"Portrait and Biographical Record of Portland and Vicinity, Oregon." Authors: "a
compilation of this work....by a number of writers".  Chapman Publishing Co;
Chicago, 1903. p. 645.
 
GEORGE W. LA CROY

     The name of La Croy is associated with a worthy French family residing for
centuries in the mother country, and with most exemplary military service during
the Revolutionary war in America. George W. La Croy, deceased, who was a
prominent and successful farmer of Clackamas county, was born in Scioto county,
Ohio, January 16, 1832, his father, Alexander, having settled in the Buckeye
state after his emigration to America. In his adopted land the father was fairly
successful as a farmer and stock raiser, and in Ohio he took a prominent part in
the upbuilding of his county.  Also his career was embellished by carrying a
musket on the battlefields of the Revolution under command of George Washington,
and the incidents connected with his military career he was never weary of
narrating.
     While very young George W. La Croy lost his mother through death, a fact
which materially lessened his prospects for a happy childhood. Hard work was the
order of the day as soon as he could hold a hoe or guide the plow, and his
educational chances were limited to the perusal of books which he bought with
his meager and much needed earnings, and to such tuition as he could secure the
money to pay for. At the age of eleven he began to work away from home as
teamster for an iron works company in Ohio, and in 1860 joined a band of
pilgrims bound for the coast by way of the plains. Arriving in California, he
worked in the mines of the state for three years, and, having convinced himself
that he was not especially elected to this means of livelihood, settled in
Vancouver, Wash. There he enlisted in March, 1862, in Company A, First
Washington Territory Infantry, as a private, and for three months of the service
was driver for the paymaster of the army. In 1865 he was discharged at
Vancouver, and forthwith engaged in teaming in eastern Oregon, the latter part
of the year purchasing one hundred and sixty acres of land one mile north of
Viola. There were no improvements on the land, and the heavy timber and dense
undergrowth pointed to unremitting toil before harvests could be gathered.  Mr.
La Croy cleared about fifty acres, and built for himself and family a commodious
house, and for his supplies and crops fine outbuildings and barns. He was
engaged in general farming and stock-raising, and to an unexpected degree
realized his western expectations. He was an active member of the Primitive
Baptist Church and a liberal contributor to the support of religious movements
generally.
     An important factor in the life of Mr. La Croy was the help and sympathy of
his wife, Melissa (Mayfield) La Croy, whom he married in Clackamas county
December 27, 1869, and who was born in Arkansas, a daughter of Andrew Jackson
Mayfield, a very early settler of Oregon, locating near Highland in 1866. Nine
children were born to Mr. and Mrs. La Croy: Mary; Martha; Myra; Eliza; Smith;
and Urban, living on the home farm; Joel, living in Washington county; Urania ;
and Ruth. In political affiliation Mr. LaCroy was independent. The life of this
useful citizen was terminated by his death November 17, 1902, after an illness
covering a period of eighteen months. He was a public spirited and worthy
citizen and his death was generally deplored by all who knew him.
 
 
Transcriber's additional notes:
 
Census
1870; Clackamas Co, OR; Harding Pct, p 162
George Lacroy, 35, OH, farmer
Melissa, 25, AR
 
1880; Clackamas Co, OR; Viola Pct, p 231
George Laycroy, 45, OH, --, --, farmer
Melissa, 36, AR, TN, --
Mary, dau, 10, OR, OH, AR
Maud, dau, 8, OR, OH, AR
Martha, dau, 6, OR, OH, AR
Louisa, dau, 4, OR, OH, AR
George, son, 2, OR, OH, AR
Urben, son, 8/12, OR, OH, AR
 
1900; Clackamas Co, OR; Viola Pct, p 54
George W. Lacroy, 67, Jan 1833, OH, France, VA, mar 31 yrs, farmer
Mina M, wife, 55, Nov 1844, AR, TN, SC
Urban U, son, 20, Oct 1879, OR, OH, AR, farm laborer
Louisa, dau, 23, April 1877, OR, OH, AR
Urania, dau, 15, June 1884, OR, OH, AR
Ruth, dau, 13, Feb 1887, OR, OH, AR
 
1910; Clackamas Co, OR; Viola, p 23
Joe La Croy, 28, OR, OH, AR, farmer, single
Melissa, mother, 66, AR, TN, AL, Wd, 9 children-8 living


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in September 2007 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.