cleared it of growth including the black walnut trees which grew
in abundance and began to farm near what became known as the Pleasant View Community
in Eagle Township between Zionsville and Whitestown. Not much is known about the family
during this period. The record indicates that Mary died 14 December 1844 at the age of 54
and daughter Abigail died three days later on 17 December at the age of 21. They were buried
side by side on the farm in an otherwise unmarked grave where a large black walnut tree then
stood. Elisha and his son James Cragun were both found in the 1840 census in Boone County,

15 Bureau of Land management – General Land Office Records, Database and digital images, Date: 20 March 1837,
Doc. 25153, Section: 22, 40 acres, http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/PatentSearch/, the land office was located in
Indianapolis, Indiana, Searched: Elisha Cragan the correct spelling is Cragun, accessed: 10 Sep 2009.

Doc. No. 24331, Searched: Aaron Beaman, Bought 40 acres, http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/PatentSearch/, the land
office was located in Indianapolis, Indiana, Searched: Aaron Beaman, accessed: 10 Sep 2009.

Doc. No. 25824, 40 Acres, http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/PatentSearch/, Searched: Hiram Cragan the correct
spelling is Cragun, accessed: 10 Sep 2009
18 Bureau of Land management – General Land Office Records, Database and digital images, http://

www.glorecords.blm.gov/PatentSearch/, Searched: James Cragun, Date 20 March 1837 for 80 acres, Doc. 25152, he
also bought property on 1 August 1839 for 80 Acres, Doc. No’s: 29541 and 30068, accessed: 10 Sep 2009

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Indiana.19
Eva Cragun Heiner states that Elisha sold all or part of his holdings to Washington St. Clair on
8 September 1845. This perhaps marks the breakup of the homestead in preparation for the next
shift to the west.20
During the moves from one county to another county, Elisha encountered two Mormon
missionaries, Nathan T. Porter and Wilbur Earl. Their doctrine appealed to Elisha and his wife
Mary. A very good friend, Henry Mower, a Methodist Minister, had been converted to the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He influenced their faith and the whole family was
converted and baptized about 1842.21[Henry Mower’s daughter Susan Mower married Simeon
Cragun a son of Elisha Cragun.]
These journals of Nathan Tanner Porter were transcribed from photocopies of microfilm by
typists from the Porter Family Organization Historical Committee and others of the Porter
family. Spelling is left as it was written in his journal.

JOURNAL ENTRY OF NATHAN T. PORTER

19 1840 U.S. Census, Boone County, Indiana, Searched: Elisha Cragun, www.ancestry.com, accessed: 7 January
2010
20 Eva Cragun Heiner, Patrick Cragun – Descendants in America 1744-1969, Need to find the land record that

Elisha sold to Washington St. Clair, page 33, (HBLL) book CS 71 .C8854 1969, Provo, Utah
21 Eva Cragun Heiner, Patrick Cragun – Descendants in America 1744-1969,page 33, (HBLL) book CS 71 .C8854

1969, Provo, Utah

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Missionary to Elisha Cragun and family

Nathan T. Porter Henry Mower
At the semi-annual conference held on the 6th of October 1841, I was
called and ordained to the office of an Elder in the Quorum of Seventies,
and voluntarily sent forth into the ministry in the company with Elder
Henry Mowerry [Mower].
We took our journey eastward, passed through the state of Illinois
preaching by the way until we arrived into the State of Indiana, a
distance of near three hundred miles. Now the field which we had
selected to labor in lay still 300 miles east, being in the state of
Pennsylvania where resided the relatives of Elder Mowerry [Mower[,
whom he desired to visit, and if possible, convince them to the principles
of the gospel.
Feeling anxious to make the journey as soon as possible, we made but a
passing in the neighborhoods through which we passed notwithstanding
the many earnest requests for us to tarry and continue our meetings.
Therefore I began to query in my mind as to whether or no we were
doing right in making such great haste to reach any certain point, unless
instructed to do, in as much as there were many perishing by the way
who were willing and anxious to hear, and that one soul was precious
in the sight of the Lord as another. I finally expressed my feeling to my
companion and remarked that I had many kindred in the eastern states
whom I would like to visit, and if possible be instrumental in bringing
them into the church, but as we were on the Lords errand, I felt willing
to labor in any part where there was a door open unless instructed
otherwise. He replied that there would be Elders passing through so
that all would have an opportunity hearing in due time.

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So we continued on until we arrived into the middle part of the State of
Indiana. Stopping for the night in a little town called Northfield, we gave
out an appointment to hold a meeting that evening which so soon circulated
by the good landlord with whom we put up, sending out a boy on horse back
with a bell which he rang as he rode through the streets crying at the top of
his voice, “Mormon Preachers will preach in the school house tonight at 7
o’clock”.
The people seemed to come out in mass, manifesting unusual interest, the
house being filled to overflowing. We had unusual liberty in setting forth
the principles of the gospel which was listened to with marked attention.
At the close of the meeting many came and shook hands with us saying
that they were much pleased in what they had heard, soliciting us to
tarry awhile with them as they wished to hear more of our doctrine. I
and Elder Mowerry [Mower] replied that we could not stop longer as we
were anxious to get on to our field of labor in Pennsylvania.
So on the morrow we resumed our journey but we had not proceeded
but a short distance when the Lord withdrew his spirit from us, leaving
us as it were, under a cloud of darkness. A spirit of despair seemed to
brood over us, which the way seemed to be entirely hedged up before
us. We therefore came to a halt, and returning a little way from the
road, we bowed before the Lord in humble prayer asking to know his
will concerning us, and inasmuch as our way seemed to be dark before
us, that he would guide us whether he would have us to go. We arose
and after a little further consultation decided to turn our course to the
north, and thus taking through the forest on our left, we preceded on
intersecting the state road running from Indianapolis to Michigan City
on the north.
We now felt much relieved in spirit so that Elder Mowerry (Mower)
began to conclude that his family were sick, or something had occurred,
which required his return home as we were bordering in that direction.
After traveling a short distance, we came to a cross road running east
and west. We took it to the west which turned our faces homeward.
Feeling no check in our feelings, continued on and soon meet a stranger
of whom we made inquiry as to the people in that section with regard
to religion. He mentioned several denominations which frequently
held meetings in his neighborhood. We informed him that we were
Latter Day Saint ministers and would like to hold a meeting in the
neighborhood for the evening, it being near sundown. Whereupon he
informed us that four ministers calling themselves Latter Day Saints,
came into the neighborhood and held several meetings, and had passed
on but a few days since, leaving the people in a state of great excitement,
being anxious to hear further, but they could not prevail on them to stay
longer. He said their ministers could do nothing with them.
He informed us that there was a family by the name of Snodgrass in the
neighborhood who had once belonged to the Mormons, so called, but

7

had left them during their persecution in Missouri. He directed us to his
residence. As we approached his house we were met by members of the
family. They having recognized us by our mode of traveling as being
Mormon Elders. We were hailed with gladness as they were anxious
to have some of the Elders come into the neighborhood, who would
stop and labor in that section. We now learned more fully as to those
ministers referred to by our informant, whose names are as follows:
Joseph Straton, David Fulmer, James Flanigan and Elisha Sheets.
These Elders, like ourselves, were pressing on to a certain point, while
their labors were needed and loudly called for in the sections they were
passing through. But the Lord stopped us in the way and thus we were
turned to this field of labor which soon opened out to the distance of
sixty miles in length. We labored in this section until the first of March,
1842, having organized three branches, numbering in all sixty members.
Thus the lord blessed our labors in the ministry. Having learned that my
Elder brother Chauncy Warriner was holding meetings in Montgomery
County on the Wabash River, some sixty or eighty miles distance, I set
out to pay him a visit before Elder Mowerry [Mower] should leave,
taking with me one of our converts as a companion. He had relatives in
that section who he desired to visit in the hope of convincing them of the
truth of the gospel.
Upon my arrival I learned that my brother had returned home to
Nauvoo leaving his fellow laborer, Elder Wilber J. Earl, with whom I
made arrangements to travel and continue our labors together and as
he had need to remain a short time, we arrange for him to join me at
the branches where I had been laboring. And so I returned with my
new convert who was somewhat cast down in his feelings by the cold
reception he had received from his relatives as soon as they learned that
he had joined the Latter Day Saints or Mormons, as they were called.
I consoled him by referring to the saying of the Savior that a prophet
is not without honor save in his own country and among his kin folks.
Upon our arrival I informed Elder Mowerry [Mower] of my visit and
my arrangement with Elder Earl. He therefore tarried until his [Elder
Earl’s] arrival, after which he departed on his return home.
We continued our labors in the branches until sometime in May,
1842, having held three public discussions with different ministers,
or rather two as one. A Lutheran minister withdrew his attack in the
presence of a large concourse of people who had gathered at the place
appointed. He had consulted with the leading minister of his church
residing in Kentucky, who came by his request to visit him, and on seeing
the proposition, told him that he had no advantage of his antagonist
and therefore would be defeated. We took leave of the saints and
departed into the State of Ohio, Elder Earl having a brother living in the
northwest part of the state whom he desired to visit.

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We therefore made for that point, holding meetings by the way. We
arrived sometime in July 1842. We stayed here about six weeks holding
meetings in the different neighborhoods around about in that section,
after which we returned to the branches and found them in good health
and spirits.
Soon after our arrival we were visited by several Elders who had been
laboring a short distance to the north of us on the Wabash. They raised
up a branch of the church in that section. Their names are as follows:
Alvin T. Tibitts, Ezra Strong, Moses Martin and James McGavin. We
were much pleased to meet them and learn of their success.
About the fifteenth of the following October, we in company with several
families of the saints, set out on our return home to Nauvoo, arriving the
first of November 1842, having been absent thirteen months. I saw that
much improvement had been made in the city and surrounding country
during my absence. The basement of the Temple was in progress of
erection, also the Nauvoo House. Found my folks all well and pleased to
be associated with them again.22
THE MORMON PIONEER TRAIL
TRAIL EXPERIENCE
The Mormon Pioneers shared similar experiences with others traveling west; the
drudgery of walking hundreds of miles, suffocating dust, violent thunderstorms,
mud, temperature extremes, bad water, poor forage, sickness, and death. They
recorded their experiences in journals, diaries, and letters that have become a part of
their heritage.
The Mormons, however, were a unique part of this migration. Their move to the
Valley of the Great Salt Lake was not entirely voluntary, but to maintain a religious
and cultural identity it was necessary to find an isolated area where they could
permanently settle and practice their religion in peace. This was a movement of an
entire people, an entire religion, and an entire culture driven by religious fervor and
determination.
February 4, 1846. First wagons leave Nauvoo, Illinois, and cross the Mississippi River. "The
great severity of the weather, and...the difficulty of crossing the river during many days of
running ice, all combined to delay our departure, though for several days the bridge of ice across
the Mississippi greatly facilitated the crossing." BRIGHAM YOUNG, February 28, 1846
The Mormon pioneers learned quickly to be well-organized. They traveled in semi-
military fashion, grouped into companies of 100s, 50s, and 10s. Discipline, hard
work, mutual assistance, and devotional practices were part of their daily routine
on the trail. Knowing that others would follow, they improved the trail and built
support facilities. Businesses, such as ferries, were established to help finance the

22Aaron Benjamin Porter Sr. and Rebecca Margaret Poole Porter Family Website, transcription, http://
aaronandrebeccaporter.homestead.com/index.html, Nathan T. Porter – Missionary to Elisha Cragun, coy of original
journal of Nathan T. Porter found at LDS Historical Department Archives, FHL film MS 1842-1, Salt Lake City,
Utah.

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movement. They did not hire professional guides. Instead, they followed existing
trails, used maps and accounts of early explorers, and gathered information from
travelers and frontiersmen they met along the way.23
THE TREK OF 1846
The departure from Nauvoo began on 4 February 1846, under the leadership of
Brigham Young, who succeeded Joseph Smith as leader of the Mormon Church.
After crossing the Mississippi river; the journey across Iowa followed primitive
territorial roads and Indian trails. The initial party reached the Missouri River on
June 14 of that year, having taken more than four months to complete the trip. Some
of the emigrants established a settlement called Kanesville on the Iowa side of the
river. Others moved across the river into the area of present –day [north] Omaha,
Nebraska, building a camp called Winter Quarters.
The Mormons left Nauvoo earlier than planned because of the revocation of their
city charter, growing rumors of U.S. government intervention, and fears that federal
troops would march on the city. This early departure exposed them to the elements
in the worst of winter. Heavy rains later turned the rolling plains of southern
Iowa into quagmire of axle-deep mud. Furthermore, few people carried adequate
provisions for the trip. The weather, general unpreparedness, and lack of experience
in moving such a large group of people, all contributed to the difficulties they
endured.
Along the first part of the trail, the Mormons developed skills for moving en masse.
They established several semi-permanent camps, including Garden Grove and Mount
Pisgah, where they planted crops and built facilities to assist those who followed.
It was during this leg of the journey that Brigham Young first organized them into
companies of 100s, 50s and 10s. The lessons learned crossing Iowa were used by
future companies of Mormons.
June 14, 1846. Brigham Young arrives at the banks of the Missouri River, September 1846.
Winter Quarters is set up on the Nebraska shore of the Missouri. Approximately 4,000 people
spent the winter here. November 1846.24

Garden Grove became stopover for the
many emigrant wagon trains and
handcart groups that followed later.
Garden Grove Cabin sites25
COUNCIL BLUFFS
ALSO KNOWN AS
WINTER QUARTERS

23Bureau of Land Management, Historic Trails Office, or Historical Department, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-
day Saints, http://www.americanwest.com/trails/pages/mormtrl.htm, accessed: 9 April 2010.

