Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 03.djvu/65

 CROLY

CRO:\[PTON

seven years. He joined the New York volunteer fire department after his apprenticeship was «nded, and also became interested in local jDoli- tics. In 1865 he joined the Tammany Hall or- ganization and became a friend of John Kelly, who was at that time its political leader. In 1868 he was elected alderman of his ward and was again elected in 1870. In the board of aldermen he o^sposed the then powerful Tweed ring, and on being re-elected alderman in 1872 he was legislated out of office by that organization. He was then appointed by Mayor Havermeyer city marshal to collect the arrears of taxes, and after completing that service in four months, in which time he collected over §500,000, he re- signed. In 1873 he was elected city coroner, was re-elected in 1876, and in the election of 1879 was defeated. He was again elected alderman in 1883, but before he had taken his seat Mayor l^dson appointed him to the office of fire commis- sioner. When Abram S. Hewitt became mayor in 1887, Mr. Croker was reappointed fire commis- sioner. On the last illness of Jolm Kelly he became deputy leader of the Tammany Hall ■organization and on Mr. Kelly's death in 1886, he succeeded to the leadership, and in a service extending over a period of thirteen years proved himself the most powerful politician and most thorough organizer that had ever directed the affairs of Tammany Hall. In 1889 he gained a signal victory over a combined opposition by electing Hugh J. Grant mayor of New York city, and Mayor Grant subsequently made Mr. Croker city chamberlain. In 1893 he achieved another victory for Tammany Hall by electing Thomas ~F. Gilroy, a member of the organization, mayor, and in 1897 recorded his third and greatest vic- tory when he elected Robert A. Van Wyck, also a member of the Tammany Hall organisation, the first mayor of New York city under the charter popularly known as that of greater New York. -Mr. Croker was married in 1873 to Elizabeth Fraser, and of their seven children six were living in 1899: Richard Samuel, Francis Henry, Herbert, Florence, Ethel and Howard. Richard and Francis were graduated at Brown univer- sity in 1898, Herbert at Princeton university, and Florence and Ethel at Sacred Heart con- vent, New York city.

CROLY, David Goodman, journalist, was born in Olovakilitey, Ireland, Nov. 3, 1829; son of Patrick and Elizabeth Croly. He was brought to America in 1830 by his parents, who located in New York city, where the boy attended tlie public schools and the University of the city of New York, entering with the class of 1854 and receiving a special course diploma. He engaged in journalism in New York city as reporter on the Herald and Evening Post, 1855-58, and then

went to Rockford, 111., where he edited the Daily Nei'js, 1859-60. Returning to New York he was city editor and managing editor of the Worhl, 1860-72, and managing editor of the Daily Graphic, 1872-78, retiring in 1878 from office work. He founded the " Round Table *■ and the Lotus club, and was an officer and member of both. He was married in 1857 to Jane, known by her pen name " Jennie June," daughter of Joseph H. Cunningham, and their children were: David H., Vida, Alice Gary, Victor and May. j\lr. Croly gained notoriety as a financial seer by predicting in 1872 the financial crisis of 1873 and naming Jay Cooke & Co. as the first victim, and the Northern Pacific railroad as tlie first corporation to suffer in the crisis. His published works in- clude: Seymour and Blair (1868) ; Histonj of Becon- strnction (1868); and Primer of Positivism (1876). He died in New York city, April 29, 1889.

CROLY, Jane Cunningham, author, was born at Market, Harborough, England, Dec. 19, 1831; daughter of Joseph H. Cunningham. She was educated at Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and in 1857 was married to David Goodman Croly, then city editor of the Herald. She was editor of Demo- rest's publications from the start, and did edi- torial work on -the World, Graphic, Times, and Times Messemjer. She invented the system of duplicate correspondence; brought together the first Woman's congress. New York, 1856 ; founded " Sorosis" and was its president, 1869-70, 1876-86, and in 1886 was made honorary president for life. She held office in the Association for the advancement of medical education for women and became editor of Godeifs Ladies' Book in 1887. In 1889 she founded and became president of the New York Women's press club. She succeeded Mrs. Terhune (" Marion Harland "") as editor of the Home-maker in 1890, and subsequently founded and became editor of the Ctjcle, a club organ and literary review. On Dee. 13, 1897, she was ap- pointed by Mayor Strong an inspector of public schools of New York citj' for a term of five years. She received the degree of Litt. D. from Rutgers Women's college in 1892. Slie Avrote under the pen name ' ' Jenny June ' ' : Talks on Women's Topics (1869) ; For Better or Worse (1875) ; Cookery-book for Yoking Housekeepers; Letters and Monograms (1885-86) ; Tliroion on Her Oicn Re- sources (\S9l); manuals of needlework, etc. She died in New York city, Dec. 23, 1901.

CROMPTON, George, inventor, was born in Holcombe, Tottington, Lancaster, England, March 23, 1829 ; son of William and Sarah (Low) Crompton. His father was the inventor of an improved cotton loom, adapted to weaving woolen. He came to America with his father's family in 1839 and after receiving a good educa- tion succeeded to his father's business of manu-