My Genealogy Hound

HENRY CROFT, a life-long resident of Clark County and a son of one of its pioneers, has for many years made his home in Springfield, and is classed among its most estimable, intelligent and substantial citizens. Although he has been connected with the agricultural interests of this part of Ohio and has been a factor in advancing its development in that direction, yet he is better and more widely known as a successful inventor. He was born in Bethel Township, November 13, 1820, a son of George Croft, one of its early settlers, who was born in the town of York. York County, Pa., November 25, 1771. His father, Frederick Croft, was a native of Wittenberg, Germany. He came to America in Colonial times, and cast his lot with the settlers of York, Pa., where he purchased a brewery and operated it for some time. He was loyal to the cause of the Colonists and did good service throughout the seven years of the Revolution. He passed his last years in York. His wife was also a native of Germany, and spent her last years in this country.

In early manhood the father of our subject went to Virginia, and was there employed in operating a flour mill in Botetourt County. In 1799 he was there married to Mary Critz, who was born in that State of German parents. In 1804 he emigrated to Ohio with his family, making the journey in a wagon drawn by a pair of horses, and taking provisions along and cooking and camping by the way. Ohio, a new State, was then scarcely more than a wilderness, with dense primeval forests and uncultivated prairies, and deer, bears, wolves and other kinds of wild animals were plentiful, and Indians still made their home here. Clark County then formed a part of Champaign County, and he became one of the early settlers of that portion of it now known as Bethel Township, where he bought a tract of timber land on the banks of Mad River, and at once built a log house. He had brought no furniture from his old home, and all the tables, chairs, bedsteads, etc., in the new one were of his own handiwork. He actively entered upon the hard pioneer task of clearing his land for cultivation, and in 1816 erected a wing to a brick house, which is still standing. He resided there until after the death of his wife early in 1846, and then removed to Donnellsville, where he rounded out a good and true life in 1855, at the venerable age of eighty-five years. He was one of the first Masons in the county, having joined that organization when a young man, and he was also prominent in the early religious life of the county, being one of the first Lutherans to settle within its limits, and he was instrumental in organizing a society of that denomination here, and in 1842 built a church for its use on his farm. As one of the earliest pioneers of Clark County, and as an important factor in promoting its religious, social, and agricultural interests, his memory should always be revered. He was the father of nine children, seven sons and two daughters.

The son who forms the subject of this sketch was bred to agricultural pursuits in his native township, and he has a clear remembrance of pioneer life here when he was a boy. His mother used to cook delicious meals before the open fire in the rude old fireplace, and with deft fingers carded, spun and wove wool or manufactured linen for all the clothes used in the family for many years. His father farmed with rude, simple farming implements, harvesting his wheat with the sickle until the cradle came into use, which he laid aside after the invention of the threshing machine, he having the first one that was worked by horse power in 1828 in the State, and our subject owned the first reaping-machine. It is within his remembrance that the greater part of the county has been developed, and even when he settled in this city, a little more than twenty-one years ago, there was but little improvement on that part of West Main Street where he now resides. There were no railways here for some years after his birth, and Dayton was the nearest market. He was born before the introduction of the free school system into his native county, and the schools were kept up on the subscription plan, and were conducted in rude log buildings, and one of the first teachers that our subject can remember was a man named Oiler. As a farmer’s son, our subject had to assist in the labors of tilling the soil as soon as large enough, and he remained with his parents until he married and established a home of his own. He continued to live on the old homestead until 1859. He rebuilt and altered the dwelling that stood thereon, and otherwise greatly improved the farm and increased its value. In the year just mentioned he took up his residence in Springfield, and has since made his home here. He is the possessor of a handsome property, including his present commodious home, which he built when he first located in this city, besides erecting several other houses, from the rental of which he derives a good income. Our subject has become famous as an inventor, and being a man of more than ordinary intelligence and mechanical genius, gifted with patience and a resolute will, he has not only made several inventions that have proved to be of great value in the industrial world, but has made many improvements on other inventions that have greatly enhanced their use. Mr. Croft had the honor of inventing and manufacturing the first threshing machine ever used west of Springfield, and to his handiwork was due the first separator ever made and operated on wheels. He never patented it, however, and others reaped the benefit of his invention. He and his son invented and patented a wind engine, known as the Croft engine, which they manufactured for a time and then sold the patent and it is now called the Leffel engine. Mr. Croft’s inventive genius contrived the razor strap, called the Croft’s Scientific Razor Strap, which is the finest ever invented, and he has spent much time and money in making improvements on other inventions too numerous to mention.

That greatest of blessings a good and true wife has been given our subject, as he was married, in 1846, to Miss Lany, daughter of Jacob and Elsie Shartle, and a native of this State, born in Dayton, Montgomery County. Mrs. Croft’s parents were pioneers of Bethel Township, to which they removed when she was four years old. Mr. and Mrs. Croft have two children living: Lizzie, who married Frank M. Bookwalter, of this city; and Henry, who married Clara Long, also resides in this city.

An honorable, sagacious, well-informed man, during his long and busy career our subject has been a useful citizen, and by his upright life, guided by principles of honor and truthfulness, he is worthy of the high estimation in which he is regarded by all. By his inventive genius he has been of inestimable benefit not only to this, his native county, but to the country at large. Mr. Croft is a remarkably fine rifleman. When he was a boy he had a gun and used to shoot squirrels, wild turkeys, etc. His interest in such sports waned for some years, but of late he has engaged in rifle practice, and on January 28, 1890, in the contest in which the oldest riflemen took part, he made a score of ninety-nine out of one hundred possible points, and justly lays claim to the championship for men of his age. During his residence in Bethel Township he took an active part in the management of its public affairs, and served as Township Trustee eight years. He and his wife are members of the First English Lutheran Church, and he was also prominent in religious concerns of Bethel as Elder and Deacon in the church.