24 Bureau of Land Management, Historic Trails Office, or Historical Department , Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-
day Saints, http://www.americanwest.com/trails/pages/mormtrl.htm, accessed: 9 April 2010.
25 Garden Grove, Iowa, Photo taken by Gary Hone during an LDS Church History Tour, October 2007.

10

Council Bluffs was 265 miles from Nauvoo, here was a major outfitting point for
Latter-day Saints and countless others heading west during most of the overland
emigration period. Across the Missouri River from Winter Quarters, Council Bluffs
was one of the most significant Latter-day Saint settlements during the late 1840s
and early 1850s.
The Latter-day saints named this outfitting point – originally known as Miller’s
Hollow-Kanesville in honor of Thomas L. Kane, an influential ally during their
darkest years in Nauvoo. Following the departure of the Saints, it was renamed
Council Bluffs in 1853. Orson Hyde ran a newspaper in the community, the
Frontier Guardian that became an important source of information for thousands
on the move to the West. Up to 90 Latter-day Saint settlements were scattered
throughout Pottawattamie County, Iowa, of which Kanesville was the most
significant.26 Winter Quarters was only a temporary settlement, in 1847-1848.
Elisha Cragun was a High Priest when he took out his endowments on 21 January 1846. His
sister Elisabeth was also endowed on the same day in Nauvoo, Illinois. Simeon Cragun, son of
Elisha, was an Elder, and Elisha’s close friend Henry Mower, who introduced him to the gospel,
took out their endowments on 1 February 1846. The future wife of Simeon Cragun also took out
her endowments the same day in Nauvoo, Illinois. According to family records Simeon Cragun
and Susan Mower were married in Kanesville, Pottawattamie County, Iowa around 1847. No
marriage record at this time has been found.27
No one seems to know exactly what Elisha did after this, but some of his descendants
who now live in Indiana, say that he started west in 1847 and got as far as Kanesville
[Council Bluffs], Pottawattamie, Iowa and died and was buried there. However, many
searches have been made but no headstone marks his grave. This is where more than
600 members of the church died in the winter 1846-1847. A few of their names are on
the plaque in the Mormon cemetery but a great many names were never known.
It is unknown if Elisha died at Council Bluffs or if he was in one of the smaller
communities.
SICKNESS RAGES THROUGH THE CAMP
The great difficulty at Winter Quarters, However, was not physical hardships or
extreme cold only; it was a weakening plague which spread throughout the camp. As
early as July, 37 percent of the community were down with this fever, source of the
sickness was found in swamps full of mosquitoes.
Coupled with the plague, privation and exposure also took a terrible toll of these
pioneers, and before the encampment at Winter Quarters was abandoned, over 600
men, women, and children had been laid to rest.

26 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Pioneer Trail Map, Council Bluffs, Iowa: 1839-1846, http://
www.lds.org/gospellibrary/pioneer/02_Nauvoo.html, accessed: 8 April 2010.

1969, Provo, Utah, search for the marriage record had been done in the Frontier Guardian newspaper that was
published in Kanesville, at this time no marriage record has been done, more research is needed.

11

Scene depicting Winter Quarters28

Over 300 faithful Latter-day Saints are buried at Winter Quarters, with countless others resting in
obscure cemeteries along the banks of the Missouri River. Many lie in unmarked graves. These
valiant Pioneers gave their lives in pursuit of finding a place where they and their families could
live and worship in peace. Many of those who died at Winter Quarters left faithful posterity
who pressed on to the Salt Lake Valley and accomplished the realization of the hopes of those
who had died before their journey was through. Others among those buried at Winter Quarters
include young children whose small bodies could not withstand the biting winter cold.

CHILDREN OF ELISHA CRAGUN AND MARY ELISABETH OSBORNE

I. Rebecca Cragun was born 25 September 1812 in Sullivan County, Tennessee.
She married Aaron Beaman on 29 December 1832 in Pleasant Hill, Sullivan
County, Minnesota.

It is believed that all of Elisha and Mary Osborn Cragun’s ten children came
with their parents to Rush County, Indiana and were baptized into the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1846 except Rebecca who had married Aaron
Beaman and had moved from the home. However, Rebecca and her husband had
been with the Latter-day Saints in Iowa.29

It is believed that Rebecca died before 1850 as Aaron is found living with his
brother-in-law Enoch Cragun in the 1850 census and Rebecca is not listed.30

28 The Winter Quarters Project, This site is maintained by students and faculty at Brigham Young University, http://
winterquarters.byu.edu/ProjectInfo.aspx, accessed: 9 April 2010.

1969, Provo, Utah
30 1850 U.S. census, Boone County, Indiana, www.ancestry.com, Searched: Aaron Beaman, accessed: 7 January

2010

12

II. James Cragun was born 26 July 1814 in Connorsville, Boone County, Indiana.
He married Eleanor Lane 30 March 1836 in Boone County, Indiana.31 She was
the daughter of Samuel Lane and Margaret McCarty of Kentucky.

James became an expert carpenter and cabinet-maker. Following the line of his
trade, he visited the neighborhood where the farm of Samuel Lane was located.
In the course of events, the young carpenter was employed to some building and
repair work about the Lane premises, and to also make some needed furniture.
There, of course, the young mechanic beheld the charmingly pretty features of
blue-eyed Eleanor Lane. At almost the first sight, James; heart capitulated. Being
an ambitious young man and having a good trade, it was not so difficult after a
time for the young people to get consent to their marriage in Harrison, Indiana,
afterwards Boone County.32

James bought 80 acres of land in 1837 and in 1839 he bought 80 more acres in
Pike Township, Boone County.33 In the 1840 census we find that James and his
father Elisha were living by each other, also Aaron Beaman a brother-in-law was
listed.34

James Cragun Eleanore Lane

James was baptized 13 April 184235 He was a carpenter and a cabinet maker, he
also was a farmer. He left Indiana for Nauvoo, and heard of the Prophet Joseph
Smith’s death while on the way there. He left Nauvoo for the west, on 6 October
1969, Provo, Utah
32 Paul Cragun, History of James Cragun, St. George, Utah.

www.glorecords.blm.gov/PatentSearch/, Searched: James Cragun, Date 20 March 1837 for 80
34 1840 U.S. census, Boone County, Indiana, Searched: James Cragun, accessed: 7 January 2010
35 Susan Easton Black, James Cragun File, LDS members, Vol. 12, page 249, baptized 13 April 1843 and was

endowed on 22 January 1846 in Nauvoo.

13

1845, and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley 22 October 1849. He lived in the Mill
Creek Ward, Salt Lake County. He went on a mission for the church and served a
mission to the Salmon River Country. He served in the Echo Canyon War.36

In 1850 James was on the census for the Salt Lake, Utah Territory, he was 37
years old and his occupation was that of a cabinet maker and he was born in
Indiana.37 By 1852 James had bought property in Salt Lake.38

On 24 July 1857 he was invited to a picnic with President Brigham Young at
the Lake in Big Cottonwood Canyon.39 In the 1860 census he was living in Salt
Lake, Utah Territory. He has 8 children living at home and he was living next
door to his son-in-law James McCarty.40

By 1870 his family had moved to St. George, Utah. James was 50 years old and
they still had 3 children living at home.41 Unable to locate the 1880 U.S. census.

The obituary for him says that he died 13 February 1887, after an illness of
six days.42 According to the Utah Cemetery Inventory he was buried in the St.
George City Cemetery.43

III. Hiram Cragun was born 8 December 1816 in Brookville, Franklin County,
Indiana; he married Reiter Dooley on 18 August 1842 in Boone County,
Indiana.44

36 Paul Cragun, History of James Cragun, St. George, Utah.
37 1850 U.S. census, Salt Lake, Utah Territory, Searched: James Cragun, www.ancestry.com, accessed: 7 January
2010.
38 Jennifer Smith, Family Records, jennifermsmith@gmail.com, accessed: October 2009.
40 1860 U.S. census, Salt Lake, Utah Territory, Searched: James Cragun, www.ancestry.com, accessed: 7 January

2010.
41 1870 U.S. census, St. George, Washington County, Utah, Searched: James Cragun, www.ancestry.com, accessed:

7 January 2010.
43 Utah State Historical Society, Utah Cemetery Inventory, Searched: James Cragun, Buried in the St. George City

Cemetery, Grave location: A_E_118_1, accessed:

1969, Provo, Utah

14

Hiram Cragun Reiter Dooley

Hiram spent his boyhood and youth in Rush County, Indiana, near the Franklin
County line and was 19 years of age when the family moved to Boone County.
On 20 March 1837 Hiram purchased 40 acres with his brother James and his
father Elisha in Eagle Township, Boone County.45 He was reared a farmer and
spent the remainder of his life in Eagle Township, Boone County as a farmer. He
was a man of great energy, the farm on which his father settled was very heavily
timbered and Hiram did a vast amount of work in assisting his father in clearing
away the fine black walnut trees and burning them in piles to get rid of them.
After helping his father clear a farm, he improved another 245 acres for himself,
working a good deal in the timbers.

Hiram lived on this farm of 245 acres until 2 March 1884 when he died. He was
highly respected. With his wife he was a member of the Pleasant View Society,
which he assisted in founding, and which at first met in the “little brick” school
house.46

The family was living in Eagle Township during the years 1850 -1880 according
to the census. His occupation was a farmer the whole time he was living in the
area.47 According to the Directory of Boone County for 1874 says Hiram was
living in Eagle Township and his religion was that of a Methodist.48

Doc. No. 25824, 40 Acres, http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/PatentSearch/, Searched: Hiram Cragan the correct
spelling is Cragun, accessed: 10 Sep 2009

1969, Provo, Utah
47 1850-1880 U.S. Census, Eagle Township, Boone County, Indiana, and Searched: Hiram Cragun,

www.ancestry.com, accessed: 7 January 2010.
48 Historical sketch of Boone County, Indiana, Directory of Boone County for 1874, Searched: Hiram Cragun,

accessed:

15

Hiram and Reiter were members of the Pleasant View Society, which he assisted
in founding, and which at first met in the “little brick” school house. He was a
man of high character, very exact, and held hypocrisy in utter abhorrence.49

He was an enthusiast in the Masonic order, a master Mason, and so loyal that
only matters of the greatest importance were allowed to interfere with his regular
attendance upon the lodge meetings.

In church affiliation, Hiram and Reiter were Methodists, He was one of the early
members of the Pleasant View Methodist Episcopal Church in the eastern part of
Boone County, and for a long time was a class leader.50

Hiram died on 2 March 1884 in Eagle Township, Boone County at the age of
67 years old.51 His will was read on 8 March 1884 in Eagle Township, Boone
County,52

After the death of Hiram, Reiter married a close family friend John Bowers on 8
March 1893 in Boone County, Indiana.53 Reiter died on 2 April 1914 in Lebanon,
Boone County, Indiana in the Hutton Cemetery.54

IV. Mary Martha Cragun was born 17 December 1819 at Brookville, Franklin
County, Indiana.55 She married Jacob Beeler on 30 May 1838 in Boone County,
Indiana, she was 19 and he was 21 years old at time of marriage.56

Mary Martha Cragun

About the year 1850, Jacob Beeler and his wife Mary
Martha or (Elvira) Cragun and their two children,
William Riley and Tyresha Ann, left their home in
Indiana to go with the latter-day Saints to Utah. Jacob
had a good home and was considered well to do in his

1969, Provo, Utah
50 J.H. Beers and Company, Biographical Record of Prominent and Representative Men of Indianapolis and

Vicinity, Year: 1908, www.googlebooks.com,
51 Findagrave.com, Virtual Cemetery, Digital images, Searched: Hiram Cragun, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-

bin/fg.cgi, entry for Hiram Cragun, He was buried at the Hutton Cemetery in Northfield, Boone County, Indiana,
accessed: 11 February 2010
52 Boone County Courthouse, Lebanon, Indiana, Probate Order Book, Volume 9, FHL film
53 1900 U.S. census, Boone County, Indiana, Searched: Reiter Bowers, John’s occupation was that of a landlord,

accessed: 7 January 2010.
54 Findagrave.com, Virtual Cemetery, Digital images, Searched: Hiram Cragun, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-

bin/fg.cgi, entry for Reiter Dooley Cragun, she was buried at the Hutton Cemetery in Northfield, Boone County,
Indiana, accessed: 11 February 2010
55 Eva Cragun Heiner, Patrick Cragun – Descendants in America 1744-1969,Searched: Mary Martha Cragun, page

93, (HBLL) book CS 71 .C8854 1969, Provo, Utah
56 Eva Cragun Heiner, Patrick Cragun – Descendants in America 1744-1969,Searched: Mary Martha Cragun, page

93, (HBLL) book CS 71 .C8854 1969, Provo, Utah

16

day. He had lands and cattle and could have become
wealthy if he had stayed in Indiana instead of going to Utah. But he built a new
wagon from the strong hickory that grew on his farm. In fact, every part of the
wagon was made with his own hands.

