California Biographies Transcribed by Peggy Hooper This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm Source: History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from its earliest settlement to the present time. Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M. The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905 Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176 WILLIAM BIGLER CROOP, county clerk of Merced county, is a member of an eastern family that became established in New Jersey and Pennsylvania prior to the Revolutionary war. Originally its representatives in this country were known by the name of Grube and the present form was not adopted until early in the nineteenth century. Peter S., who was born at Easton, Pa., in 1801, engaged in the transportation business on the Susquehanna river and superintended the construction of a portion of the Susquehanna canal. For years he made his home near Tunkhannock, Wyoming county, where he cleared and improved a tract of unde- veloped land and served as township supervisor. An old-school Democrat, his political opinions were pronounced and supported by his vote. Though he lived to be past eighty-eight years of age (his death occurring in 1889), he was hale and robust to the last, retaining full possession of his physical and mental faculties. In early manhood he married Julia Sleagle, who was born south of Wilkesbarre, near Nanticoke, Luzerne county, and was a daughter of Adam Sleagle, a native of the same county, descended from an old established family of Pennsylvania. Included in the estate of the Sleagle family was a large farm which proved to be underlaid with a rich vein of coal. Mrs. Croop was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and lived in accord- ance with its precepts, dying in that faith in 1888, when seventy-three years of age. Of her twelve children all but four are still living, but only three make their home in California, viz.: Zachariah T., an orchardist in Santa Clara county: Mrs. M. K. Taylor, whose home is near Newman ; and William Bigler, of Merced. Another member of the family, Stephen D., came to the coast, and died in Merced county. One brother, Cyrus W., now a resident of Allegany, N. Y., was a soldier in the Civil war, and served with a regiment from Pennsylvania. The seventh in order of birth among the twelve children, William Bigler Croop was born near Tunkhannock, Pa., January 12, 1852, and grew to manhood on the home farm. Until twelve years of age he attended a subscription school near his home, and then was a pupil in a select school at Factoryville for several successive winters, after which he studied one winter in Rushford (N. Y.) Academy, and two years in Wyoming Seminary at Kingston. At eighteen years of age he was given a teacher's certificate and began to teach, following the occupation during the winters in Wyoming and Luzerne counties, and in the summer months working on his father's farm. In June, 1877, he came to California, and after a short stay in San Fran- cisco, proceeded to San Joaquin county. As an assistant in threshing he was employed on Union Island from the 1st of July until October, when he came to Merced, passed the teacher's exam- ination, and secured a school near Snelling. The following year he began the raising of grain twelve miles west of Merced, but two successive failures of crops obliged him to leave the farm; he then clerked in a store at Merced. During the winter of 1 880-8 r he taught school in Lane county, Ore., and on his return to Merced the spring following he resumed his position in the store. His next work was that of traveling agent for the Southern Pacific land department, in which capacity he engaged in the sale of lands in the San Joaquin and Sacramento val- leys. During 1883 he was employed in the bridge and construction department of the North- ern Pacific Railroad in Montana and Idaho, returning in 1884 to Merced and from here going back to Pennsylvania, where he remained for six months. The fall of 1884 found him again in Merced, where he engaged in farming for a year. The four following years were spent in the east, and during two years of the time he engaged in the mercantile business with his brother, C. W., at Rushford, N. Y. While making his home at Rushford, September 1, 1886, Mr. Croop married Miss Grace M. Beecher, a native of Williamsport, Pa., and a member of the family whose most distinguished representative was Henry Ward Beecher. Remotely of English origin, the Beechers became established in America at an early day, and were pioneers in Allegany county, N. Y. On her mother's side she traced her lineage to the Gordons of Scotland. During girlhood she received excellent advantages in Rushford Academy and prior to her marriage followed the profession of teacher. Two children have been born of their union, Ada Adele, born in 1887, and Cyrus William, born in 1890. A few years after his marriage Mr. Croop disposed of his interests in the east and returned to California, where he spent two years in the bridge and construction department of the South- ern Pacific Railroad. From 1891 until 1898 he engaged in teaching in the vicinity of Merced, giving up the work in order to enter upon his duties as county clerk, to which office he was first elected in 1898, on the Democratic ticket, by a majority of two hundred and fifty. At the ex- piration of his first term he was re-nominated by the Democrats without opposition, nor did the Republicans present any candidate for the office, it being the universal feeling among repre- sentatives of both parties that his service had been so successful and efficient, due recognition should be made thereof by his re-election. The fact that he was re-elected without any opposi- tion, receiving the largest vote on the ticket, testifies as to the great appreciation of his worth and ability as a public official. His entire attention is given to the duties of the position, in- cluding, in addition to the work of county clerk, that of superior court clerk, and clerk to the board of supervisors. He and his family have a pleasant home on Nineteenth street, where he built the house they occupy. In 1874 he was made a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in Pennsylvania, and now is connected with Merced Lodge No. 208, in which he is past officer, also from 1900 to 1902 serving as district deputy grand master. In the En- campment he is past chief patriarch, and also has been a prominent officer in the Woodmen of the' World. Movements for the benefit of his home town, among them the Merced Improve- ment Club, receive his hearty support and cooperation, and he is deservedly numbered among the public-spirited citizens of the place.