Brown-Crocker

William Henry grew up, recieved his education (in the public schools), and training while living with, and on his father's farm in La Salle co., Ill.

At the age of 21 yrs. he, with others of his community in La Salle Co., Ill., decided to move to Kansas. Kansas had just opened to new settlers, and the land could be homesteaded. Having heard much of the wonderful richness of the soil of the Arkansas valley, its level land and fine climate, he determined to pursue his chosen trade of Agriculture in Kansas. On 4 May 1871 he took u, (under the homestead claim) the southwest quarter of Section 14 of Union Township, Sedgwich Co., Kansas. He was in the township one year before it orgranization and was one of the founders of Union Township.

After six years of work, developing his farm by raising grain and live stock, his father James Otis Crocker joined him in Kansas, Section 15 P.O. Eldridge.

When the first settlers began to build homes in this section of Kansas, there were no trees on these vast prairies, in order to secure lumber to build houses and barns, it was necessary to form wagon trains and haul lumber from Emporia, Kansas. Emporia was the end of the rail line.

Buffalo roamed the vast prairies of Kansas, but as the settlers moved in the Buffalo began to withdraw further west. Buffalo chips were often used for fuel. In order to secure meat (wild meat) the farmers would form wagon trains and go to western Kansas and hunt Buffalo.

After William Henry Crocker was well established on his farm he married Miss KATI (KATHERINE BETHENIA) TAPP, b. 12 Mar. 1861, Victoria, Knox Co., Ill.; d. 11 Nov. 1940, Wichita, Kansas, dau. of Elijah Tapp & Rachel Dennis of Colwich, Sedgwich Co., Kansas.

The farmers planted orchards, apples, and peaches, for food and, Osage Orange (Hedge trees) for wind brakes. In order to store the apples thru the cold winters, they would dig holes in the ground and between layers of straw the apples would keep.

William Henry Crocker was a director of the State Bank of Colwich, Colwich, Kansas. At one time the directors were believed to be on an average age, to be the oldest in the United States.

When Mr. & Mrs. Crocker decided to retire from farming they moved to 925 S. Lawrence Ave. (the name was changed to Broadway), Wichita Kansas. Later they moved to 847 West St., Wichita, Kansas where Mr Crocker d. 23 Oct. 1932, and Mrs Crocker d. 11 Nov. 1940. Mr. Earl Mason Crocker continued farming on the land of his father.