Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 03.djvu/64

 ("ROFFrT

CROKER

private chissii-al iicmleiny ami in tlio intervals of this occupation made liis theok>j?it':il studies un«ler Bishoii WJiite. lie was ordained deacon, Feb. '28, 1790, and priest in 179'2. He was rector of Trinity churcli. Swedesborough, N.J.. 1790- 1801; deputy to tiie General convention in 1793; took charge of Christ church, New Brunswick, and of St. Peter's. Sjwtswood, N.J., in 1801, and ojiened and conducted a classical school. At the general ct)nvention in 1814 he was elected presi dent of the house of deputies. In June, ISl."), he was elected bishop of Connecticut, but declined the ottice. and in August of the same year he was chosen bishop of New Jersey and was consecrated in St. Peter's church, Philadelphia, Pa., Nov. 19, isi.-). He received the degree of A.M. from the College of New Jersey in 1797, and that of D.D. from Columbia college in 1811. He died in New Brunswick. N.J.. July eO. 18:«.

CROFFUT, William Augustus, author, was born in Rediling, Ctuui., Jan. 29, 1835; son of Benedict and Harriet (Newell) Croffut. He aciiuired his education at the public schools and engaged in journalism, first on the New Haven Pnlld'Hum, and afterward on the Rochester Dimnrmt, the St. Paul Times, the Minneapolis Trihune, the Chicago Post, the New York Graphic, Trihiiiie and World, and the Washington Post. In tiie civil war he served as a private. His travels included seven tours of Europe and visits to Palestine, Egypt, Mexico, Yucatan, Cuba, Alaska and Nova Scotia. He was married to Bessie N icholls, who was educated at a private school and is the author of numerous contribu- tions to magazines and cyclopaedias. He re- ceived the honorary degree of Ph. D. from Union college in 1889. He is the author of the libretto of the comic opera Deserct, drawn from life among the Mormons and brought out in New Yi^rk in 1882, the music having been written by Dudley Buck. He also wrote History of Connect- inu in the liehellion (1867); A Helping Hand (1868); Bourbon Ballads (1880); AMidstimmer Lark (1882); 77(#' Vandtrhilts (1886); The Prophecy (poem for the Columbian E.\po.sition, 1893); Po<'??i.s (1895); .J>sns Christ a Myth (1896); The Lord's Day— or

CROGHAN, George, soldier, was born at Locu.st Grove, near Louisville, Ky., Nov. 15, 1791; son of Maj. AVilliam and Lucy (Clark) Croghan; and a nephew of Gen. George Rogers Clark. He was graduated at William and Mary college in 1810, and when 1>arely twenty years of age .served with distinction at the battle of Tipfwcanoe. He was i)romoted captain, March 12, 1M12, and on ^\ayc\\ 30, 1813, became aide-de- camp to General Harrison with the rank of major. On Aug. 2, IHi:}, lie succe.ssfully de- fended Fort Stephenson at Lower Sandusky and

General Harrison's official report says: " It will not be among the least of General Proctor's mortifications that he has been baffled by a youth who has just pas.sed his twenty -first year.'' The brevet rank of lieutenant-colonel was conferred upon him and the ladies of Chillicothe presented to him a sword. In 1835 congres."? voted him a gold medal for his gallantry. He was promoted lieu- tenant colonel, Feb. 21, 1814, and re.signed in 1817. He afterward resided in New Orleans, La., where he held the office of postmaster in 1824. In 1825 he was made inspector-general in the U.S. army with the rank of colonel. He later served in the Mexican war. After his death a monument was erected to his memory on the site of Fort Stephenson at Fremont, Ohio. He died in New Orleans, La., Jan. 8, 1849.

CROGHAN, William, soldier, was born in Ireland in 1752; a nej)hew of George Croghan, who rendered distinguished service as Indian agent under Sir William Johnson. He came to America at an early age and at the breaking out of the Revolution took sides with the colonists. With a company he joined Washington's army. He was promoted major in 1778, and with the 4th Virginia regiment participated in the battle of Monmouth. He marclied to Charleston, S.C., where the American army under General Lincoln was compelled to surrender May 12, 1780. In 1781 he was paroled and returned to Virginia, where he was a guest of John Clark, father of George Rogers Clark. In 1784 he was married to Colonel Clark's sister, Lucy, and settled at Locust Grove, near Louisville. In 1789 and 1790 he was a delegate from Jefferson county to the Kentucky conventions. He died at Locust Grove, Ky., in September, 1822.

CROKER, Richard, politician, was born in Roscarberry, Ireland, Nov. 24, 1844; son of Eyrecoote Croker; grand.son of Maj. Henry Croker, inspector-general in the British army; and grandnephew of Gen. John Croker, governor of Bermuda, and of Edward Croker, author of "Sweet Ballangar." The family came from Devonshire, England, and followed Cromwell to Ireland, where they settled in Limerick. They were originally Protestants, but became con- verts to the Roman Catholic faith. In 1848 his parents immigrated to the United States with their .seven children, Richard being the youngest. They landed in New York where Eyrecxjote Croker established him.self as a veterinary .sur- geon and in 1861 entered the Union army, enlist- ing in Sickles's excelsior brigade and receiving promotion to the rank of captain of engineers. Richard had attended the puldic schools and in 1858 had Ijeen placed by his father in the machine shops of the Harlem railroad company, where he learned the trade of machinist and worked for