He had a team of young oxen. He filled his wagon with the necessary things to
start a new home. When this was done, there was no room for the family and so
the two children, William, 11 years, and Tyresha Ann, 9 years, walked with their
father all the way to Winter Quarters.

The trip was not too unpleasant until they arrived at Winter Quarters. There the
father, Jacob, died leaving his wife with two children and expecting another.
However, when the baby was born, it happened to be twin boys and they both
died at birth.

That winter while the Latter-day Saints were waiting for the weather to break, a
man named David McOlney lost his wife, leaving him with two children. These
children needed a mother and Mary’s children needed a father. Mary mothered
them in her weakened condition and later she and David were married and they all
came to Utah, settling in Big Cottonwood, now called Sugar House. They always
had milk and butter, which many of the people did not have. Mary often shared
these with the less fortunate ones. She was known affectionately as “Grandma
Mac.” On her 69th birthday in1887 she was honored by the sisters of the Mill
Ward (Millcreek) as a grand Pioneer Lady.” Mary Martha Cragun died on 8
August 1896 in Vernal, Uintah, Utah,57

V. Enoch Cragun was born 14 January 1821 in Brookville, Franklin County,
Indiana.58 He was the son of Elisha Cragun and Mary Elisabeth Osborne. He
died on 29 October 1903 in Jordan, Scott County, Minnesota.59 Enoch married
Mary Peters on 5 May 1842 in Whitestown, Boone County, Indiana. She was
born 24 November 1820 in Kentucky. She was the daughter of James Peters
and Lucy Cheatham. He was buried in the Spirit Hill Cemetery in Jordan, Scott
County, Minnesota at the side of his wife Mary Peters.60

VI. Abigail Cragun was born 17 December 1823, Brookville, Indiana and she died
17 December 1844.61

57 Eva Cragun Heiner, Patrick Cragun – Descendants in America 1744-1969, page 93, (HBLL) book CS71 .C8854
1969, Provo, Utah
58 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “International Genealogical Index” (IGI), Database: North

America, entry for Enoch Cragun, www.new.familysearch.org, accessed: 15 January 2010, Salt Lake City, Utah.

1969, Provo, Utah.
60Findagrave.com, Virtual Cemetery, Digital images, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi, entry for Enoch

Cragun, accessed: 11 February 2010

1969, Provo, Utah

17

Tyresha Cragun George Norville

VII. Tyresha Cragun born 25 September 1825 in Metamora or Butler Township in
Franklin County, Indiana. She was baptized 15 March 1843. She crossed the
plains suffering many hardships. Tyresha married George Norville 20 October
1850 in North Ogden, Weber County, Utah. They lived there during their entire
married life but had no children. She was 25 years old and George was 59 years
old at time of marriage.

The couple was found in the 1870 and 1880 census for North Ogden, Weber
County, Utah.62 The 1860 census was not found.

George Norville died on 11 May 1884 in North Ogden, Weber County, Utah at 83
years of age.63 Tyresha [Cragun] Norville died 6 June 1895 at the age of 70 years
old at Ogden, Weber County, Utah.64

VIII. Simeon Cragun was born 13 August 1827 in Richmond, Rush County,
Indiana. He was baptized 15 March 1843 in Nauvoo, Illinois at the age of 15.
Simeon married Susan Mower about 1847 in Kanesville, Pottawattamie County,
Iowa.65 At this time no marriage record has been found and more research is
needed to search for it.

62 1870 U.S. census, North Ogden, Weber County, Utah, Searched: George Norville, www.ancestry.com, accessed:
7 April 2010.
63 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, International Genealogical Index, Identifier: 2DXK-XST,

Searched: George Norville, Salt Lake City, Utah.
64 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, International Genealogical Index, Identifier: 2DSK-DY7,

Searched: Tyresha Cragun, Salt Lake City, Utah.
65 Utah Historical Newspapers, Ogden Standard, Date: 16 June 1899, http://digitalnewspapers.org/, Searched: Susan

[Mower] Cragun, according to the obituary says that she had been married in Kanesville, Iowa to Simeon Cragun,
and in the book Patrick Cragun – descendants in America also says that they had been married in Kanesville, Utah,
Page: 122, accessed: 24 January 2010.

18

Simeon was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 15
March 1843 in Nauvoo, Illinois at the age of 15. He gathered with the Latter-day
Saints to the city of Nauvoo in the fall of 1845. He was driven from his home
in the winter of 1845 with the Latter-day Saints, and helped to found the City of
Kanesville [now Council Bluffs] and lived there till the summer of 1850, when he
traveled across the plains in Captain Foot’s company;66

Susan Mower

The family suffered much tribulation, sorrow and strife being driven and mobbed
with other converts of the Church. They were anxious to join the Saints and come
west.

Susan met Simeon Cragun while attending church in Kanesville, Iowa and there
they were married. Simeon and Susan’s first child Mary Mahalia was born at
Kanesville, Iowa in 1850 and died on the trek across the plains. They traveled
in the Captain Warren Foote Company of 50, arriving in Salt Lake City on 25
September 1850. In 1851 they moved to Cold Springs near Willard, Utah and
the following spring of 1852 they were the first to settle at what is now Pleasant
View, Weber County, Utah on the 4th December 1852.67

The journey would soon be ended. It was one chapter in their lives finished and
ended. Soon they would turn their faces to newer and happier scenes. They
would dedicate their lives to the “Building up of Zion”, in these the valleys of the
mountains.

Words will never describe the joy that filled the hearts of those valiant pioneers as
their wagons entered the streets of Great Salt Lake City, surely this was the place
God meant when he said he would build his house in the tops of the mountains
and all nations should flow unto it. No trail, no persecution, no mobbing were too
great or too severe, when price was…a home in Zion.

Simeon Cragun was the first man in that community to get logs out of the
mountains and build houses and the first one to dig ditches to bring water down
from the foothills for the irrigation of the crops. He was also the first trustee in
Pleasant View, Weber County and gave a room of his log cabin home of the first
school and his wife Susan became the first teacher to teach in Pleasant View. He
was very active in the church, in the community and was a lover of music.68 He
was a member of the Thirty-fifth Quorum of Seventies.69

66 Utah Historical Newspapers, Ogden Standard, Date: 18 February 1874, http://digitalnewspapers.org/, searched:
Simeon Cragun, accessed: 24 January 2010.

1969, Provo, Utah

1969, Provo, Utah.
69 Utah Historical Newspapers, Ogden Standard, date: 18 February 1874, http://digitalnewspapers.org/, searched:


19

She was a good, hospitable woman who could not send a hungry man from her
door. It is said that all the tramps on the lonely trails found a welcome at her door
and food to satisfy their hunger. Her gatepost had many marks on it by the weary
travelers.

Simeon passed away at North Ogden, Weber County, on 9th February 1874, of a
paralytic stroke, after a few hours illness. Simeon was 46 years, 5 months and 26
days at time of death.70

Susan Mower passed away on 16 June 1899 in Pleasant View, Weber County,
Utah at the age of 69 years. At the time of her death she had seven children, four
sons of whom survive her. She had twenty-two grand-children and seven great
grand-children. Funeral services were held in the Pleasant View meeting house
on Sunday June 18th at 2 p.m.71

IX. Tabitha Cragun was born on 5 March 1830 on Richland, Rush County, Indiana,
she was married on 23 December 1850 Kanesville, Pottawattamie County, Iowa
to Edwin Rueben Lindsay.72

Tabitha was courted by Edwin Reuben Lindsay, a native of Leeds County,
Ontario, Canada. He was born 25 September 1828 to William Buckminster
Lindsay and Sarah Myers.

70 Utah Historical Newspapers, Ogden Standard, date: 18 February 1874, http://digitalnewspapers.org/, searched:
71 Utah Historical Newspapers, Ogden Standard, date: 16 June 1899, http://digitalnewspapers.org/, Searched: Susan

[Mower] Cragun, accessed: 24 January 2010.
72 Historical Society of Pottawattamie County in Council Bluffs, Iowa, Marriage Records, Searched: Tabitha

Cragun, FHL film 1476888, Salt Lake City, Utah.

20

Together they joined a group of Latter-day Saints going west and they traveled by
ox-team and wagon with baby daughter Sarah Adeline in 1852. She was born 6
November 1851 on the plains of Missouri.

Reuben said: “We met great herds of buffalo. My brother, Ephraim, was a good
shot with a gun and he kept the company in meat during the journey. It was a
long, tedious journey of three months and we were tired and weary when we
reached Salt Lake City.”73

This family first lived just north of Salt Lake City in Centerville, Utah, then
moved to Kaysville, but later bought good land and built a fine home in Brigham
City about 75 miles north of Salt Lake City.

The family was found in the 1851 Pottawattamie, Iowa census shows that Edwin
Rueben and Tabitha Lindsay were found, Edwin was 22 years old and Tabitha
was 21 years old.74

Tabitha gave birth to eleven children. She died soon after the birth of twins in
1868 at age 38 years. The twins soon followed their mother in death. Sarah
Adeline, who was then married and had one child, took the twins in her care until
their deaths.

Three years later Edwin married Emma Bowden, 20 March 1871, and ten children
were born to this union. Edwin Reuben Lindsay died at age 65 years, 6 December
1893 at Bennington, Bear Lake, Idaho, where he is buried.75

X. Sarah Jane Cragun was born 22 Feb 1833 in Richland, Rush County, Indiana;
she was born on her father’s birthday. She died on 27 August 1849 at the age of
16 years of age.76

1969, Provo, Utah
74 Iowa State Census collection, 1851 census, www.ancestry.com, searched: Edwin R. Lindsay, accessed: 8 April

2010.

1969, Provo, Utah.

Provo, Utah.

21

SECOND GENERATION

2. Enoch Cragun was born 14 January 1821 in Brookville, Franklin County, Indiana.77 He was
the son of Elisha Cragun and Mary Elisabeth Osborne.78 Enoch married Mary Peters on 5 May
1842 in Whitestown, Boone County, Indiana.79 She was born 24 November 1820 in Kentucky.80
She was the daughter of James Peters and Lucy Cheatham.81 He died on 29 October 1903 in
Jordan, Scott County, Minnesota82 and was buried in the Spirit Hill Cemetery in Jordan, Scott
County, Minnesota at the side of his wife Mary Peters.83

Enoch was the third son and fifth child out of ten children of Elisha Cragun and Mary
Elisabeth Osborne.84 Although born in Indiana, Enoch spent most of his married years with

77 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “International Genealogical Index” (IGI), Database: North
America, entry for Enoch Cragun, www.new.familysearch.org, accessed: 15 January 2010, Salt Lake City, Utah.
78 Eva Cragun Heiner, Patrick Cragun Descendants in America 1744-1969, Page 105, Harold B. Lee Library

(HBLL) CS 71 .C8854 1969, page 105, Provo, Utah.
79 Eva Cragun Heiner, Patrick Cragun Descendants in America 1744-1969, Page 105, (HBLL), CS
71 .C8854 1969, page 105, Provo, Utah.
80 Findagrave.com, Virtual Cemetery, Digital images, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi, entry for Mary

Peters, accessed: 11 February 2010.

Peters, accessed: 11 February 2010
71 .C8854 1969, page 105, Provo, Utah.
83 Findagrave.om, Virtual Cemetery, Digital images, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi, entry for Enoch

Cragun, accessed: 11 February 2010.
84 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), “International Genealogical Index”, Database: Midwest

Region, accessed 07 September 2009), entry for William Barnaby, “John Barnaby and Ann” (undocumented);
International Genealogical Index Source Number 178081, Family History Library, (FHL). Salt Lake City, Utah.

22

his wife and children in Scott County, Minnesota.85 After the family moved to Minnesota they
first settled in Bell Plain, Scott County, Minnesota and eventually in Jordan, Scott County,
Minnesota.

ENOCH CRAGUN AND MARY (MOLLY) PETERS FAMILY
According to the book Patrick Cragun – Descendants in America 1744-1969, Enoch was born
on 14 January 1821 in Brookville, Franklin, Indiana.86 His headstone record says that he was
born on 8 January 1821 in Brookville, Franklin County, Indiana.87 The cemetery records for
Mary (Molly) Peters Cragun say that she was born on 24 November 1820 in Kentucky. No city
or county is listed for her birth.88 What brought Mary’s family to Indiana from Kentucky? Did
they have family living there?
According to family records Enoch Cragun and the family were living in Boone County, Indiana
before migrating to Scott County, Minnesota. The Indiana Marriage Collection says that he
married Mary (Molly) Peters on 5 May 1842 in Whitestown, Boone County, Indiana.89 At a
future date research is needed to get the marriage record.
HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY, MINNESOTA
The territory of Minnesota was organized by an Act of Congress passed on 3 March 1849. By
this Act, the inhabitants of the territory were accorded the same rights and privileges that had
previously been given to the residents of the Territory of Wisconsin. The State Constitution was
adopted on 13 October 1857, but Minnesota was not admitted to the Union as a State until 11
May 1858. Scott County was established and organized by an Act passed in the legislature on 5
March 1853.

