Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Croxen, William 
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Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 February 7, 2008, 12:33 am

Author: Past and Present Will County IL; 1907

WILLIAM CROXEN. Among the old-time settlers of Will county who in recent years 
have passed away but have left behind a memory that is cherished by those who 
knew them, was William Croxen, who was born in Northamptonshire, England, 
February 16, 1820, and died December 26, 1905. He was a son of Benjamin 
Croxen, a farmer by occupation, and in his native land he spent the first 
twenty-nine years of his life, coming to the United States in 1849. He lived 
for a year in the state of New York, working on a farm there, after which he 
removed to Will county, Illinois, settling in Plainfield. There is engaged in 
teaming and was also employed at farm labor for a number of years, 
subsequently coming to Peotone township, where he took up his abode upon a 
farm which he had purchased and which was situated on section 30. He there had 
one hundred and sixty acres of land and eighty acres on section 32. Upon this 
farm he lived and thrived to the end of his days, carefully conducting his 
business interests so that success resulted, making him a substantial 
agriculturist of the community. Mr. Croxen was married to Nancy Donaldson, and 
unto them were born two children, Hannah M. and John J. For his second wife 
Mr. Croxen chose Matilda Allers, who was born in Nottinghamshire, England, 
July 8, 1838, a daughter of William and Maria Allers, who came to the United 
States in 1850, spending two years in Chicago and one year in Plainfield, 
Illinois, after which they removed to Lockport, where they lived for seven 
years. Mr. Allers was a carpenter and joiner by trade and engaged in boat 
building. While at Lockport he worked at his trade on canal boats. After seven 
years there passed he removed to Kankakee county, where he resided on a farm 
for about twenty years, making it his home until his death, which occurred in 
March, 1876, when he was eighty-five years of age. He was a well-to-do man, 
having prospered in his undertakings as the years passed by. He belonged to 
the Episcopal church, was a republican in politics and held a number of local 
offices. For a time Mrs. Croxen kept the toll-gate on the road between 
Wilmington and Joliet. By his second marriage Mr. Croxen had one child, 
Elizabeth, now the wife of E. J. Crawford, who resides opposite her mother's 
home. Mrs. Croxen's first husband was Arthur Croxen, a brother of William. 
There were five children of that marriage: Benjamin, who is with L. M. Arnold 
in Peotone; Esther, the wife of John Paulis, of Peotone township; Sarah, 
deceased; George, who is operating the home place; and Henry, who is in 
Chicago with the Sears-Roebuck Company. In his political views William Croxen 
was a republican and served as school director but was never active in 
politics as an office seeker. He held membership in the Episcopal church, of 
which Mrs. Croxen is also a communicant, and in the locality where he resided 
he had a wide and favorable acquaintance. His was a long and useful life, 
covering a period of eighty-five years and his name is now associated with the 
memory of an upright career, characterized by worthy and honorable principles 
and conduct. 

Additional Comments:
PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS By W. W. Stevens President of the 
Will County Pioneers Association; Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1907

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