Shaver, F. A., Arthur P. Rose, R. F. Steele, and A. E. Adams, compilers.  "An
Illustrated History of Central Oregon." ("Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam,
Wheeler, Crook, Lake, & Klamath Counties")  Spokane, WA: Western Historical
Publishing Co., 1905.  p. 775.

JOSEPH H. CROOKS

     is one of the pioneers of Crook county and is well known all through this
part of the state. At the present time, he is handling a fine butcher business
in Prineville, having been occupied in this for the past nine years. He was born
in Mercer county, Illinois, on, May 6, 1844. Hon. John T. Crooks, his father,
crossed the plains from Illinois to the Willamette valley with ox teams in 1848,
bringing his family with him. They were six months on the road. He was a
prominent man in the valley, being one of the very first settlers, and was a
member of the first territorial legislature for two terms. He died in 1898, aged
eighty-six. He married D. Everyman, who accompanied her husband in his pioneer
journeys. There were no schools in the Willamette valley when our subject
arrived there with his parents and he had little opportunity for education
except what he could gain by his own personal efforts. He remained on the farm
with his father until 1865, when he went to Helena, Montana, where he spent one
summer. Returning to his old home, he continued there until 1872, then came to
Prineville and engaged in stock raising. He followed that successfully until
1896, when he opened his present business which has occupied him since. He does
a good business and stands well in this community.
     In 1873 Mr. Crooks married Miss America Warren, who was born in the
Willamette valley in 1855. Her father, Andrew J. Warren, crossed the plains from
Missouri in 1855 and settled in the Willamette valley. He had married Eliza
Spalding, who was born on the Nez Perce reservation in 1832, the daughter of
Reverend H. H. Spalding. She was the first white child born west of the Rocky
mountains so far as in known. However, there is a rumor that there was a white
child born in 1819 in the vicinity of Spokane Falls. Mrs. Warren was captured by
the Indians during the Whitman massacre. She is now living at Wenatchee,
Washington. To Mr. and Mrs. Crooks five children have been born, Mrs. Robert E.
Simpson, Mrs. Granville Clifton, Charles A., John Warren, and Beulah.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in October 2011 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.