BIO: William H. CROOK, Dauphin County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter

Copyright 2006.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/dauphin/
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/dauphin/runk/runk-bios.htm
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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, 
Containing Sketches of Representative Citizens, and Many of the 
Early Scotch-Irish and German Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: 
J. M. Runk & Company, 1896, page 317.
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  CROOK, CAPT. WILLIAM H., was born at Clark's Ferry, Dauphin county, 
Pa., February 29, 1844.  He is a son of Gabriel and Catherine (Dale) 
Crook.  His grandfather, William Crook, was born in Cumberland county, 
Pa., and was one of the prominent farmers of that county.  He was the 
son of James Crook, a native of England, who was the first of the 
family to settle in this country.
  Gabriel Crook, Captain Crook's father, was born in Mechanicsburg, 
Cumberland county, and came to Dauphin county in 1842.  He located on 
the Pennsylvania canal, in Reed township, and was lock tender at 
Clark's Ferry until the breaking out of the war.  He enlisted in 
company C, One Hundred and Thirty-sixth regiment, Pennsylvania 
volunteers, for nine months; at the expiration of that term he re-
enlisted in the Fourth regiment, United States regulars.  He lost an 
arm at North Ann river, immediately after the battle of the Wilderness; 
this was the ground of his honorable discharge from the service.  He 
had been a soldier in the Florida war and the Mexican war also, and 
died at Steelton, Pa., December 29, 1892.  He was a member of the G. A. 
R., and of the United Brethren church.  His wife died in 1876.  They 
had six children:  William H., Samuel A., of Rockaway, N. J., served 
one year in company H, Thirty-third regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers; 
David R., deceased, enlisted in the Forty-seventh regiment, 
Pennsylvania volunteers, was transferred to the Twenty-seventh 
regiment, and was ordered on the staff of General Miles; Wesley, of 
Harrisburg; Hannah (Mrs. William Lepley), of Lewisburg, Pa., and 
Margaret Ethel.
  Capt. William H. Crook was brought up in Reed township, and educated 
in the township schools, and was also at school six months at 
Mechanicsburg, Pa.  On August 27, 1861, he enlisted in company C, 
Seventy-seventh regiment, Pennsylvania volunteers, as a private, and 
served three years.  He was wounded at the battle of Camp Nevin, Ky.  
He re-enlisted in company K, Two Hundred and Third regiment, 
Pennsylvania volunteers, and was commissioned captain of his company.  
He was finally discharged, August 29, 1865.  He participated in the 
battles at Mill Springs, Ky., Shiloh, Chickamauga, Deep Bottom, Va., 
Bentonville, N. C., and many other important engagements.  He was 
wounded while on picket duty at the New Market Road, Va., and again at 
Folsom's Station, Va.  He was confined in the David Island Hospital.  
After the war closed he engaged in contract work in Harrisburg.  He 
helped to build the Phoenixville and West Chester railroad, the 
Schuylkill Valley railroad, and the Baltimore and Ohio railroad through 
Delaware.  He has also been engaged in the sand business for a number 
of years.
  He is a Republican, and was elected supervisor of the Fourth, Fifth, 
Sixth, Seventh and Eighth wards in 1889, and has filled that position 
ever since, with the exception of one year.  He was re-elected in 1896.  
He is a member of Post No. 58, G. A. R., and was appointed on the staff 
of General Adams, commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic 
in 1894, which gave him the rank of post commander.  In 1895 he was 
delegate to the State convention of the G. A. R., in Williamsport, Pa., 
and was elected by the State convention a delegate to the National 
convention, held in Louisville, Ky., September, 1895.  Captain Crook is 
a member of the Mt. Vernon Hook and Ladder Company, and the Firemen's 
Beneficial Association of Harrisburg.  He was married, in 1890, to Miss 
Mary E., daughter of Levi Whippo, of Huntingdon county, Pa.  The family 
are members of the Bethel Lutheran church.