Scott County, with an area of 275 square miles, is located southeast of the central part of
Minnesota, bordering on the south bank of the Minnesota River. It was named for General
Winfield Scott, officer of the War of 1812, and in August 1862, the county commissioners of
Scott County appropriated $10,000 as a fund to encourage enlistment in the States Volunteer
Army. The river and the trails (which gradually emerged as highways), were the only routes of
transportation for nearly two decades after the real settlement of the county began.
Scott County was almost exclusively agricultural. The early settlers first raised food for their
families and fodder for their stock with a little surplus to sell or barter for such food, staples,
clothing, and supplies that they could not produce. Soon wheat was the principal crop.90

71 .C8854 1969, page 105, Provo, Utah.

(HBLL) CS 71 .C8854 1969,page 105.
87 Spirit Hill Cemetery, Jordan, Scott County, Minnesota, www.findagrave.com, Searched: Enoch Davis Cragun,

accessed: 11 Feb 2010
88 Spirit Hill Cemetery, Jordan, Scott County, Minnesota, www.findagrave.com, Searched: Mary (Molly) Peters

Cragun, accessed: 11 Feb 2010.
89 Indiana Marriage Collection, 1800-1941, Works Progress Administration, Family History Library (FHL) film

1320110, Salt Lake City, Utah.
90 Scott County, Minnesota, History of Scott County, http://www.co.scott.mn.us/wps/portal/ShowContent?

CSF=935&CSI=000729,accessed: 27 March 2010

23

Enoch with his wife Mary and 3 children were located in the 1850 U.S. census of Boone County,
Indiana.91 It is noted that Aaron Beaman was living with Enoch Cragan (Cragun) at this time
and he was the brother-in-law to Enoch. His wife was Rebecca (Cragun) Beaman; it is presumed
that she passed away before 1850 due to the fact that Aaron was living with Enoch. The census
also suggests that the oldest daughter Mandana Cragun had died before 1850 and this would
coincide with the information found in the book Patrick Cragun – Descendants in America
1740-1969.92

LAND RECORDS
Enoch bought property in Henry County, Missouri on 1 April 1857 the land office was located
in Warsaw, Benton County, Missouri.93 According to the book Patrick Cragun – Descendants
in America 1740-1969,94 Lucy was born 25 December 1857 in Whitestown, Boone County,
Indiana. How long did the family stay in Henry County, Missouri before returning to Boone
County, Indiana? Did they even live there? More research is needed to answer this question.
MOVE TO MINNESOTA
According to a letter by George W. Bucklin, Enoch Davis Cragun Jr. had told him about the trip
from Boone County, Indiana to Scott County, Minnesota. It seemed to take weeks. The
progress was very slow by the river steamer, and his mother was promised the finest furniture if
she would only move; he wrote “I remember the great dining table and monster kitchen range.”
The item that impressed his boyish mind was the tall stove pipe hat that was bought by his father
(Enoch Cragun) especially for the trip.
Eventually the family reached Jordan, Scott County, Minnesota, built a two room log house that
you always had to go out of doors to get from one room to the other, and the huge table would
not go in the door.95
According to the 1860 U.S. census the Enoch Cragun family had moved from Boone County,
Indiana to Bell Plain, Scott County, Minnesota.96 The family had 6 children at this time and the
oldest child was 14 years old. What was the reason that the family left Boone County, Indiana to
91 1850 U.S. census, Boone County, Indiana, population schedule, district 7, online entry: Enoch Cragun,

(HBLL) CS 71 .C8854 1969,page 105.

www.glorecords.blm.gov/PatentSearch/, Searched: Enoch Cragun, Document No. 46691, accessed: 10 Sep 2009

(HBLL) CS 71 .C8854 1969,page 105.
95 Eva Cragun Heiner, Patrick Cragun Descendants in America 1744-1969, Harold B. Lee Library (HBLL) CS

71 .C8854 1969, page 114. George W. Bucklin was a son-in-law to Enoch Cragun Sr. and married to Abby (Cragun)
who was a daughter. He sent some letters to Mormon Cragun a brother to the author; this is how she got some of
her information.
96 1860 U.S. census of , Belle Plaine, Scott, Minnesota, www.ancestry.com, online entry: Enoch Cragun, accessed:

07 Jan 2010

24

go to Minnesota? Was there a reason why they chose Minnesota?
FLOUR MILL
Enoch Davis Cragun Jr. goes on to tell of the grist mill, the lower one on sand Prairie, near where
the depot now stands, that his father and Mr. Ryer bought. This they operated until Enoch Sr.
went into the army. His boys operated the mill until his return.97
According to Glenn Shoemaker the son-in-law who described the mill his father worked at in
Mankato in the early 1900s. It is possible that Glenn’s father worked at the mill that Enoch
Cragun owned for awhile. More research is needed to verify this fact, and to verify the dates that
Enoch owned the mill.
Mr. Shoemaker was employed as the miller for the Feed Grinding and Flour Mill. The
picturesque water-wheels were fed from the waters of the winding little Blue Earth that
meandered through a lovely little valley. The village had grown up around this little industry, a
picture card view it was, nestled with its overhead girded bridge.
There were about three stores and a blacksmith shop and several nineteenth-century homes. The
mill stood a short distance downstream among huge piles of boulders, which in ages past had
washed to their, seemingly final resting place.98
From the 1880s through the 1930s Minnesota was the flour-milling capital of the world. Today
the mills are almost all gone. Of the more than twenty flour mills that once formed a tight knot
of activity at the falls only five remain. These mills had stone and brick walls several feet thick,
and were thought strong enough to last many lifetimes.99
MILITARY SERVICE – FORT SNELLING
The United States gained control over the Upper Mississippi Valley through the Revolutionary
War with Great Britain and later The Louisiana Purchase from France. This vast territory was
inhabited by fur traders and Indians still loyal to the British in Canada and lay well beyond
American settlement. After the War of 1812, the government took physical possession of the
valuable Northwest frontier by establishing a chain of Indian agencies and supporting forts from
Lake Michigan to the Missouri River.
For almost 30 years, Fort Snelling was the hub of the Upper Mississippi and the meeting
place for diverse cultures. Dakota and Ojibwa gathered at the agency and fort to trade, debate
government policy and perform their dances and sports. Traders stopped at the fort while their

97 Eva Cragun Heiner, Patrick Cragun Descendants in America 1744-1969, Harold B. Lee Library (HBLL) CS
71 .C8854 1969, page 107. George W. Bucklin was a son-in-law to Enoch Cragun Sr. and married to Abby (Cragun)
who was a daughter. He sent some letters to Mormon Cragun a brother to the author; this is how she got some of
her information.
98 History of Glenn Shoemaker, From: Dan Wolner, dwolner@rti-inc.com, related through the Lydia Almeda

Cragun line. Appreciation to Dan for sharing this information with me.
99 Robert M. Frame III, research historian with the Minnesota Historical Society’s state historic preservation office,

is the author of the Millers to the World: For more information about Milling in Minnesota, the single greatest
source for any study of flour milling in Minnesota is the northwestern Miller. A weekly tabloid trade journal and
all-purpose newspaper for millers, http://collections.mnhs.org/MNHistoryMagazine/articles/46/v46i04p152-162.pdf,
accessed: 28 March 2010.

25

goods were inspected. The American and Columbia fur companies built headquarters nearby
and employees’ families settled at nearby Mendota.
Enoch enlisted in the Civil War in Scott County, Minnesota on 8 May 1864 in the E Company
Eleventh infantry and was mustered in on 8 September 1864.100 He was discharged on 22
January 1865.101 Enoch was 43 years old at time of enlistment and was loyal to the Union.
According to the 1890 Veterans Schedule says he was a private while in the service.102 Enoch
was stationed for some of his service at Fort Snelling in Minnesota according to his military
file.103

Historic Fort Snelling104
He was 44 years old at the time of enlistment and his occupation was that of a miller (flour mill)
and he enlisted in St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota for a period of one year. His eyes were
blue and his hair was silver gray, his complexion was light and he was 5 feet 6 inches. He was
mustered in at Fort Snelling, Minnesota for a bounty of $33.33.105
Some publications have stated that the Eleventh Regiment was largely composed of drafted men
and substitutes; There was not a single drafted man or substitute in the Eleventh Regiment. It
was composed purely and simply of volunteers.106

100 Civil War Military Service Record, the National Archives, Washington D.C., Application No. 464.306, and
Certificate No. 263.810, Minnesota.
101 U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865, 11th Regiment, Minnesota Infantry, Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System,

http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/soldiers.cfm, online entry: Enoch Cragun, accessed: 23 January 2010
102 1890 Veterans Schedule, Belle Prairie, Scott County, Minnesota, National Archives, online Entry: Enoch Cragun,

www.ancestry.com, Roll: 23, Page: 2, Enumeration District: 182,
103 Civil War Military Service Record, the National Archives, Washington D.C., Application No. 464.306 and

104 Minnesota Historical Society, Artist: Albert Colgrave (1863), Location No. AV1981.324.20, Negative No.

63128, Searched: Fort Snelling, Scott County, Minnesota, Accessed: 27 March 2010.
105 Civil War Military Service Record, the National Archives, Washington D.C., Application No. 464.306, and

106 The Board of Commissioners, appointed by the act of the Legislature of Minnesota, Date: 16 April 1889,

Printed by the Pioneer Press Company 1890, Minnesota in the Civil War and Indian Wars 1861-1865, http://
www.archive.org/details/americana, accessed: 28 March 2010.

26

A month after the assembly of the companies began at Fort Snelling the regiment was full, over
1,000 strong. On the 20th of September the first march took place toward the front – from Fort
Snelling to St. Paul, to take the steamboat for the South.
The transportation was supplied by one of the very small steamboats then running on the river,
with hardly room on board for the officers and two large barges.
The men went to Chicago and then made their way to Louisville and were there for two days.
Arriving on a rainy Saturday morning, the men were marched to a quiet residential street, and
remained there in a cold rain. They were there until nine o’clock that night. The men at that
time were unaccustomed to exposure, and it was feared if that sort of thing should continue all
night a big sick call would be the result. Lieutenant Colonel Ball made an appeal for shelter for
his men, and informed the mayor that “if shelter was not found he would take it.”
After arriving in Louisville there was some uncertainty as to what the next move was. After a
few days very early one morning, the long roll was sounded, The regiment formed into line and
marched to a railroad depot. Daylight found the companies distributed at the different stations
along the line, for the purpose of protecting it from guerrillas.

107

The outer lines of the Union Army at Nashville on their day of victory, 16 December 1864.

This move proved to be the final one, as the entire term of service in the South was passed in this
locality. It appears that during the previous day or evening, a guerrilla raid had been made on a
portion of the line of this road, and the Negro troops then guarding it were either killed or driven
off. Some buildings were burned and other damage done. As this line of road was then of great
importance, as all troops and supplies for the Army of the Cumberland passed over its rails, the
Eleventh Regiment, then about as large as an average brigade, was selected as a preventive of
future guerrilla attacks.

107
Clark County, Wisconsin’s Internet Library, Civil War Soldiers in the Heart of Clark County, Wisconsin, http://
wvls.lib.wi.us/ClarkCounty, Source: State of Minnesota Historical Society, lots of information available on the 11th
Minnesota Regiment, accessed: 8 April 2010.

27

The only deaths from violence in the Eleventh Regiment occurred on Sunday morning, Mach 12,
1865, when George S. Hatch and Robert Bailey were killed at a small church a few miles from
Gallatin by one of these guerrilla bands.
On the 26th of June 1865 they started for home. Along the route the Eleventh received the same
welcome as did those who had been the heroes of a hundred battles. The greeting growing
warmer as the Mason and Dixon line was left in the rear.
The service of the Eleventh Regiment was probably less eventful than that of any other regiment
or troop furnished by the state, though Minnesota has no reason to regret her Eleventh offering to
the Union cause, for the regiment did the duty which, under the fortunes of war, fell to its portion
and did it well.108
Company E was assigned to guard the line of Louisville & Nashville Railroad from Nashville
to the Kentucky line,109 the regiment lost 3 enlisted men who were killed and 1 officer and 21
enlisted men by disease.110
Between 1861 and 1865 Minnesota expanded the fort as a training center for thousands of
volunteers who joined the Union Army. After the war, the regular Army returned. Fort Snelling
became headquarters and supply base for the military Department of Dakota, which extended
from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains. Regulars from Fort Snelling served in the
Indian campaigns and in the Spanish-American War of 1898.111
WORK ON THE DAM
According to Abby Cragun Bucklin her father was working on a dam when a problem came
up that required geometry; which he did as a matter of course. He solved the problem that had
perplexed the construction boss for days. The boss was so chagrined that he hitched up his
spanking team and drove away and was never heard from again. The next day Enoch Davis
Cragun Sr. found himself in charge of the job.112
It is not known what dam Enoch worked on or where it was located. Minnesota boasts a wealth
of water resources in its numerous lakes and rivers. One estimate suggests that Minnesota,
excluding Lake Superior, contains one square mile of water for every 15 square miles of land.
The Minnesota River Valley settlement was initially based largely on river settlement, with
many new towns relying on the river for transportation and water power, and on farmers for
agricultural products. Literally dozens of steamers and numerous vessels frequented the river
until 1871 when railroads reached the towns of Mankato and New Ulm, consequently crushing
108 The Board of Commissioners, appointed by the act of the Legislature of Minnesota, Date: 16 April 1889,
Printed by the Pioneer Press Company 1890, Minnesota in the Civil War and Indian Wars 1861-1865, http://
www.archive.org/details/americana, accessed: 28 March 2010.
109 The Civil War Archive, Union Regimental Histories, Minnesota, Searched: 11 th Regiment, Minnesota Infantry,

http://www.civilwararchive.com/Unreghst/unmninf2.htm, accessed: 27 March 2010
110 Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, Union Minnesota Volunteers, 11 th Regiment, Minnesota Infantry,

Searched: Enoch Cragan (Cragun), http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/soldiers.cfm, accessed: 27 March 2010.
111 Minnesota Historical Society, Historic Fort Snelling, http://www.mnhs.org/places/sites/hfs/history.html,

accessed: 27 March 2010
112 Eva Cragun Heiner, Patrick Cragun – Descendants in America 1744-1969, Page 113, letters written from George

Bucklin to Mormon Cragun concerning information about the Cragun family.

