REV. RICHARD CRAIGHEAD, retired minister, Meadville, was born in South Middleton Township, Cumberland County, Penn., October 31, 1815, and is the son of William and Hetty (Weakley) Craighead. His paternal ances­tors were from Scotland, his maternal ancestors from England. He pursued his academic studies at New Haven, Conn; graduated at Washington College, Washington, Pa., in 1836; entered the Western Theological Seminary the same year; was licensed to preach in June, 1839, and ordained and installed over the church at Springfield, Erie Co., Penn., September 9, 1840.
He was called in November, 1843, to take charge of the Second Presbyterian Church of Meadville, Penn., and continued as pastor of the church until November, 1874, a period of thirty-one years, only relinquishing his charge on account of continued ill health. He still resides in Meadville, preaching occasionally as his health will permit.
He was married, January 14, 1841, to Miss Lydia L., daughter of John Reynolds, Esq., of Meadville, Penn.

Source: History of Crawford County, Pennsylvania: containing a history of the county, its townships, towns, villages, schools, churches, industries, etc., portraits of early settlers and prominent men, biographies, history of Pennsylvania, statistical and miscellaneous matter, Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co., 1885, page 724.

MEADVILLE, Pa., Sept. 7. - Rev. Richard Craighead, D.D., died at his residence in this city, after a brief illness. Titusville Herald, 08 Sep 1896, p.3, Titusville, Pa.