Report of the West Virginia Bar Association (1934), p. 228:

COMMODORE PERRY CRAIG By ROSS WELLS, Parkersburg Commodore P. Craig was born at Sistersville, Tyler County, West Virginia, on August 1, 1868. In his early boyhood his parents moved to Pleasants County, West Virginia, and located...

WV and Its People (1913), pp. 1154 and 1155:

(III) Commodore Perry, son of James and Edith (Gatsill) Craig, was born in Sistersville, West Virginia, August 1, 1869. He received his early education in the public schools, and then became a clerk in a store. He was for some time employed in Parkersburg, West Virginia, and then became bookkeeper for a stone and paving contractor in East Liverpool, Ohio. He then took up the study of law and was admitted to the bar in June, 18g6. He was elected prosecuting attorney for Pleasants county for the term 1896 to 1900, and then engaged in the practice of his profession until 1904, when he became active in politics. He was elected a member of the house of delegates from 1904 to 1906, and reelected in 1906, and in 1go8 he was elected to the state senate of West Virginia from the third senatorial district which comprises Pleasants, Wood, Ritchie and Wirt counties. He was chairman of the county council of Pleasants county in 1go8 and 1910. He is a Republican in politics, and a Methodist in religion. He is a member of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Lodge No. 41, of St. Marys and is also a member of the United American Mechanics. He married, in Hebron, Pleasants county, West Virginia, in March, 1894, Cora Alice, daughter of Silas. and Frances (Sorrell) Wilson, born in Hebron, November 1, 1875. Children: Iva May, Pearl Edith, Vesta Lee, Grace Victoria, Commodore Perry Jr.

Men of West Virginia (1903), Vol. 1, pp. 372 and 373:

[C. P. CRAIG, prosecuting attorney of Pleasants County, West Virginia, residing in St. Marys and one of the prominent attorneys of the State, was born August 1, 1868, in Tyler County, and is a son of James and Edith (Gatrell) Craig.

The Craig family originated in Ireland. Our subject's grandfather, John Craig, was horn in Virginia, his father having come from Ireland. John Craig moved from Virginia to Pennsylvania. About 1826 he came to Tyler County, Virginia, now West Virginia, and settled near Shiloh, where he lived until death.

James Craig, the father of our subject, was born August 16, 1816, during the family residence in Greene County, Pennsylvania, and died in Pleasants County, July 7, 1894. During a portion of his life he engaged in a mercantile business at St. Marys, but in 1865 he removed to Tyler County and engaged in farming until 1878, when he purchased a farm near Hebron, Pleasants County, where his last days were spent. His wife was of Welsh descent, and was a daughter of John and Abigail Gatrell, who removed from Harrison County to Pleasants County about 1859. Mrs. Craig has reached the age of 68 years, retaining all her faculties, and resides with our subject, who was her only child.

On account of circumstances, Mr. Craig secured but few educational opportunities, his present fund of knowledge having been gained by experience, wide reading and association with the world. It was his ambition to enter the legal profession, and with this end in view he devoted every spare moment from farm work to the study of the law, and in June, 1896, passed a very successful examination. In the same year he secured the Republican nomination for prosecuting attorney of Pleasants County. After a hot campaign, in a county regarded as safely Democratic, his opponent being Clyde B. Johnson, one of the ablest lawyers of the county, Mr. Craig was elected to the office. He made his canvass on foot, a house to house campaign. Mr. Craig is regarded as a very strong man in the Republican party in his section. His practice has extended to other counties and in the Federal courts, his specialty being bankruptcy cases.

In 1895 Mr. Craig was married to Cora A. Wilson, who was born in 1872 near Hebron, Pleasants County, and is a daughter of Silas and Frances (Garell) Wilson, being the eldest of two children. Four children have been born to our subject and wife, the three surivors being May, Edith Pearl and Vesta Lee, little Ethel having died in infancy. In religious belief, both Mr. and Mrs. Craig are members of the St. Marys Methodist Church. Mr. Craig has taken one degree in the Masonic order.

C. P. Craig is a fine example of a self-made man, having carved his own way, unaided by a college education or social prominence. He stands well in his profession and enjoys the esteem of all who know him.

Contributor: Anonymous (50006409)