Weld County, History of Colorado, BIOS: CROFT, Alfred C. (published 1918)
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"History of Colorado", edited by Wilbur Fisk Stone, published by The S. J. 
Clarke Publishing Co. (1918)  Vol. II

p. 162-163



ALFRED C. CROFT.

	Among the respected and valued citizens of Weld county is Alfred 
C. Croft, who has now attained the age of eighty years. He is an 
honored veteran of the Civil war, has been identified with the banking 
business at various points and has been actively engaged in farming in 
Weld county for a long period. He was born in Greenwich, Massachusetts, 
March 8, 1838, and is a son of Nathan and Adeline (Grant) Croft. 
Throughout his entire life the father followed farming, being at 
different times identified with agricultural pursuits in Massachusetts, 
Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin, and in connection with the tilling of 
the soil he engaged in raising live stock. His wife was an interested 
and active member of the Methodist church.

	Alfred C. Croft, whose name introduces this review, pursued his 
education in the public and high schools of Greenwich, Massachusetts, 
and was graduated in December, 1854. The father removed with the family 
to Wisconsin and Alfred C. Croft took up business there as a farmer, 
continuing in the active work of the fields until July, 1861, when in 
response to the country's call for troops to preserve the Union he 
enlisted at Stoughton, Wisconsin, as a member of the Seventh Wisconsin 
Volunteer Infantry. He joined the army as a private but was made a non-
commissioned officer, being appointed sergeant of his company, and 
finally he rose to the rank of captain. In the battle of South Mountain 
in Maryland he was wounded, losing the lower part of his left leg. He 
was carried to a hospital and there remained from the 16th of 
September, 1862, until the 21st of December, when by reason of his 
injuries he was honorably discharged. He had participated in a number 
of hotly contested engagements, including the battle of Gainesville and 
the second battle of Bull Run, where his command lost in that 
engagement forty-five men in killed and wounded. After being 
incapacitated for duty Mr. Croft was honorably discharged and returned 
to his Wisconsin home, where he remained until March, 1863, when he 
entered a commercial college in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in order to 
qualify for the business world. He was graduated from that institution 
in November, 1863, after which he entered a large mercantile house in 
the capacity of bookkeeper and office manager, there remaining tor a 
year and a half or until July. 1865, when he entered upon railroad work 
at North McGregor, Iowa. After four months, on account of the illness 
of his wife, he was forced to resign his position there in October, 
1865, and for several months was out of business. In 1866 he received 
the appointment of postmaster at Stoughton. Wisconsin, and acceptably 
served in that position for eight years, after which he resigned and 
removed to southwest Minnesota, where he engaged in newspaper work as 
owner, editor and publisher of the Rock County Herald. This undertaking 
proved a success and he continued to publish the paper for six years, 
at the end of which time he sold out in 1881 to A. L. Stoughton, who 
had formerly been foreman in the office. Mr. Croft was then out of 
business for a year and on the expiration of that period entered the 
service of the Rock County Bank at Luverne, Minnesota. He first held 
the position of head bookkeeper but was advanced to that of assistant 
cashier and remained with the bank for two years, at the end of which 
time his health gave way and he was not active in business through the 
succeeding five years. He again entered the bank as assistant cashier 
and there continued until 1901. During this time he left the bank, 
however, for one year and organized the First National Bank at Hills, 
Minnesota, of which he became the president and so continued until 
1903, placing the business of the bank upon a substantial basis. He 
then determined to follow Horace Greeley's advice and go west. In 
September, 1902, therefore, he arrived in Greeley, Colorado, where he 
has since remained. He has a ranch of one hundred and sixty acres ten 
miles from Greeley and east of Gilcrest. On this he maintains a small 
herd of high grade Jersey cows., His agricultural and stock raising 
interests are wisely, successfully and carefully conducted and show him 
to be a man of marked business enterprise.

	In Armenia, Juneau county, Wisconsin, on the 14th of September, 
1864, Mr. Croft was united in marriage to Miss Anna Hofstater, a 
daughter of James and Susan E. Hofstater. The father was a farmer and 
died during the period of the Civil war in June, 1863. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Croft have been born three children. Edward O. died in St. Paul in 1913 
of cancer of the stomach. He was born in July, 1865, and passed away 
February 7, 1913, his remains being interred at Luverne, Minnesota. He 
had married Miss Ida M. Strever, a daughter of Hiram Strever, St. Paul, 
Minnesota, and a Civil war veteran. Edward was a painter and decorator 
and had two children, of whom Luverne died at the age of four years, 
while Geraldlne, eighteen years of age, is a high school pupil and is 
fitting herself for teaching languages. Harry N., born in 1878, is on 
the ranch at Gilcrest. Alfred C., born in 1884, is an artillery officer 
now in France. He was an instructor of field artillery and greatly 
Interested in military service. He was anxious to go to West Point but 
owing to unforeseen circumstances could not carry out this plan. In 
private life he is an expert accountant and civil engineer and he has 
sacrificed most willingly a business career to go to foreign lands to 
serve his country in her hour of need.

	In his political views Mr. Croft has long been a stalwart 
advocate of democratic principles. His wife is a member of the Baptist 
church. They are highly esteemed in Weld county, having made many warm 
friends during the period of their residence in Colorado. The career of 
Mr. Croft has been one of usefulness and honor and in various 
localities he has contributed to the world's work along the line of 
progress and improvement in business affairs as well as in progressive 
citizenship. He has ever been as true and loyal to his country and her 
needs as he was in her hour of peril when he followed the nation's 
starry banner on the battlefields of the south.