28

their business. Ferryboats made their appearance on the Minnesota River in 1839 at Mendota;
others followed, often staying in business until they were replaced by bridges. The first ferry
in Minnesota was likely one that connected Fort Snelling with a road on the east bank of the
Mississippi. In the days before the proliferation of improved roads and bridges, ferries were
known on waterways throughout the State. Over time, the ferry operations ranged from simple
canoe-ferries to large, durable crafts with steel hulls.113
According to the 1865 Territorial Census for Sand Creek, Scott County, Minnesota, Sand Creek
is about 1 ½ miles away from Belle Plain. 114 According to the 1870 census, the family had
moved to St. Lawrence which is located in Scott County.115 Enoch had 4 children living at
home at this time. Was there a reason why they moved around in Scott County? Were they
looking for better land? What was the reason for the move every few years? By 1890 the family
had moved again to Bell Prairie, Scott County, Minnesota.116 They moved again and were in
Mankato, Blue Earth, and Minnesota in 1900.
Mary (Molly) Peters Cragun died on 30 August 1886 in Jordan, Scott County, she was 65 years
old.117 After the death of his wife Enoch lived with each of his children from time to time,
he died at his daughter Lucy’s house, Enoch died on 8 August 1906 in Jordan, Scott County,
Minnesota according to the book Patrick Cragun – Descendants in America 1744-1906,118
Enoch was 85 years old at the time of his death. He was buried in the Spirit Hill Cemetery in
Jordan, Scott County by his wife Mary and some of his children.119
Children of Enoch Cragun and Mary Peters

I. Mandana Cragun was born on 14 September 1843 in Whitestown, Boone,
Indiana, and she died March 1849.120

II. Nephi Cragun was born on 4 June 1848 in Whitestown, Boone County,
Indiana.121 He was 18 years old when he enlisted on 3 January 1864 in Sand
Creek, Scott County, Minnesota. He was part of Brackett’s Cavalry Battalion in

113 Minnesota Historical Society, History of Inland Water Transportation in Minnesota, http://www.mnhs.org/places/
nationalregister/shipwrecks/mpdf/inship.html, accessed: 28 March 2010
114 1865 Minnesota Territorial Census, Sand Creek, Scott County, Minnesota, Minnesota Historical Society, 1977,

population schedule, online entry: Enoch Cragun, www.ancestry.com, No document available only the abstract of
the information.
115 1870 U.S. Census, St. Lawrence, Scott County, Minnesota, online entry: Enoch Cragun, www, ancestry.com,

116 1890 Bell Prairie, Scott County, Minnesota, population Schedule, online entry: Enoch Cragun,
117 Spirit Hill Cemetery, Jordan, Scott County, Minnesota, www.findagrave.com, Searched: Mary (Molly) Peters

Cragun, accessed: 11 Feb 2010.

(HBLL) CS 71 .C8854 1969,page 105.
119 Spirit Hill Cemetery, Jordan, Scott County, Minnesota, www.findagrave.com, Searched: Enoch Davis Cragun,

accessed: 11 Feb 2010.
71 .C8854 1969, page 105, Provo, Utah.
71 .C8854 1969, page 105, Provo, Utah.

29

Minnesota and in Company C.122 The battalion was organized in the fall of 1861.
It consisted originally of three companies, captained by Henning Von Minden,
D. M. West and Alfred B. Brackett, and was known as the “Minnesota Light
Cavalry.”

Brackett’s battalion was detached from the regiment and assigned to frontier
duty in the northwest. Subsequently it was strengthened by the addition of
Captain A. Barton and 86 men as a fourth company. The battalion was placed
in the command of General Sully and joined the campaign up the Missouri river
in 1864. In the fight at Tahkahokuty Mountain they charged the Indians and
drove, foot-by-boot across a ravine, up the hill, over the crest and down the slope,
scattering them far and wide. It was congratulated for gallantry and coolness.
The battalion went into Fort Ridgely for the winter and was on patrol duty during
1865, covering over 200 miles of frontier line. It was mustered out in May,
1864.123

Battlefields of Minnesota124

Nephi was discharged on 24 May 1866 in Scott County, Minnesota.125 From the
book Patrick Cragun – Descendants in America 1744-1969, the author wrote in
the book that Nephi had diaries that were written while fighting the Indians in
122 Civil War Pension Index, National Archives and Records Administration, Brackett’s Battalion, Minnesota
Cavalry, Company C, Date of Filing 18 March 1867, accessed: 23 January 2010
123 American Civil War Regiments, Historical Data Systems, Inc., www.ancestry.com, for more information

about the battles a good book to look at would be Minnesota in the Civil War and Indian Wars 1861-1865, http://
www.archive.org/details/americana, Enoch was in Brackett’s Battalion and his name is listed on page 590, accessed:
23 January 2010.
124 Battlefields of Minnesota, www.americancivilwar.com, accessed: 7 April 2010.
125 U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, American Civil War Regiments, Historical Data Systems, Inc.


30

the Dakotas and Minneapolis, Montana and Wyoming. She wrote that he died
of fatigue and exposure of lung trouble.126 He died on 11 August 1867 in Jordan,
Scott County, Minnesota.127

III. James Cass Cragun was born 4 June 1848 in Whitestown, Boone County,
Indiana, 128 and died 18 December 1922 in Jordan, Scott County, Minnesota.129

IV. Enoch Davis Cragun was born on 4 June 1848 in Whitestown, Boone County,
Indiana130 Enoch and Penninah Davis was married before 1880. They were
found in the 1880 U.S. census of St. Lawrence, Scott County, Minnesota.131
The family was still in St. Lawrence, Scott County according to the census
records.132 The family was in St. Lawrence until 1892 when we find Mrs. E. D.
Cragun (Penninah) as the president of the Christian Woman’s Board of Missions
in Mankato, Blue Earth County.133 The distance between St. Lawrence and
Mankato, Blue Earth is about 100 miles. She was also the secretary for the
industrial society and her sister-in-law L.J. Harris (Lucy Jane Cragun Harris) the
president.134 The family continued to live in Blue Earth County until 1910.135

Enoch Davis learned the craft of the millerfarmed, taught school, preached and in later years did c
flour]. He also [making of
and cement work. It was
while attending Eureka College that his first son, Xenophon was born a

The family moved to Nebraska after the 1910 census, Enoch died on 29
December 1919 in Lincoln, Lancaster, Nebraska.137 It is unknown when Penninah
71 .C8854 1969, page 106, Provo, Utah
127 Spirit Hill Cemetery, Jordan, Scott County, Minnesota, www.findagrave.com, Searched: Nephi Cragun,

accessed: 11 Feb 2010

(HBLL) CS 71 .C8854 1969,page 105
129 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Scott County Minnesota Courthouse, death records 1871-1907. FHL

film 1379418, Salt Lake City, Utah.

(HBLL) CS 71 .C8854 1969,page 105
131 1880 U.S. Census – St. Lawrence, Scott County, Minnesota, population schedule, www.ancestry.com, searched:

Enoch Cragun, accessed: 31 January 2010, Salt Lake City, Utah.
132 St. Lawrence, Scott County, Territorial Census, Minnesota Territorial census, www.ancestry.com, accessed: 23

March 2010.
133 U.S. City Directories, R.L. Polk and Co’s Mankato City and Blue Earth County, Year: 1892, Searched: Enoch

Cragun, Mankato, Minnesota, accessed: 31 Jan 2010
134 U.S. City Directories, R.L. Polk and Co’s Mankato City and Blue Earth County, Year: 1892, Searched: Enoch

Cragun, Mankato, Minnesota, accessed: 31 Jan 2010
135 1910 U.S. Census of Mankato, Blue Earth, Minnesota, population schedule, www.ancestry.com, Searched:

Enoch Cragun, accessed: 31 January 2010.

(HBLL) CS 71 .C8854 1969,page 112
137 Evening State Journal and Lincoln news, Obituary for Enoch Davis Cragun, Date: 30 December 1919, Lincoln,

Nebraska, www.ancestry.com, accessed: 11 February 2010.

31

died, she was found in the 1910 census for Mankato, Blue Earth with Enoch.
She was also found living with her daughter Abby and her husband George W.
Bucklin in the 1920 and 1930 census in Lincoln Ward 6, Lancaster, Nebraska.138

L to R – Alma Beatrice, Penninah, Virgil, Enoch Davis Cragun Jr., Xenophone Theucides
Front seated: Abby Vivian, Estey Era139

V. Mary Almeda Cragun was born on 31 January 1852 in Whitestown; Boone
County, Indiana Mary Almeda Cragun married Jacob Abraham Habegger on
17 March 1872 in Belle Plaine, Scott
County, Minnesota.140 Mary was 20
years old and Jacob was 25 years old at
the time of marriage. Jacob was born on
10 February 1847 in Switzerland.141 She
died on 17 December 1924 in Oklahoma
City, Oklahoma. She is buried next to
her husband Jacob Abraham Habegger
in the Fairlawn Cemetery, Oklahoma
City, Oklahoma.142

Jacob enlisted in the Civil War in Scott County,
Minnesota 1864 in Company I – 8th Minnesota

138 1920 U.S. Census for Lincoln Ward 6, Lancaster, Nebraska, population schedule, www.ancestry.com, searched:
Penninah Cragun, accessed: 25 March 2010.

(HBLL) CS 71 .C8854 1969,page 112a

(HBLL) CS 71 .C8854 1969,page 114
141 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, International Genealogical Index, (IGI), Person Identifier:

K88L-712, Searched: Jacob Abraham Habegger.
142 Fairlawn Cemetery, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, www.findagrave.com, Searched: Mary Almeda Habegger,


32

regiment143 Jacob was about 18 years old at time of enlistment. The 8th
Minnesota regiment was mustered into service at Fort Snelling and St. Paul,
Minnesota between 2 June and 1 September 1862.

The Eighth Regiment Minnesota Volunteer Infantry was organized during
the darkest days of the Rebellion. The companies of the eighth Regiment
were largely from rural counties. The men were mostly farmers, with some
lumberman, averaging twenty-five to thirty years old, an age mature enough
to make fancy soldiers; but being self-reliant frontiersman, used to labor and
exposure and generally expert in the use of firearms in hunting, were, for prompt
and efficient execution of duty, rarely equaled.

At the time of enlistment the regiment expected to go immediately south, but
within ten days the terrible Sioux massacre [AKA – Custer’s Last Stand]
occurred, and the Sioux war which followed gave an entirely different direction to
its early service. As fast as companies could be even partially equipped with any
kind of arms, they were hurried to the most exposed points on the frontier.

Battle Map of Little Big Horn144

143 U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865, Company I, 8th Minnesota Regiment, Civil War Soldiers and Sailors
System, http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/soldiers.cfm, online entry: Jacob Habegger, accessed: 23 January 2010
144 Custer’s Last Stand, The Battle of Little Big Horn: The Prelude to Disaster, lots of information about the battle,

www.sonofthesouth.net/union-generals/custer/p, accessed: 9 April 2010

33

On account of these circumstances the companies all served months before they
were even formally mustered into the service of the United States, and then it was
done only by companies.145

President Lincoln sent a letter to H.M. Rice, first U.S. Senator from Minnesota,
informing him that the Assistant Secretary of the Interior would personally
oversee the peace negotiations. The president reprieved all but 38 of the Indians,
who were then hanged in our country’s largest execution. Most of the Indians
fled west spreading the news of the new found form of violent protest.146

On 17 November 1872 Mary Almeda and Jacob Abraham Habegger were married
in Bell Plain, Scott County, Minnesota.147 The family was still in Scott County in
the 1880 census.148 On 7 May 1889 Jacob applied for a pension in Belle Plaine,
Scott County,149 and Mary Almeda filed for a widow’s pension in 1911 to receive
the pension of Jacob Habegger.150

The family is found in Cleveland, Seminole County, Oklahoma in the 1890
Oklahoma Territorial Census.151 The family had moved to Boone, Oklahoma
in 1900,152 and by 1907 they were back in Cleveland, Seminole County,
Oklahoma.153 It is unknown why they moved around every few years, more
research would need to be done to determine this. They had moved back to Boone
County, Oklahoma by 1910.154

Jacob was buried on 28 October 1911 in Fairlawn Cemetery, Oklahoma City,
Oklahoma. At the time of death he was 64 years old.155 Mary was living with
one of her children in the 1920 U.S. census for Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. St
145 The Board of Commissioners, appointed by the act of the Legislature of Minnesota, Date: 16 April
1889, Printed by the Pioneer Press Company 1890, Minnesota in the Civil War and Indian Wars 1861-
1865, http://www.archive.org/details/americana, for more information can be found at 8th Minnesota
Regiment Infantry, Fort Abercrombie, Dakota Territory 1857 to 1877, http://www.ftabercrombie.org/
8th%20Minn%20Infantry%20Regiment.htm, accessed: 28 March 2010.
146 The Karpeles Manuscript Library Museums, The Custer’s Last Stand Treaty, copies of original treaty, http://

www.rain.org/~karpeles/cusfrm.html, accessed: 8 April 2010.

