Clayton E. Crafts

Clayton E. Crafts
Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives
In office January 7, 1891 – January 9, 1895
Preceded by	William Granville Cochran
Succeeded by	John Meyer
Minority Leader of the Illinois House of Representatives
In office January 9, 1895 – January 6, 1897
Preceded by	Edgar C. Hawley
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives
In office 1901–1904
In office 1887–1897
Personal details
Born	Clayton Edward Crafts (1848-07-08)July 8, 1848 Auburn Township, Geauga County, Ohio
Died	August 26, 1920(1920-08-26) (aged 72) Chicago, Illinois
Political party	Democratic
Occupation	Lawyer, politician

Clayton Edward Crafts (July 8, 1848 – August 26, 1920) was an American lawyer and politician.

Biography

Born in Auburn Township, Geauga County, Ohio, Crafts went to Hiram College and the Union College of Law, Cleveland, Ohio. He practiced law in Cleveland, Ohio and Watkins Glen, New York and then in 1869, moved to Chicago, Illinois where he continue to practice law. Crafts was involved with the Democratic Party. From 1887 to 1897 and from 1901 to 1904, Crafts served in the Illinois House of Representatives and was the Speaker of the House.^[1][2] He was a member of the "Big Four," a group of Illinois legislators known for their corporate ties.^[3]

He died at his home in Chicago on August 26, 1920.^[4]

References

1. The National Cyclopedia of American Biography, Volume II, James T. White Company, New York City: 1892, Biographical Sketch of Clayton E. Crafts, pg. 159
2. Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Illinois State Bar Association Forty-Fifth Meeting at Dixon, Illinois, June 9, 10, 11, 1921, R. Allen Stephens-editor, Interstate Printing Company, Danville, Illinois: 1921, Biographical Sketch of Clayton Edward Crafts, pg. 88
3. Franch, John (Summer 1994). "Pushing Every Button, Pulling Every String: The University of Illinois, the 1895 Legislature, and the Struggle over Appropriations". Illinois Historical Journal. 87 (2): 82. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
4. "Clayton Crafts, Once Illinois Speaker, Dies". Chicago Tribune. August 27, 1920. p. 13. Retrieved July 26, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.