Guillaume Joseph LaCroix came from Belgium to New York in 1858, and not long after, to Chicago, where he engaged in the labor of a hod carrier of brick and mortar for brick layers in building houses for over two years. When that work becoming slack, he went to Newark, NJ and worked many months in a chemical laboratory in that city. He went from thence to Lancaster, Pa, where he engaged again as a hod carrier of brick and mortar. But, when the house he was engaged upon was completed, no other work offered at the time.

He enlisted as a private in company K 77 Pennsylvania Infantry Volunteers commanded by Col. F. S. Stumbaugh, and was incorporated in the second division, army of the Ohio and sent to Shiloh.

They arrived there on the morning of the 7th of April and participated in the battle, having one killed and seven wounded.

On or about 12 April 1862, while in picket duty between the battlefield of Shiloh and Corinth, Guillaume LaCroix was taken with a severe attack of dysentery and at the same time complained of internal pain in the inguinal region. A short time afterward, a rupture manifested itself and a double scrotal hernia of great size appeared. Receiving an old truss found among the spoils of the enemy, he was enabled to go on for a time during the march to Corinth and thence to Stevenson (Stephenson) where in consequence of fatigue, exposure to the sun, and repeated attacks of dysentery, he was obliged to apply for his discharge, which he received some time after in Nashville, Tenn.

After returning from the war, Guillaume and his family lived in the Lancaster, PA area for several years. By 1870 they moved to Philadelphia, where Guillaume LaCroix established a fruit stand business and later a chop house(restaurant). He moved to a farm in Landisville, in Buena Vista Township, NJ, sometime during the 1890s, and died in 1906.

Sources :
Pension file of William LACROIX at the National Archives