(HBLL) CS 71 .C8854 1969,page 11
148 1880 U.S. Census, Scott County, Minnesota, www.ancestry.com, accessed: 02 February 2010.
149 Civil War Pension Index, National Archives and Records Administration, Searched: Jacob Habegger,

www.ancestry.com, accessed; January 2010
150 Civil War Pension Index, National Archives and Records Administration, www.ancestry.com, accessed; January

2010
151 1890 Oklahoma Territorial Census, Cleveland, Seminole, Oklahoma, Oklahoma Department of Libraries,

www.ancestry.com, searched: Jacob Abraham Habegger, accessed: 25 March 2010.
152 1900 U.S. census, Boone, Oklahoma, Oklahoma, population schedule, Searched: Jacob Abraham Habegger,

www.ancestry.com,
153 1907 Oklahoma Territorial Census, Seminole County, Oklahoma, Searched: Jacob Habegger,

www.ancestry.com, accessed: 28 March 2010
154 1910 U.S. Census, Boone, Oklahoma, Oklahoma, Searched: Jacob Habegger, www.ancestry.com, Searched:

Jacob Habegger,
155 Findagrave.com, Virtual Cemetery, Digital images, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi, entry for Jacob

Habegger, accessed: 11 February 2010

34

this time more research needs to be done on this line.156 She died 17 December
1924 in Oklahoma at 72 years old. She was buried at the Fairlawn Cemetery by
her husband Jacob in Oklahoma.157
VI. Jonathon Osborn Quincy. Cragun [Jonathon O.Q. Cragun] was born 10
September 1854 in Whitestown, Boone County, Indiana. Jonathan married
Christine Thornquist on 4 June 1854 in Scott County, Minnesota. She was the
daughter of John and Mary Thornquist.

Jonathan was listed in the 1885 Territorial Minnesota census living with his
brother Enoch Davis. His wife Christine was not listed. According to the book
Patrick Cragun – Descendants in America 1744-1969 says that they were married
on 4 June 1884.158 Another source says that they were married on 4 May 1886 in
Jordan, Scott County, Minnesota. It is believed that this is probably the correct
marriage date due to the fact that Jonathan was living with his brother on 1885
and his wife was not listed.159 More research is needed to verify the marriage
date.

Jonathan and Christine were found to be living in St.
Lawrence, Scott County from 1895 to 1905 according to
the census.160
Jonathan and Christine lived on a farm between Jordan
and Bell Plaine, Minnesota. Jonathan was interested in
Phronology, 161 The belief that one can discern many
things about a person’s personality by examining the
bumps on their head.162

Jonathan made many visits to the original Cragun homes
in Indiana and spent some winters in California.163

156 1920 U.S. Census, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Searched: Mary Almeda Habegger, www.ancestry.com,
Almeda Habegger, accessed: 11 February 2010

(HBLL) CS 71 .C8854 1969,page 116
159 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, International Genealogical Index (IGI), Jonathon O.Q. Cragun &

Christine Thornquist, marriage date: 4 May 1886, Jordan, Scott, Minnesota, FHL film 457378, Salt Lake City, Utah
160 1895-1905 St. Lawrence, Scott County, Minnesota, www.ancestry.com, Searched: Jonathon Cragun, accessed:

11 Jan 2010.

(HBLL) CS 71 .C8854 1969,page 116
162 Wikipedia, Phrenology, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phrenology,

(HBLL) CS 71 .C8854 1969,page 116

35

The family moved from St. Lawrence, Scott County
before 1910164 and were in Mankato, Blue Earth by 1920. They moved again to
Belgrade, Nicollette County which is next to Blue Earth County.165
Christina [Thornquist] Cragun death date was 30 August 1924 in Blue Earth
County, Minnesota; She was 60 years old at the time of death.166

After the death of his wife Christina, Jonathan moved in with his daughter Laura
(Cragun) Olson in Minneapolis, Hennepin County. He was found in the 1930
census for Minneapolis, Hennepin County.167 At the time of his death Jonathan
was living with his daughter Laura in Minneapolis, Hennepin County.168 At the
time of his death he was 81 years old.

VII. Lucy Jane Cragun was born 25 December 1857 in Whitestown, Boone County,
Indiana; she married George A. Harris on 12 October 1877 in Shakopee, Scott
County, Minnesota.169

George A. Harris and Lucy Jane Cragun

In 1880 the family was living in Belle
Plaine, Scott County, Minnesota,170 By
1895171 they were living in Mankato,
Blue Earth and were still there in 1900.172 Lucy and Geor
The

impaired. They then bought the Enoch
Davis Cragun home in Mankato.173
family had moved to Minneapolis,
Hennepin County, Minnesota by 1910,174
Jonathon Cragun the brother of Lucy (Cragun) Harris moved to Minneapolis and

164 1910 U.S. census, Mankato, Blue Earth, Minnesota, Searched: Jonathon Cragun, accessed: 11 January 2010
165 1920 U.S. census, Belgrade, Nicollette, Minnesota, Searched: Jonathon Cragun, accessed: 11 January 2010
166 Minnesota Department of Health, Minnesota Death Index, 1908-2002, Blue Earth, Scott County, Minnesota,

Record No. 411332, Certificate No. 001399, Date: 30 August 1924, www.ancestry.com
167 1930 U.S. census of Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota, Searched: Jonathan Cragun, www.ancestry.com,

168 Minnesota Department of Health, Minnesota Death Index, 1908-2002, Minneapolis, Hennepin County,

Minnesota, Record No. 021672, Date: 30 May 1936, www.ancestry.com, accessed: 26 March 2010

(HBLL) CS 71 .C8854 1969,page 117
170 1880 U.S. Census, Belle Plaine, Scott County, Minnesota, Searched: George Andrew Harris, www.ancestry.com,

accessed: 2 February 2010
171 1895 Minnesota Territorial Census, Bell Prairie, Scott County, Minnesota, Searched: George Andrew Harris,

accessed: 14 January 2010
172 1900 U.S. Census, Mankato, Blue Earth, Searched: George Andrew Harris, accessed: 12 January 2010

(HBLL) CS 71 .C8854 1969,page 117, information obtained from letters written by George Bucklin, husband of
Abbey Cragun – they were written to Mormon Cragun on 20 January 1932 and 8 February 1933.
174 1910 U.S. Census, Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota, Searched: George Andrew Harris, accessed: 26 March

2010

36

was living with his daughter Laura by 1930.

The 1920 census record for Lucy and George has not been found. It is possible
that they were in Florida at this time. She spent winters in Florida near the
William Jennings Bryan Estates, until 1930.175

THIRD GENERATION

3. James Cass Cragun was born on 4 June 1848 in Whitestown, Boone, Indiana.176 He was
the son of Enoch Cragun and Mary (Molly) Peters.177 James Cass married, Eva Elisabeth
29 May 1875 in Jordan, Scott, Minnesota.178 Eva was born 17 December 1852 in Milwaukee
County, Minnesota.179 She was the daughter of George H. Harris and Cornelia King.180 James
died on 18 December 1922 in Jordan, Scott, Minnesota.181 Eva died on 28 February 1900 in
Jordan, Scott County, Minnesota. He was buried in the Spirit Hill Cemetery in Jordan, Scott
County, Minnesota at the side of his wife Eva Elisabeth Harris.182 Eva died on 28 February
1900 in Jordan, Scott County, Minnesota.183

The family was found living in St. Lawrence, Scott County, Minnesota
from 1880 to 1905. The distance between Jordan and St. Lawrence is 2
miles.184 All five of the children were born in Jordan, Scott County,
Minnesota according to Eva Cragun Heiner.185

1918 FLU EPIDEMIC OF MANKOTA, MINNESOTA
In 1918, at the height of that terrible war, an epidemic of a new disease,
influenza, swept the entire world. Glenn Shoemaker family was not to be spared
at least one victim to that had illness which had taken the lives of thousands and
had been especially vulnerable to boys taking army training throughout the

(HBLL) CS 71 .C8854 1969,page 117, information obtained from letters written by George Bucklin, husband of
Abbey Cragun – they were written to Mormon Cragun on 20 January 1932 and 8 February 1933.

(HBLL) CS 71 .C8854 1969,page 105
71 .C8854 1969, page 107, Provo, Utah.

Peters, accessed: 11 February 2010.
179 Findagrave.com, Virtual Cemetery, Digital images, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi, entry for Eva

Evelyn (Harris) Cragun, accessed: 11 February 2010.
71 .C8854 1969, page 107, Provo, Utah.
181 Scott County, Minnesota Courthouse, Marriage Record, Searched: James Cass Cragun, (FHL) film 1379415,

page: 282, Salt Lake City, Utah.
182 Findagrave.om, Virtual Cemetery, Digital images, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi, entry for James

Cass Cragun, accessed: 11 February 2010.
183 Scott County, Minnesota Court House, located in Shakopee, (FHL) film 1379418, Salt Lake City, Utah.
184 1880 to 1905 U.S. Census, St. Lawrence, Scott County, Minnesota, www.ancestry.com, Searched: James Cass

Cragun, accessed: 7 January 2010
71 .C8854 1969, page 107, Provo, Utah.

37

country. Earl the brother-in-law to (Cragun) Shoemaker was a young married man and was fatally
stricken He was

Buried on Armistice Day, 11 November 1919. The family’s private funeral procession was heading for
Glenwood Cemetery as the city’s spontaneous jubilation parade was marching the same streets before the
cheering throngs.186

Spontaneous parades were held in every town and city accompanied by the tooting of every horn,
including the train-whistles, and the ringing of every bell. However, a pall still hung over the country for
the worst epidemic of a disease called influenza swept the entire world, and was still uncontrollable. The
people were asked to make and wear cloth masks over nose and mouth on street-cars and in public places.

Many cases of influenza were found in the Twin Cities, including 150 in Minneapolis, and it was
also prevalent in St. Paul. On 14 October 1918 there was a city council meeting where Dr. Joseph H.
Vogel, the New Ulm Health Officer, requested the banning of all public meetings. The City Council
unanimously approved. The public meetings/gatherings that were banned indefinitely included all
schools, churches, theaters, bowling alleys, etc. Dr. J.H. Vogel had sent for a “serum” that was being
used in Mankato to prevent flu illnesses. The serum was a product of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester,
Minnesota. Notices were delivered and posted around town to inform the people of New Ulm that public
meetings were banned. The notices read as follows:

NOTICE
To the Board of Education; the Proprietors of Theatres and Moving Picture
Houses; the Proprietors of Dance Halls and Bowling Alleys, to all Lodges
and Societies; to All Churches, to All Public and Private Assemblages:
Within the past few days, a number of cases of Spanish influenza have
appeared in the city, and the disease appears to be spreading quite rapidly.
It became apparent that unless measures were taken to prevent the spreading
of this disease, we would have to look forward to quite an epidemic in this
city. In view of this situation, the Board of Health of this city has decided
that the best interests of this city and community, for the time being, require
the closing of all school, theatres and moving picture houses, dance halls
and bowling alleys, lodges and societies and churches and all other places
where people congregate or assemble, and an order to that effect was,
therefore, kindly comply with this order of the Board of Health.
J.H. Vogel, Health Officer
By order of the Board of Heath, New Ulm, Minnesota187
“Uncle Sam” gave some advice on the flu in the Brown County Journal. The first
symptoms of this influenza were chills, fever (100-104 degrees Fahrenheit), headache,
and redness of eyes, pain in the back, eyes, ears, weakness, dizziness, and a discharge

187 Darlene Filzen, Brown County Historical Society, New Ulm, Minnesota, Flu Pandemic of 1918-1919, Year:

2003, http://75.146.162.52/bchs/Filzen%20Flu%20Pandemic.pdf, accessed: 3 April 2010.

