The Croft Families of Clark County, Ohio

GEORGE CROFT (deceased). Few men were better known in the early settlement of Bethel Township than the old pioneer whose name heads this biography. He was born in York Co., Penn., in November, 1771, and his parents, Jacob Croft and wife, were natives of Germany, who settled in the American Colonies, and who espoused the patriot cause in the Revolutionary war; Jacob fighting throughout that struggle against English tyranny. They raised a large family, George being one of the number, and all were reared to farm life. Ata matured age, George went to Virginia, where he married Mary Critz, Nov. 18, 1799, she being a native of Botetourt County, born in November, 1779. In 1804, he, wife and two children came to Bethel Township, Clark Co., Ohio, and settled in Sec. 8, on the hill where Martin Snyder now lives. Building a log cabin in the dense forest, he bravely went to work to make a home and competence for his family; and how be succeeded is well known over the county, owning as he did, at the time of his death, over 800 acres of fine land, all the legitimate result of the constant, unceasing toil of himself and family. To George and Mary Croft were born the following children: John, George (deceased), Elizabeth (the deceased wife of Peter Minnich), Jacob, Michael (deceased), Mary Ann (the widow of James Leffel, the noted inventor), Frederick, David and Henry, the latter also a well-known inventor. His wife died Feb. 7, 1846, and he was again married, to a Mrs. Wyland, but enjoyed that companionship only a short time, when death called him from the scenes of his earthly labors, Oct. 16, 1855, in his 85th year; and he and wife now sleep side by side in the beautiful cemetery of Fern Cliff, a handsome monument making their last resting place, put there by an affectionate family, who still fondly cherish their memory. He was a member of the Lutheran Church, and was the main instrument in the building and support of the “Croft Church,” which has since been moved to Donnelsville. Politically, he was a Democrat, and few men were better neighbors than this sturdy old Pennsylvanian, who was many, honest, kind and obliging in all things, and his well-known expression of “ I say so," convinced the listener that what he said was true, as well as marked him as a man of integrity, courage and determination.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

FREDERICK CROFT, retired farmer; P. O. Donnelsville. This gentleman is a member of one of Clark County's representative pioneer families, and is the son of George and Mary (Critz) Croft, he a native of Pennsylvania, and she of Virginia Frederick was born in Bethel Township, Nov. 25, 1815, and grew to manhood in the pioneer days, when schools and such evidences of civilization were scarce; therefore his. education was limited to what he could obtain in a few terms in the rough log schoolhouse of those early days. He assisted his father on the farm and at the mill, faithfully doing his share toward the accumulation of the family estate. On the 24th of February, 1841, he was married to Sophia Kindsmore Smith, who was born in Adams Co., Penn., Feb. 16, 1824, and when a child, came with her parents to Clark County. Here she matured, and has had born to her five children, two married—George (deceased); Clara, now Mrs. Thomas Minnich, of Montgomery Co., Ohio.; Abraham, cultivating the old farm; William, still at home; and one died in infancy. Soon after the marriage of our subject, he embarked in farming for himself, on his father's farm, of which he afterward became part owner; there he judiciously labored until 1870, when he purchased his present lot of ten acres, on the “ Dayton and Mad River Valley Pike," where a fine dwelling decorated the same, in which he lives comfortable and happy, with a wife who is the light of the family, and a kind mother to her children. She is à daughter of Abraham C. and Elizabeth (Dill) Smith, who were natives of Pennsylvania; he was born in Adams County, Dec. 25, 1795; there grew to majority, and was educated in the Pennsylvania College, after which he took a course of medicine, but never entered upon the profession as practitioner. He was an active and valuable counselor at law, to which much of his time was given. He was married in Pennsyl-

vania, and in 1834 he and family located in Clark County; but in 1837 removed to near Camden, Jay Co., Ind. In 1835, he united with the Presbyterian Church, at Carlisle, Ohio, and by his Christian walk in after years gave good evidence that he was a humble followed of Christ. He was a man of integrity of character, upright and honest in all his dealings; and one who possessed the confidence, to the fullest extent, of his fellow-citizens. The people of Jay County elected him two successive terms to the office of Associate Judge of the county, the duties of which he filled with faithfulness and ability. On the morning of his death, when asked by a near member of the family “ What his prospects were in view of death?” and he cheerfully replied: “ I am willing to go wherever the Lord calls me.” His death occurred Nov. 18, 1863, having attained to nearly his threescore and ten years. He left an aged widow and many warm friends. His wife was born in York Co., Penn., in 1792; she was a faithful companion and worker in the church of her husband; she was the mother of twelve children, of whom nine are now living; Mrs. Croft being the sixth in number, and of Swiss descent on the father's side, and of English on the material side.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOHN B. CROFT, farmer; P. O. Springfield; born on the farm where he now resides, May 19, 1842; is a son of John and Margaret (Leffel) Croft, natives of Virginia, but came to Ohio with their parents about 1804, he being then about 3 years of age; was raised in Bethel Township, and followed the milling and distilling business. Was married there and followed his tradé about eleven years; thence bought the place where he now resides; there carried on his former business, milling and distilling, until the war of the rebellion, when he closed up the latter business, but continued the milling till about five years ago, when, from his advanced age, he retired from active business. Mr. Croft was one of the early pioneers, and experienced a full share of the hardships, and ups and down of pioneer life. Industrious and prompt in all his business relations, and ever maintaining an undoubted integrity of character. Of seven daughters and three sons, six now survive—David, Catharine, John B., Jane, Paulina and Laura B. Our subject always remained with his father. Was married, April 27, 1880, to Miss Sarah, daughter of Aaron Rockafield, a native of Virginia. During the war of the rebellion, on Aug. 16, 1862, Mr. Croft enlisted in the 17th Ohio Battery, and served through the war in the Army of the Mississippi. Was in the conflicts of Vicksburg and Port Gibson, and most of the conflicts of the Mississippi Valley, having in all been in seventy-two days of active, hard fighting, but escaped without a wound, and at the close of the war received an honorable discharge and returned safely to home and friends. Mr. Croft is held in high esteem in his community, having the general confidence of the people. Has held the office of Township Trustee for the last three ears.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.