My Genealogy Hound

Richard Holcroft, farmer, was born April 13, 1835, in New Castle County, Del., and is a son of Thomas and Margeret (Beaston) Holcroft. The father came to the United States from England when about five, and learning the cotton-spinner’s trade in Philadelphia, followed that all his life, managing a number of cotton factories. He is now living in Chester, Penn., aged seventy-six, and enjoying good health. The mother was born in Delaware of Swedish parents, and there grew to maturity and married. She was the mother of eight children, five of whom still live: Richard, John, William, Mary A. and Sarah. Those deceased are George, Alfred and Edward. The mother died in Chester, Penn., in 1869. Our subject passed the principal part of his youth in Philadelphia, Penn., receiving a good education and learning the blacksmith and machinist’s trade, which he followed until two years ago. After leaving home, when sixteen, he served an apprenticeship of five years, and then worked as a journeyman in Toronto, Canada, two years. He then spent one year in Philadelphia, and October 4, 1856, enlisted in the United States army, going to Florida to quell the Seminole Indians. In 1857 he went to Kansas, and then crossed the plains to assist in settling the difficulty with the Mormons. Upon the outbreaking of the Rebellion he was ordered from Fort Randall, Neb., to Virginia, arriving there the day John Brown was hung. He served as United States artillery sergeant, and after his discharge re-enlisted as sergeant of ordnance, and served for three years, being engaged in but a few minor battles with the Indians. He next worked for the Government two years in the ammunition department, and some time later ran the engine in the Public Ledger paper-mills of George W. Childs for five years. After running an engine in Philadelphia thirteen years he engaged in the queensware business three years, and then bought eighty acres of land in Crawford County, Ark., which he now owns, and forty of which he has cultivated. October 10, 1861, he married Jane Stewart, a native of London, Canada, but a resident of New York City at the time of her marriage. Seven of their ten children are living: Ida, William, Sarah, Edward, Eliza, Samuel and Mattie. John, Charles and an infant are deceased. Mrs. Holcroft is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. H. is a member of the K. of P., I. O. O. F., U. A. M. and G. A. R. In politics he is a Democrat.