| Marion Craig | |
 | |
| Birth: | 1 December 1867 Daviess County, Kentucky, USA |
| Death: | 14 March 1978 Harrisburg, Saline County, Illinois, USA |
| Age: | 110 years, 103 days |
| Country: |  USA
|
| Validated | |
Marion Willington Craig (1 December 1867 - 14 March 1978) was an American supercentenarian whose age is validated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG).
Biography[]
Craig was born on a farm in Daviess County, Kentucky on 1 December 1867. His parents, Dempsey Craig and Mary Roberts, were not married. His father later married at least four times, and he had many half-siblings.
Craig married Nancy “Nannie” (née Wallace) Kirk on 19 January 1890 in Fordsville, Ohio County, Kentucky. The couple had five children together, as well as Nancy’s three children from her previous marriage; three of them outlived their father.
In around 1911, the family moved to Benton, Illinois, and later to the nearby city of Harrisburg. Craig worked as a miner for 36 years near Eldorado, as well as at Western Cartridge Co., which later became Olin Corp. in Alton.
Craig’s wife Nancy died in 1928. In his later years, Craig was affectionately known as ‘Pappy’. He survived pneumonia at the age of 109. As a supercentenarian, he had 13 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren.
Craig died on 14 March 1978 at the age of 110 years, 103 days in Harrisburg, Saline County, Illinois, USA.
Age issues[]
Several newspaper articles were published about Craig in 1968, 1974, and 1977. He claimed different years of birth every time, but his longevity was praised in each article. His Find A Grave entry suggests an 1865 birth year and his SSDI entry suggests 1870. His age was Vaildated by the Gerontology Research Group in 2024 and given the retroactive date of 2012
Gallery[]
References[]
- 2012 validations, Gerontology Research Group (retroactive date)
- 1870 Census (FamilySearch)
- 1890 Marriage Record (FamilySearch)
- 1900 Census (FamilySearch)
- 1920 Census (FamilySearch)
- SSDI death entry (FamilySearch)
- Picture of gravestone (Find a Grave)