Joseph Craig’s life was short—just 39 years—but included a large family he grew up with, his own marriage and children, and enough hair-raising incidents for a couple of lifetimes. Joseph now rests quietly in the Lincoln Cemetery beneath a headstone provided by the government in 1887.

He was born free in Adams County in 1843 to Benjamin Craig and Mary Wagner where he was the fifth child. The 1860 Census shows him living in a household of 10 kids, but if they were all his siblings, that would mean his mother was still having children at age 55, which is unlikely. So it’s likely that he was uncle to a number of the younger kids. Benjamin Craig was a day laborer, so money was no doubt tight, and it’s likely that the family had three generations living together to keep expenses low.

Struggling with poverty may well have informed several important events in Joseph’s life. First, Joseph enlisted in the 22nd USCT in December 1863. This would have been about three weeks after Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address. Joseph had been working as a waiter and was among roughly 40 black men in and around Adams County who volunteered in 1863 and 1864. Some of the appeal for a young man in a large household would have been a steady paycheck, government-issued clothing and food, and advancement opportunities. Joseph joined the 22nd USCT in Philadelphia, PA. The 22nd joined Benjamin Butler’s army on the Peninsula and was involved in heavy action in and around Petersburg. In particular, Joseph participated in the Second Battle of Petersburg on June 15, 1864, where he was wounded severely enough to be mustered out.

Joseph returned home, and his next life events seem to be . . . mixed. In February 1865, the Gettysburg Compiler recounted a story of a near drowning and a young apprentice saving the life of a young man who had fallen through ice. Was this our Joseph Craig? He’s a decent enough candidate in the area, but the story lacks a lot of detail. And of course, several pieces of context are important. The story just before it is a joke about a woman wanting to visit a cemetery and a husband wanting to leave her there—it’s certainly not news. This story of Joseph is definitely designed to pull at the heart strings, and we have to wonder how a man so wounded he was discharged from the army six months before is diving in icy water to save someone. Maybe, though. Who knows?

What is more certain happened just around Christmas in 1865.

Here again, Joseph’s experience in poverty may have informed his actions. Whatever the motivation, he was arrested for theft and brought to jail. He was apparently tried and convicted because six months later he was carted up to the state penitentiary where he served a sentence.

After serving his sentence, Joseph married Martha Jane Jones. They lived in York and had two boys, George Edward and Benjamin Craig. In 1882, at just 39, Joseph passed away. His death was not noted outside his family. His body was brought to Gettysburg, and he was laid to rest in the Lincoln Cemetery. Five years later, he received his government headstone in recognition of his service and wounding for the Union.