My Genealogy Hound

CAPT. CLARK CRAYCROFT, of Craycroft & Trembley, attorneys at law, Joplin, was born in Montgomery county, Md., May 27, 1847. His parents, J. P. and Minerva J. (Price) Craycroft, were also natives of Maryland. His father was born in Montgomery county, in 1815, and is now living in Cooper county, Mo. His mother was born in Prince George county, in 1824, and died in May, 1873. The subject was raised principally on a farm, and matriculated in the common schools. In the year 1859 his parents moved to Illinois, locating on a farm in Macon county. One year later our subject entered the Mount Zion Seminary. Mount Zion. Ill., and for four years pursued his studies in that institution. He then returned home, and in 1865 came to Missouri, locating in Cooper county, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits. In September, 1868, he entered the State University, Columbia, Mo., and graduated from that institution in June, 1871, taking the degree of B. S. After quitting college he engaged for two years in teaching in Howard county, this state; then went to Linn county, and in May, 1873, was appointed clerk of the Linn County Court of Common Pleas, He served in that capacity one year; also, commenced the study of the law with W. H. Brownlee, of Brookfield, and in May, 1874, was admitted to the bar. He went to St. Louis and there commenced the practice of his profession with the Messrs. Dryden, under the firm name of Craycroft, Dryden & Dryden. He came to Joplin in July, 1875, and practiced first with Mr. Charles Johnson, then with Galen Spencer, present mayor of Joplin, and in 1877 engaged in practice alone; continued thus until February, 1883, when he entered into a partnership with J. H. Trembley, under the firm name of Craycroft & Trembley. Mr. C. was married in Joplin, May 1, 1882, to Miss Alma, daughter of John B. and Pluma (Richards) Sargeant, of this city. Mrs. C. was born in Wisconsin. Jan. 19, 1860. She is a consistent member of the Congregational Church. Captain Craycroft has held the highest degrees in the secret fraternities to which he belongs; is now captain of the Joplin Rifles, chief of the fire department, and United States Commissioner for Circuit Court, western district of Missouri; he is also secretary of the Sargeant Milling Company, and has an interest in the street railway and other public improvements.