Notes for: Silas CRAIG

Silas, named "Tylas" in one old 1797 deed, and "old Si" in Arkansas Histories, became very wealthy when he moved to Arkansas and surveyed Chicot County. Our records stated that he made a fortune in cotton, and built the Episcopal church at Helena. And though the Presley Peak bible states that Silas and his wife had thirteen children, all of them died an early death, leaving the last of them, Junius, very wealthy when he died at 22, prompting a historic lawsuit over the remaining fortune. The Peak bible was recorded in KENTUCKY BIBLE RECORDS, VOL.III, pg. 98 (1963); It gives the same date of death for Silas Craig as for his son, Silas Craig, Jr. It is probably in error. The Junius Craig will dispute collection at the Arkansas Historical Commission has a few papers relating to "Old Si" Craig. Silas appears in Oden Township, Chicot County in the 1850 census, with property valued at $70,000. Oden township was located north of Lake Village in an area later called Bellaire and Yellow Bayou.