38

from the nose that resembles a very contagious cold. These symptoms engulfed a
person very quickly. If you were struck with these symptoms, the advice to you
would be to avoid crowds, rest until your fever is gone, and suppress sneezing.
Hopefully within 3-4 days, your symptoms would disappear. Some people developed
pneumonia, meningitis, and/or ear infections.188
CHILDHOOD ACTIVITIES

There were several activities in Mankato, Blue Earth County. There was a lovely hill side
location that was covered with rich pastures and trees. The trees could be used for various
games, posts for tying home-made tents, and tree houses. Kids in various neighborhoods would
have ball teams, parades in the neighborhoods.
It was used for sledding and bob-sledding in winter and grass for sliding in summer. The grass
grew so long on the hillside that it provided a slick surface for sliding on when it was well
tramped. For summer sleds they used barrel staves on which to either stand or sit. It was rather
painful if the stave struck a high spot and you’d slip off to the front, usually encountering a
bunch of slivers as they slid off. Many mothers had to surgically remove the slivers.
One of the best uses of the trees may be to have a rope swing, one with a board seat and the other
a single rope attached to a lower limb from which we could get a running start, swinging wide
and high and with a twist or two.
A free attraction in the town was the evening hitch-up fire drill at the main fire station at 8 p.m.
At the sound of the gong the firemen came sliding down the shiny metal poles from the lodging
quarters above. The stall doors flying open and the teams of beautiful horses trotted out to their
positions under the suspended harnesses which dropped into place on the horses and required
only the press of a buckle or two. The men were up on the rigs in thirty seconds, the horses
raring to go – but they knew it was only a practice drill to get them out so fresh bedding straw
could be placed in their stalls.189
CHURCHES IN MANKATO

Mr. Shoemaker was put on the board of deacons in the little church they affiliated with
immediately upon moving to Mankato in 1894; Glenn Shoemaker remembers when his father
told him of a new church being built.
A lot of people’s lives revolved around their church. Their social and spiritual life revolved
around the activities there, such as Sunday school programs and church socials.
When the kids grew up they would be part of the interdenominational movement called the
Christian Endeavor. From the Christian Endeavors the kids went on to become Sunday school
teachers after taking ‘teacher training’ courses, then to choir singers, soloists and director of the

188 Darlene Filzen, Brown County Historical Society, New Ulm, Minnesota, Flu Pandemic of 1918-1919, Year:
2003, http://75.146.162.52/bchs/Filzen%20Flu%20Pandemic.pdf, accessed: 3 April 2010.

Cragun line.

39

choir.190
JOBS AS YOUTH
There were many jobs for youngsters in those wood and coal-burning days. A first chore for a
lot of the youngsters was to saw enough cord-wood into stove lengths for both the cooking and
heating stoves to last for at least one day, and on Saturdays there had to be for at least enough to
last until after school Monday because there was absolutely no unnecessary work done on the
“Lord’s Day”.. Neither was there any outdoor group play with the neighborhood kids who were
allowed to play outside. There were always plenty of quiet games on hand to keep everyone
busy, most of which had probably been brought by Santa, and there was never a shortage of
players.
Despite the many chores there seemed always time for plenty of wholesome play, much of which
was of their own invention, but the chores came first and at the exact time they probably had to
be done.
RINGLING BROTHERS CIRCUS
The coming of Ringling Brothers circus was of the greatest single event of any summer. In
addition to being the county seat, Mankato laid claim to being the original home and showing
place. The brothers were products of the country town nearby, St. Clair. After Ringling’s joined
with Barnum and Bailey they were truly the “greatest show on earth”. The grand parade on the
main streets during the forenoon was about all that our family got to see of the circus, until we
boys became old enough to work our way for a ticket.
Street carnivals and balloon ascensions were next in order of excitement. There were side shows
and free attractions such as belly-dancer or snake charmer.191
HORSELESS CARRIAGE
A completely new age was upon the world in the form of the horse-less buggy soon after the turn
of the century. Here is a description, “While playing down on Second Street one day, we boys
heard an unfamiliar noise, soon discovering that one of those contraptions had finally reached
our town for here it was heading for the Byron street one-block long hill. We walked along side
of it as it chugged its way to the top.”
With the coming of those machines had to come what was called the good-roads movement
because it was obvious that gravel would have to be spread over the rich black soil of the road
beds to make them passable for the few who could afford this new luxury, lest they become
mired if caught out in the country in a downpour of rain. This was to place a heavy tax burden
on the majority who didn’t need it but it soon became the embryo of our vast complex of
multilane highways of today.
WORK EXPERIENCE



40

James Cass Cragun attended Eureka College in Illinois and then taught school for
nineteen years in conjunction with running a small farm near Jordan, Scott County,
adding more acreage as he was able. It was necessary for him to get up early enough
in winter to do his barn chores, breakfast, and then walk three miles to school where
he had to build a fire to heat the one-room school before the pupils arrived. Many a
bitter cold morning he had to break his own path through drifted snow. Such is only a
glimpse of what pioneer life was like.
Dollie and Horace were among his pupils when he discontinued teaching to take a
rural delivery mail route when that service was added to the postal service.192
Jordan rural mail carriers with horses and wagons in front of Peoples State Bank, Drug
Store, and Post Office in Jordan, Minnesota.

L to R – James Cragun, Marshal Darlington, Sylvester Caswell193
In 1903 James Cass was found working as a rural postal worker. He was 55 years old
at that time.194 It is unknown when he starting working as a postal worker. He is still
listed as being a postal worker as his occupation in the 1920 U.S. census. At this time
he was 72 years old.195
LAND RECORDS
James Cass Cragun was found in the Atlas and Farmers Directory of Scott County,
Minnesota in 1914 in the city of St. Lawrence. He was 66 years old at this time. The
property was on the border of Sand Creek Township in St. Lawrence, Scott County,
192 History of Glenn Shoemaker, From: Dan Wolner, dwolner@tti-inc.com, related through Lydia Cragun line.
193 Jordan Rural Mail Carriers, www.scottcountyhistory.org, Object: 2000.047.0001, Date: 1903, Jordan, Scott
County, Minnesota, Searched: James Cragun, Accessed:
194 Scott County Historical Society, Jordan, Scott County, Minnesota, Searched: James Cass Cragun, http://

www.scottcountyhistory.org/cgi/photosearch, accessed: 26 February 2010
195 1920 U.S. census, Jordan, Scott County, Minnesota, www.ancestry.com, accessed: 26 March 2010

41

Minnesota. His land was in section 25 and he had 132 acres, his wife was listed as
Ellen.196 More research is needed to verify if they had more land and where it was
located.
VITAL RECORDS
Eva Elisabeth (Harris) Cragun died on 28 February 1900 in Jordan, Scott County,
Minnesota, according to Eva Cragun Heiner.197 In the Register of Deaths for Scott
County her name is listed as Eva E. Cragun and her father was a farmer and she was
born in Wisconsin. At the time of her death her husband was still living.
She was 48 years old and she died of consumption (old name for tuberculosis
usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body.) The name listed
for attending Physician was J.C. Cragun, who was her husband and he was not a
physician. He was the informant, not a physician.198 Her cemetery records list her
name as Eva Elizabeth (Harris) Cragun. She was buried at the Spirit Hill Cemetery
next to her husband James Cass Cragun. It is believed that Eva Elizabeth (Harris)
Cragun is the correct name and probably Evelyn was a nickname used.199 James
Cragun was buried next to his dear sweet wife. He was born on 3 June 1848 in
Whitestown, Boone County, Indiana and he died 18 December 1922 at the age of 74
years of age.200
James Cass Cragun’s will was probated on 6 February 1923 in Scott County,
Minnesota. Unable to locate the record in the film, the note in the film said that the
camera operators think that some of the pages were missed.201

196 1914 Atlas and Farmers Directory of Scott County, Minnesota, A Journal of Agriculture, St. Paul Minnesota,
www.ancestry.com, accessed:28 March 2010
197 Eva Cragun Heiner, Patrick Cragun – Descendants in America 1744-1969, Page: 107, (HBLL) book CS

71 .C8854 1969, Provo, Utah.
198 District Court, Scott County, Minnesota, Death Records, Year: 1900, (FHL) film 1379418, Salt Lake City, Utah.
199 Findagrave.com, Virtual Cemetery, Digital images, http://www.findagrave.com, entry for Eva Elizabeth (Harris)

Cragun
200 Findagrave.com, Virtual Cemetery, Digital images, http://www.findagrave.com, entry for James Cragun, he was

buried on Row 17, lot 202 and grave A.
201 Scott County, Minnesota Court House, located in Shakopee, (FHL) film 1439637, Volume F, Page: 462, need to

order the probate record from the Scott County, Minnesota courthouse.

42

CHILDREN OF JAMES CASS CRAGUN & EVELYN EVA HARRIS

I. Son Cragun was born and died on the same day 2 April 1878 in Jordan, Scott
County, Minnesota.202

II. Dolly Ellen Cragun was born on 25 May 1882 in Mankato, Blue Earth,
Minnesota, John Henry Jaeger and Dolly Ellen were married on 2 October
1907in Mankato, Blue Earth, Minnesota.203 John Henry Jaeger was born 25 May
1882 in Mankato, Blue Earth,204

In the 1910 U.S. census of Mankato, Blue Earth
County, Minnesota, John Jaeger had taken over a
small grocery store on South Front Street. Soon
after this he brought his new bride Dolly Ellen
Cragun, to town and together they operated the
store. Dolly’s father James Cragun had remarried
after her mother’s death seven year’s prior.
Dolly’s younger sister, Lydia who had been her
father’s home-maker decided to come to live with her sister Dolly and John
Jaeger and help out at the store.

The family stayed in Blue Earth until 1910. John Henry’s occupation in 1910 was
a butcher; he was 28 years old.205 By 1918 John Henry was working as a farmer
with his brother-in-law J. Ward Cragun according to his Draft registration card.
He enlisted into World War I on 12 September 1918 in Jordan, Scott County. He
was 36 years old at time of enlistment, He was medium height and medium build
and his eyes were blue and his hair blond.206 At this time have not been able to
find the 1920 census on the family, more search is needed.

The family had moved to Minneapolis, Hennepin County by 1930 his occupation
was still listed as being a Butcher, according to the 1930 U.S. census.207

202 Findagrave.com, Virtual Cemetery, Digital images, http://www.findagrave.com, entry for James Cragun, he was
buried on Row 17, lot 202 and grave A.
203 Eva Cragun Heiner, Patrick Cragun Descendants in America 1744-1969, Page 105, (HBLL), CS 71 .C8854

1969, page 107, Provo, Utah.
204 National Archives and Records Administration, World War I Draft Registration Card, Searched: John Henry

Jaeger, www.ancestry.com, accessed: 25 March 2010
205 1910 U.S. census, Mankato, Blue Earth, Minnesota, Searched: John Henry Jaeger, accessed: 25 March 2010
206 National Archives and Records Administration, World War I Draft Registration Card, Searched: John Henry

Jaeger, www.ancestry.com, accessed: 25 March 2010
207 1930 U.S. Census, Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota, Searched: John Henry Jaeger, www.ancestry.com,


43

John died several years before his wife, Dollie Ellen; He passed away on 19
November 1933 in Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota.208 Dollie spent many of
her later years living in the “Lone Pine” resort area in Brainerd, Minnesota.209
The resort now is called Cragun’s Resort and Hotel on Gull Lake.210 In the
summertime, she would go and stay with her brother Ward and his wife, Ruth.
In the colder months of winter, she often went to California to be near her sister,
Lydia and her husband, Glenn Shoemaker.211

Dolly was 80 years old at time of her death. She was from Maple Grove
Township and a resident for the past 20 years. She died Wednesday morning at
Cedarbrook Manor, Deerwood. She was born in Jordan, Minnesota on 15 August
1880. She was a member of the Christian Church, Minneapolis.

The funeral was held at the Nelson-Doran Funeral Chapel, the Reverend Robert
Kittrell officiated212 and the burial was in the Spirit Hill Cemetery.213

III. Horace Errett Cragun was born 18 September 1883 in Jordan, Scott County,
Minnesota.214 He died 5 June 1979 in Minneapolis, Hennepin County,
Minnesota.215 He was buried in the Spirit Hill Cemetery next to his lovely wife
Carrie Arnts and his parents James Cass & Eva Cragun.216

Horace married Carrie Lucinda Arnts on 3 November 1909 in Sand Creek,
Scott County,Minnesota.217 At the time of their marriage Horace was 26 years and
Carrie was 23 years old.218

searched: John Henry Jaeger, Minnesota, Record No. 656970, Certificate No. 021791, Date: 19 Nov 1933,
71 .C8854 1969, page 107, Provo, Utah.
210 Cragun’s Resort and Hotel on Gull Lake, http://craguns.com/, accessed: 30 March 2010
71 .C8854 1969, page 107, Provo, Utah.
212 Brainerd Daily Dispatch, Obituary: Dolly Ellen (Cragun) Jaeger, Date: 15 Dec 1960, page: 2, http://

newspaperarchive.com/, accessed: 30 March 2010

searched: Dolly Ellen Jaeger, Minnesota, Record No. 1453515, Certificate No. 003626, Date: 14 Dec 1960,
214 Eva Cragun Heiner, Patrick Cragun - Descendants in America 1744-1969, (HBLL), CS 71 .C8854 1969, page

108, Provo, Utah.
215 Minnesota Department of Health, Minnesota Death Index, 1908-2002, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Searched:

Horace Errett Cragun, Record No. 1982175, Certificate No. 014886, www.ancestry.com, accessed:
216 Minnesota Genealogical Society of Spirit Hill, Scott County, Minnesota, Spirit Hill Cemetery listings, abstract by

Betty A. Dols, bdols2570@mac.com, accessed: 11 Feb 2010

108, Provo, Utah.

108, Provo, Utah.

