1890 Delaware and Buchanan
Counties History pgs. 276-277
CHARLES CROCKER, one of the
prominent and well-to-do farmers of South Fork township, Delaware county,
was born in Orange county, Vt., May 28,
1826. His father, Cyrus Crocker, was a native of Connecticut, and immigrated to Vermont in 1836. He was a farmer by occupation
and followed his chosen vocation in the Green Mountain State and New York until 1861, when he immigrated to Delaware county, Iowa, where he lived until his death,
which occurred in 1881.
He enlisted
as a soldier in the War of 1812, but the war ended before he saw much service. He
was a zealous member of the Methodist church and a man who stood high in the
estimation of all who knew him.
The mother
of our subject bore the maiden name of Julia Hammond. She was a native of Vermont, and died in 1876. She was a devout
Christian and an earnest and faithful worker in every good cause. She was the
mother of six children, four of whom are now living.
Charles
Crocker, the subject of this biographical notice, was reared on a farm and
received a fair common-school training. He attended the
common district schools and spent a few terms in a neighboring academy. When he
arrived at the age of eighteen he began clerking in a store at Little Falls, N.
Y., where he remained several years, when he accepted a similar situation in a
store at Rome, N. Y. He afterwards came West to Wisconsin, where he accepted a position in a
dry goods establishment at Portage City, that state. In 1854 he came to Dubuque, Iowa, then a prosperous young city, where
he became a member of the firm of Wood, Luke & Co., dry goods merchants. At
that time this was one of the leading business houses in the city of Dubuque, and for many years did a
flourishing business. Mr. Crocker, tiring of the mercantile business, disposed
of his interest in the firm in 1871, and came to Delaware county and
purchased a farm near the village of Sand Springs. He has since developed
into a thrifty farmer and conducts one of the best farms in the county.
Mr. Crocker
married February 15, 1854, the lady of his choice being Miss Mary
Wood, a native of Massachusetts and a lady of culture and
refinement. She was daughter of Nathan Wood, who was a native of the old Bay State. Mr. and Mrs. Crocker have had born
to them a family of six children, viz.-Horwood B.,
born December 15, 1854, now deceased; Charles A., born February 7, 1858; Mary
T., born July 3, 1861; George E., born September 6, 1864; Nellie L., born June
30, 1868, and Susan E., born December 5, 1870.
Mr. Crocker
has always been identified with the republican party
and has been prominent in the councils of that organization in his county. He
has always taken an active interest in promoting the interests of his party, and
has frequently been a delegate to county, district and state conventions. While
he has never been an aspirant for public honors, he has nevertheless filled
responsible positions of trust. He was county supervisor for nine years and has
held other minor offices.
Mr. Crocker
and his estimable wife are zealous members of the Methodist church and liberal
contributors to every good and charitable cause.
Mr. Crocker
owns a fine estate of three hundred and sixty acres, all well improved and
under a high state of cultivation. His residence is one of the finest in the
county and furnished throughout in a neat and tasteful manner.
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