CROSTER, William H., b 1825; 1905 Bio, Delta County, Colorado http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/delta/bios/crosterwh.txt --------------------------------------- Donated September 21, 2001 Transcribed by Judy Crook from the book: Progressive Men of Western Colorado Published 1905, A.W. Bowen & Co., Chicago, Ill. --------------------------------------- William H. Crotser To the mind at peace with itself there is, even on this side of the grave, a haven where the storms of life break not, or are felt but in gentle undulations of the mirroring waters. This haven is a serene and hale old age. He who enjoys it has run his race of toil, or trade, or ambition. His day's work is accomplished and he has come home to rest, tranquil and unharassed, in the splendor of the sunset, the milder glories of late evening. So finds William H. Crotser, of Delta, who at the close of a long, active and useful career in business, is now living retired from active pursuits, secure from what in a worldly way, and firmly established in the esteem and good will of his fellow men as one of the patriarchs of the town, whose services are memorialized in enduring praise in the prosperity and progressiveness of the community he helped materially to build up, and the evidences of industrial, commercial and moral strength with which it is blessed. Mr. Crotser was born at Mifflinburg, Union county, Pennsylvania, on October 2, 1825. His parents, John and Elizabeth (Davidson) Crotser, were also natives of Pennsylvania, and in that great hive of productive industry they passed the whole of their lives, the father dying in 1833 and the mother a short time before. They had a family of twelve children, but two of whom are living, William and his younger brother Jacob, who is still a resident of his native state. William was left an orphan at the age of eight years, and three months after the death of his father he was bound out to service on a farm until he should reach the age of sixteen. At that age he was apprenticed to a carriage-maker with whom he remained four years. After completing his apprenticeship he worked at his trade in Pittsburg for a time and then in Ohio. At length he engaged in business at Fort Wayne, Indiana, two years, then returned to Pennsylvania and located at Lockhaven, where he again worked at his trade for a year. From there he moved to Salona, the same state, where he was married. In the fall of 1855 he moved to Newton, Jasper county, Iowa, and after being employed at his trade one year there, changed his residence to Fort Scott, Kansas, where he built the first house outside of the fort, erecting it for another man. He was among the first settlers in the neighborhood, and there he met Governor Crawford, whom he had known in Pennsylvania and who came to the fort soon after he did. When the Civil war began Mr. Crotser returned to Iowa, and before the memorable contest was ended he became a member and second lieutenant of Company M, Ninth Iowa Cavalry, in the Union army, but he was assigned to recruiting service most of the time during his term of enlistment. After the war he was at the head of a prosperous hardware trade at Harrisonville, Missouri, for eight years. In 1872 he sold out there and moved to Kansas City, where he carried on a similar business until 1875. He then came to Colorado, and after spending a short time at Pueblo, went to Ouray where he engaged in prospecting and mining without success. There were only about twenty cabins in the town at that time, 1876, and he was among the pioneers of the place. Six years of time and labor were fruitlessly devoted to prospecting and mining, and in the winter of 1881-2 he moved to Delta. The outlook did not seem promising to him and he was about to leave, when he again met Governor Crawford who persuaded him to remain as the town was just starting and in his opinion had a good future. In the spring of 1882 he built the first house on Palmer street, which was one of the first in town, and soon afterward started a small hardware store, the first in the town. He had lost all he possessed in his mining ventures and was obliged to make a fresh beginning just as if he had never had anything. He continued his hardware business until 1900 and attained to a substantial prosperity, acquiring considerable real estate of value in the town and also very desirable ranch property in the Gunnison valley adjoining the townsite. In 1900 he sold his hardware business and since then he has lived retired from active pursuits in the town, enjoying the fruits of his labors. He is a stanch Democrat in political faith and a member of the Masonic order, one of the charter members of the lodge at Delta and the chapter at Montrose. On September 5, 1847, he was married to Miss Mary Tate, a native of Cedar Springs, Pennsylvania, daughter of Robert and Barbara (Gast) Tate, who were also born in that state and passed their lives there. Mr. and Mrs. Crotser have one child, Minnie. =================================================== Contributed for use by the USGenWeb Archive Project (http://www.usgenweb.org) and by the COGenWeb Archive Project USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. 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