44

Horace was found in 1895, 1900 and 1905 St.
Lawrence, Scott County census with his parents.
According to the 1910 census Horace’s occupation
was that of a banker and they were living in New
Market, Scott County. The distance from Sand
Creek and New Market is about 20 miles.219

In the 1917 World War I Draft Registration Cards, Horace Cragun
In 220

1920 he still had the occupation of being a banker an
Pemberton, Blue Earth. 221 The family moved again in 193

County, Minnesota which is about 175 miles away. At this time they still had
three children living at home.222

In 1967 Horace was 87 years old. He amazes everyone with his ability to work in
his garden. As Glenn Shoemaker writes that Horace still sells Electrolux cleaners
by phone calls mostly and makes regular trips to St. Cloud, Minnesota (80 miles
away). “But then,” Glenn says, “he is only 84.” And Carrie, his good wife is the
finest and best cook ever. She is such a delightful hostess. Her many friends
from everywhere send her the newest in “Cook Books” until she has a book case
full of the very oldest to the very newest and the most modern.223

Carrie Lucinda (Arnts) Cragun died on 11 January 1974 in Minneapolis,
Hennepin County, Minnesota at 87 years of age.224 Horace died 5 years later after
the death of his dear wife of 70 years. He died on 5 June 1979 in Minneapolis,
Hennepin, Minnesota.225

IV. Lydia Almeda Cragun was born 2 April 1887 in Jordan, Scott County,
Minnesota, the fourth child of James Cass and Eva Cragun.226 She married

219 1910 U.S. Census, New Market, Scott County, Minnesota, www.ancestry.com, Searched: Horace Cragun,
220 National Archives and Records Administration, World War I Draft Registration, www.ancestry.com, Searched:

Horace Cragun, accessed: 14 March 2010.
221 1920 U.S. Census, Pemberton, Blue Earth County, Minnesota, www.ancestry.com, Searched: Horace Cragun, the

spelling for the last name was found under Cragen, accessed: 13 March 2010.
222 1930 U.S. census, Sandstone, Pine County, Minnesota, www.ancestry.com, Searched: Horace Cragun, accessed:

14 March 2010.

page 108, Provo, Utah.

Minnesota, searched: Carrie Cragun, Certificate No. 000587, death date: 11 January 1974

Minnesota, searched: Horace Errett Cragun, Certificate No. 014886, Record No. 1982175, accessed: 26 March 2010

109, Provo, Utah.

45

Glenn Shoemaker 31 August 1911in Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minnesota.227
Glenn died 21 August 1977 in Los Angeles, California at the age of 88 years.228
His dear sweet wife of 66 years died 10 August 1981 in Los Angeles, California
at the age of 94 years.229

In 1918 Glenn Shoemaker signed up for the World War 1 draft at the age of 29
years old. He was married with 4 children at this time and his occupation when
he registered was that of a mail carrier in Mankato, Minnesota.230 The family was
found living in Mankato, Blue Earth County in 1920 and 1930 according to the
census.231 The 1920 census shows that he had 4 children. His occupation was
listed as a mail clerk in the 1930 U.S. census and he was 41 years old.

In the 1936-1941 city directory of Blue Earth, Glenn’s occupation is listed as a
clerk. The couple was living at the same address.232 We know that they moved to
California before 1952 as Glenn got his social security number in 1952.233

Lydia was a fine musician; she often played for her husband Glenn, who had
an exceptionally fine voice and enjoyed singing for church, funeral and civic
affairs. Lydia moved in with her sister Dolly after her father James Cass Cragun
remarried; he married his sister-in-law Ellen Harris.

Dolly and Lydia placed their membership in the church that Glenn Shoemaker
was attending. Lydia and her Dolly and John Jaeger attended church regularly
and it was the job of Glenn Shoemaker as the usher to seat everyone. Glenn
writes that “They were sort of nifty girls. I thought, as farm girls can be and
decidedly of the Irish colleen type.” Lydia won the eye of Glenn Shoemaker at
first sight, as much as he wanted to meet her, he was to shy. Glenn’s mother had
attended a Ladies Aid meeting about this time and at the supper table that evening
said “Glenn I’ve found a nice girl for you.” His mother was apparently well
impressed with Lydia.
Glenn Shoemaker and Lydia Almeda Cragun

109, Provo, Utah.
228 California Department of Health Services, Center for Health Statistics, California Death Index, 1940-

1997, Los Angeles, California, Searched: Glenn Shoemaker, www.ancestry.com, accessed: 26 March
2010
229 California Department of Health Services, Center for Health Statistics, California Death Index, 1940-1997,

Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, Searched: Lydia Almeda Shoemaker, death date: 10 August 1981,
230 National Archives and records administration, World War I Draft registration card, Searched: Glenn Shoemaker,

www.ancestry.com, accessed: 26 March 2010.
231 1920 -1930 U.S. census, Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minnesota, Searched: Glenn Shoemaker,

www.ancestry.com, accessed: 26 March 2010.
232 U.S. City Directories, R.L. Polk and Co’s Mankato City and Blue Earth County, Year: 1936, 1938,

1941,1945,1950, Searched: Glenn Shoemaker, Mankato, Minnesota, accessed: 31 Jan 2010
233 Social Security Death Index, Social Security No. 562-46-4548, Date issued was 1952.

46

Lydia’s sister Dolly (Cragun) Jaeger planned a party at her home to introduce
her sister to the young people of the area; this is how she met Glenn. It was not
long until it was Glenn who was seeing her home after evening services and their
attraction blossomed rapidly. Finances were very tight in the beginning of their
relationship; even going to a movie was hard for them.

After a year of courtship Glenn told his mother that he would like to marry Lydia
Cragun and would like to marry in about a year, Glenn started saving money so
that the young couple could get married. Glenn had taken the Post office exam
and had received an appointment as a regular clerk to begin July 1910. He had
served as an extra through the Christmas rush of 1909. He was on a $50.00 per
month salary the first year and out of this was able to save $150 by the time of
marriage. The marriage was quite a family wedding and was solemnized at the
little back-of-the-store apartment of the Jaegers, at 3 p.m. 31 August 1911.234

V. James Ward Cragun was born 11 July 1890 in Jordan, Scott County,
Minnesota. On 1 June 1916 in Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minnesota he
married his sweetheart Ruth Alice Shoemaker.235 James died 29 May 1967 in
Brainerd, Crow Wing County, Minnesota.236

James Ward signed up for the World War I draft on 5 June 1917 in Mankato,
Minnesota. At the time of the signing he was married with 4 children and his
occupation was a postal worker.237

He was born on the family farm home near Jordan, Scott County, Minnesota on
11 July 1890, and the youngest of four children. He helped his father, they then
rented from his father, after he had tried homesteading in Alberta, Canada.

Ward was married to Ruth Alice Shoemaker in Mankato, Minnesota, 1 June 1916.
Two children were born to this blessed union.

Following the terrible influenza epidemic of 1918, Ward developed a heart
leakage and the doctor advised leaving the farm for lighter work. Summer resorts
were coming into great popularity in Minnesota which appealed to him and he
found the place of his dreams on South Long Lake near Brainerd, Minnesota.

234 History of Glenn Shoemaker, From Dan Wolner, dwolner@rti-inc.com related through the Lydia Almeda
Cragun line, Appreciation to Dan for sharing this information. For more information in the history is available.
235 Patrick Cragun - Descendants in America 1744-1969, (HBLL), CS 71 .C8854 1969, page 109, Provo, Utah.
236 Minnesota Department of Health, Minnesota Death Index, 1908-2002, Brainerd, Crow Wing County, Minnesota,

searched: James Ward Cragun, State File No. 011279, Record No. 1673464, www.ancestry.com,
237 National Archives and Records Administration, World War I Draft Registration Card, Searched: John Ward

Cragun, www.ancestry.com, accessed: 25 March 2010

47

James Ward Cragun was living in St. Lawrence, Scott County, Minnesota in 1920
and was married at this time his occupation was a farmer.238 A little confused
because the census lists Fred Sanders and his stepson and that Fred was 14 years
old and at this time Ward was 29 years old and his wife was 24 years old, more
research is needed to clarify this question. Who was Fred Sanders? And why was
he listed as a stepson?

In September of 1923 an auction sale disposed of farming equipment and Ward
and Ruth and their two young children moved north. He was a very energetic
man and for many years ran the “Lone Pine Resort” at Brainerd, Minnesota, until
ill health forced him to retire. He was a Mason. His good wife, Ruth, was ever
concerned with his welfare. The resort proved a successful venture. Many lasting
friendships were made.239

In 1930 census James is listed with his wife and two children at this time he was
39 years old and his wife was 34 years old. They have two children listed Maurice
and Betty.240

Ruth hosted various Ladies Aid Society functions at her house in 1935.241
Starting in 1937 the family was listed in the Crow Wing County, Minnesota
directory, the family was listed in various other directories living in the same
area.242

J.W. Cragun started a resort in South Long Lake near Brainerd, Minnesota in
Crow Wing County that offers 2,115 acres of scenic beauty with a shoreline
surrounded by rolling hills covered with towering pines. Year round recreational
water activities and close proximity to a wide variety of attractions make this lake
a premier vacation destination.

Lone Pine Resort on South Long Lake, owned and operated by Mr. and Mrs. J.
Ward Cragun for 37 years in 1961, was sold to a nephew, James W. Cragun of
Niagara Falls243

238 1920 U.S. Census of St. Lawrence, Scott County, Minnesota, Searched: James Ward Cragun,
239 Eva Cragun Heiner, Patrick Cragun – Descendants in America 1744-1969 (HBLL) book CS 71 .C8854 1969,

Provo, Utah.,
240 1930 U.S. Census of St. Lawrence, Scott County, Minnesota, Searched: James Ward Cragun,

241 Brainerd Daily Dispatch, Society Page: 7 and 8 January 1935, Page 3, Mrs. J.W. Cragun, http://

newspaperarchive.com/, accessed: 6 April 2010.
242 U.S. City Directories, R.L. Polk and Co’s, 1937, 1939, 1942, 1946, 1949, Crow Wing County, Minnesota,

Searched: J.W. Cragun, www.ancestry.com, accessed: 6 April 2010
243 Brainerd Daily Dispatch, Society Page: Lone Pine Resort sold by Craguns, Searched: J.W. Cragun, http://

newspaperarchive.com/, accessed: 6 April 2010.

48

Ward’s health was failing after a very serious operation in September 1959. He
bought the Canniff property and they built lovely new home not far from the
resort on the lake-shore.244

FUTURE RESEARCH

1. Order pension file for Enoch and Nephi Cragun, also order Jacob Habegger’s
pension file

244Eva Cragun Heiner, Patrick Cragun – Descendants in America 1744-1969 (HBLL) book CS 71 .C8854 1969,
Provo, Utah.,

49

2. Order pension for Enoch Davis Cragun’s wife Penninah Cragun who outlived her
husband

3. Tract book, Boone County, Indiana – compiled by Rosemary Peterman – has
description of land, ownership etc. and it may show information on Elisha
Cragun, FHL book – 977 .254 R28

4. Civil Order Books, Circuit Court, Boone County, Indiana – Elisha Cragun is listed
as being on page 120 (FHL film 241868 No. 1)

5. Complete Civil order books – Elisha Cragun – FHL film 2418840 #2, page 120 -
(Grand jurors for October term 1837) also found on page 122 (October 16, 1837
Grand Jurors) FHL film 2418841

6. Marriage record for Enoch D. Cragun and Penninah Davis – extracted, FHL film
1309275

7. Death record for Jonathon O.Q. Cragun – Year 1936 for Minneapolis, Hennepin,
Minnesota FHL film 2242378

8. Look for the Deed books for Scott County, Minnesota and see if anything is listed
for Enoch Cragun

9. Hiram Cragun and Reiter Dooley marriage record – they were married 18 August
1842 in Boone County, Indiana – FHL film 1320110

10. According to the Indiana Works Progress the death record for Reiter Bowers
(Cragun) can be found in book R-23 on page 7

11. Marriage record for Enoch Cragun and Mary (Molly) Peters – they were married
on 5 May 1842 in Whitestown, Boone County, Indiana.

12. Marriage record of James Cass Cragun to Ellen Harris the sister of his first wife
Evelyn Harris – it is believed that they got married about 1908 as they were listed
as being married in the 1910 census for Scott County, Minnesota.

13. Marriage record of Elisha Cragun and Mary Osborn – can be found in Cass
County, Indiana Marriage book 3, page 296 and in the Deed Book 4 page 611 in
the Lebanon, Boone County courthouse records.

14. Tennessee soldiers in the War of 1812 – FHL book 976 .8 A1 – look for
Elisha Cragun; also look for the book by Jill Knight Garret for Maury County,
Tennessee. FHL book 976 .859 ME.

15. From the book Patrick Cragun – Descendants in America 1744-1969, on page
31 says that Elisha was serving under Jackson at New Orleans during the War

50

of 1812. More research was done to determine if Jackson was involved with the
Tennessee militia and he was, it is believed that further research in the records
may help to find information that Elisha served with Jackson. Andrew Jackson,
Major General of the Tennessee militia, was outfitted in December 1812.

16. One book to look at that may lead in the direction to go is the book Tennesseans
in the War of 1812 by Byron Sistler, (FHL) book 976.8 M22

17. More research is needed to find the tax and land records for Elisha

18. Look for court and Church records concerning Elisha and his family.

51

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