Page:One of a thousand.djvu/162

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148 CRITTENDEN. CROCKER. of age was tendered a seat in the Senate, but declined the honor. He was actively interested in the estab- lishment of the New Bedford water works, and from 1865 to 1875 held the office of chairman of the board of water com- missioners. As bank president, as director in extensive manufacturing; corporations, and in other positions of trust and respon- sibility, he acquired the reputation of being a sound business man and an able financier. He has ever enjoyed the com- plete confidence and respect of his asso- ciates. He has been a diligent student of the history of the " Old Colony," and especially of the early settlement of Dartmouth, and has rendered valuable contributions to the historical literature of the State. But the reputation of Mr. Crapo in Mas- sachusetts and the country at large, rests pre-eminently upon his services in the national House of Representatives. He was elected to fill a vacancy in the 44th Congress, and was returned by three suc- cessive elections. In the 45th Congress he was a member of the committee on foreign affairs. In the 46th, he served on the committee on banking and currency, and was chairman of this important com- mittee in the next Congress. He introduced the bill to extend the charter of the national banks, and the passage of the bill was due in no small degree to his skill- ful and persistent efforts. Mr. Crapo is a champion of our fishing interests, and took strong ground recom- mending the abrogation of the fishing articles of the Treaty of Washington. His argumentative methods are direct and logical, and his clear and forcible presen- tation commands attention. It may justly be said of Mr. Crapo, that to what- ever position he has been called, he has always proved himself adequate to the occasion. He has much of that reserve power which does not manifest itself until wanted. Mr. Crapo was married in New Bedford, January 22, 1857, to Sarah T., daughter of George and Serena (Davis) Tappan. Of this union there are two children : Henry Howland and Stanford Tappan Crapo. CRITTENDEN, GEORGE DENNISON, the son of Simeon and Esther (Lathrop) Crittenden, was born in Hawley, Franklin county, August 30, 1827. The common schools of his native town supplied his early mental training, after which he attended Grove Seminary, Charle- mont. His business is, and has been from his first entrance into active business life, that of farming and lumbering. In 1883 he removed to Buckland. Here he has been called to serve the town re- peatedly in positions of trust — selectman, GEORGE D. CRITTENDEN. member of school board, assessor, etc. In 1867 he represented the 5th Franklin dis- trict in the House of Representatives. He was a member of the Franklin county board of county commissioners from 1869 to 1875. Mr. Crittenden was married in North Adams, September 8, 1S53, to Lucelia E., daughter of Samuel Dawes of Windsor. The children of this marriage are : Hat- tie E. (now Mrs. William McCloud of New Haven, Conn.), Cora E. (now Mrs. W. S. Ball, Shelburne Falls), Philena H. (now Mrs. Warren D. Foibes, Buckland), Alice G., Lottie R., Esther M., Viola E., Lillian G., and Lula D. Crittenden. CROCKER, CHARLES T., son of Alvah and Abigail (Fox) Crocker, was born in Fitchburg, Worcester county, March 2, 1833- After receiving a preliminary education in the public schools, he fitted for college and graduated at Brown University in the class of 1854. His father was the original pioneer and builder of the Fitchburg, the