The only person from Warren Township ever elected to the New Jersey State Senate was a l9th century physician, John W. Craig, who practiced from his home at the corner of Somerset and Pearl Streets, now North Plainfield but during his lifetime part of Warren. Born in Basking Ridge in 1795, Craig moved to Warren Township about 1820 after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania. A State Senator from l849 to 1852, elected on the Whig ticket, he also served as Warren Township Superintendent of Schools from l855 to l860. According to Snell, "by the advance in the value of his property for building lots [he] became quite wealthy." The l855 State Census for Warren Township indicates that Craig had a colored male servant living in his house, a mark of the doctor's standing in society. Craig died on October 15, l871. His obituary, with which we conclude this article, speaks of him as a resident of Plainfield City, a reflection of how closely tied was the eastern section of the township with that city, but in fact Dr. Craig lived his entire adult life in Warren Township, and was its first physician: "His life and character are cherished as valuable and inseparable from the interests of our growing city," said the newspaper. "He settled here as a practicing physician, as early as 1823, and won for himself a warm and welcome place in the families of this neighborhood. He was always affable, gentle and attentive in the sick-room, and kind and interested in all his dealings with those who had need of his good advice and medical services. About four years after his settlement he married the daughter of General Ludlow, a distinguished citizen of Morris County. He then (about l827) established his home at the same residence which he continued to occupy until his decease. "Coming here a young man, full of energy and progression, he immediately became identified with all the early improvements and organizations of the town. He was foremost in establishing the Plainfield Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and actively connected with the formation of a Fire Engine company and the purchasing of the first Fire Engine. He was one of the original proprietors of the first newspaper that was successfully sustained, The Plainfield Union. For the suppression of intemperance he was an earnest agitator, and as early as Aug. 1828, his name in connection with that of Zachariah Webster is found calling a public meeting of citizens, in the Academy building "to consider and adopt measures to suppress the intemperate use of distilled spirits." He was an active co-worker in the erection and construction of the First Presbyterian Church and subsequently united with that body, remaining a consistent and exemplary christian till his death. For three years he satisfactorily and honorably represented his constituents of Somerset County in the State Senate. He was Postmaster in this place during the four years between l841 and l845. The medical fraternity have lost one of their oldest members, and one who was for a long time a very prominent member of the Medical Society of New Jersey; for several years he was President of that body. He was always a generous, honest, enterprizing citizen." In the election of November 1848, which saw the Whig ticket of Zachery Taylor and Millard Fillmore defeat its Democrat opponents by a wide margin in New Jersey, the Whigs carried Somerset County by three to two. Warren voted for Taylor over the Democrat, Cass, 171 to 123. Dr. Craig beat his Democrat opponent in Warren by a vote of 220 to 75. [Ref: The Somerset Whig, 11/8/1848] |