BIO:  Luther Henry Croll, Gettysburg, Adams County, PA

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Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
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History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania
Chicago:  Warner, Beers & Co., 1886
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Part III, History of Adams County, Page 352

LUTHER HENRY CROLL, A.M., vice-president of, and professor of mathematics and 
astronomy in, Pennsylvania College, Gettysburg, is a native of Pennsylvania, 
born in Middletown August 8, 1834.  His parents, Abner and Rachel (Shelly) 
Croll, were natives of Dauphin County, Penn., and were of German extraction.  
Abner Croll in early life was a hatter, and followed mercantile pursuits in 
later years.  Luther H. is the youngest of four children.  He received his early 
schooling in his native town, subsequently attending the academy at Harrisburg.  
In 1850 he entered Pennsylvania College and five years later was graduated from 
the same, delivering the Latin salutatory of his class.  That year he commenced 
teaching in Allentown Seminary, and there remained until 1857.  He served as 
tutor in Pennsylvania College in 1857-58, when he became professor of 
mathematics in Illinois State University, located at Springfield, Ill., and as 
such served until 1861.  At the latter date, on the breaking out of the 
Rebellion, the school formed a militia company, of which he was chosen captain.  
The excitement attending those times carried away most of the college boys, who 
went off to the war, many of whom afterward became commissioned officers, one 
rising to the rank of a brigadier-general and another to the rank of colonel.  
The latter was killed, and was thought to have been the youngest colonel in the 
Union Army.  From 1861 to 1862 Prof. Croll was principal of the academy at 
Middletown, Penn., and from 1863 to 1866 he occupied a similar position in a 
classical institute at Indianapolis, Ind.  During the period he was a member of 
the United States Christian Commission, of which Gen. James A. Ekin was 
president.  From 1866 to 1874 he was professor of mathematics and astronomy in 
Pennsylvania College, and of mathematics in the same institution from 1874 until 
1880, and since 1873 has been vice-president of that college.  August 27, 1866, 
Prof. Croll was married to Miss Jennie C., daughter of Rev. J. J. Smyth, of 
Shelbyville, Ind., of Scotch-Irish descent, and to this union have been born 
James S., Morris W., F. Roy and Elsie L.