Jean Craighead George recalls a former Carlisle Indian School student and his wife visiting Craighead Station, probably in the 1930s. The man had worked for Jean’s grandmother, Agnes Miller Craighead, on his outing periods by tending her flower gardens. He was disappointed that the once beautiful gardens were gone and the yard in which they were once located had been converted into a playground for Agnes’s grandchildren and their friends. Jean doesn’t recall the man’s name but does remember how much pride he had in the gardens. He wasn’t the only Carlisle student to live and work at Craighead Station.
Charles and Agnes Craighead were early and constant supporters of Carlisle Indian Industrial School. In the October 1882 edition of The Morning Star, Lt. Pratt thanked them and the others “for their kindness and helpfulness in giving our pupils a place in their homes where the customs and labors and amenities of civilized life could be impressed upon them than is possible they should be in a school of that size.”
It is difficult to know how many students spent time at the Craigheads because we only know the names of a few who spent time there. The following are the names of students known to have been with the Craigheads:
Emma Strong
Sosipatra Suvoroff
Mary Kadashan
Della Cayuga
Melinda Cayuga
I would be greatly obliged if anyone who knows of someone who spent time at Craigheads would contact me.
Tags: Craighead, Craighead Station, Della Cayuga, Emma Strong, Frank Craighead, Jean Craighead George, John Craighead, Mary Kadashan, Melinda Cayuga, Sosipatra Suvoroff
Tom Benjey's Weblog 
July 7, 2015 at 6:19 pm |
Melinda (Cayuga) Freemont is my grandmother’s grandmother (my great-great-grandmother). In looking more into our family history it was a nice surprise to read this.