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Craig, Nute : Thrills, 1861-1887

N. N. Craig, Oakland, CA

Original publisher's dark brown full leather binding with gilt lettering on front cover. No lettering on spine. No date, circa 1931. 5 1/4" x 8." Sixty-two pages, complete. Two small black-and-white printed photographs of the author and his house in Oakland, complete. Pages are virtually pristine and intact except for light age toning throughout. Covers are virtually pristine and intact except for slight wear to corners and head and tail of spine and slight fading to gilt lettering on front. Binding is tight. A Fine copy. This is a charming autobiography by Nute Craig (1849-1933), an American author and soldier who served in the 148th Illinois Infantry in 1865 during the Civil War. Craig's autobiography begins with a facsimile letter from Thomas Edison. In his letter, Edison thanks Craig for his letter of greeting and writes that he remembers him well. Craig, at the age of 29, had visited Edison during the latter's first vacation to Rawlins, Wyoming. The next feature of Craig's autobiography briefly lists major events in his life up to the present when he was 82 years of age. Among other occupations, Craig had worked as a farmer in Missouri, a bridge-builder in the Rocky Mountains, a telegrapher in Wyoming Territory, a merchant in Cheyenne, and a member of the Wyoming Territory legislature. In the main text of this book, Craig begins by writing that he was always searching for "thrills." This is part of the reason why he wanted to enlist in the Civil War. He describes his enlistment during the war and how he felt he did not get to do much due to his young age. Eager to find more "thrills," Craig made himself busy and embarked on a journey west. He concisely describes many of his life events. Among them are going on a bison hunt in Kansas; almost getting stranded in a river; working as a farmer and selling fruit trees in Missouri; fixing railway bridges between Cheyenne and Ogden; working with Jim Parks, father of George Parks, Governor of Alaska; working as a telegrapher in Rawlins; being part of a sheriff's posse to capture three train robbers near the North Platte River; meeting Thomas Edison who visited Rawlins for a vacation and to study the eclipse of July 29, 1878 (many other anecdotes are given about him such as teaching Edison how to use a rifle and Edison joining a hunting party to shoot antelope); being elected to the Wyoming Territorial Legislature and serving as its Speaker pro tem; serving as Sheriff of Laramie County; chasing after a wily criminal who tried to plead insanity; trying to resolve part of the Union Pacific strike of 1885; capturing horse thieves; holding up a criminal with an unloaded pistol; and settling in California.. Book. Book Condition: Fine. Binding: Hardcover

1st Edition