Croston, Gregory Cole 1818-1900

CROSTON

Posted By: Tom Baack-Volunteer (email)
Date: 11/5/2014 at 16:45:39

Le Mars Semi Weekly Post Friday, August 17, 1900

The death of Gregory C. Croston on Tuesday night caused grief to come to many who knew the old and highly respected gentleman. Their heads bowed in sorrow as they reviewed the career of the man who had taken his flight to another world, and who, it might be truly said, made the world better for having lived. His illness had been of long duration and his ailment was that of general debility caused by old age.

Gregory Cole Croston was a native of County Cork, Ireland, and was born December 14, 1818. With his parents in 1830 he emigrated to America and found their first home on American soil in Philadelphia, Pa. In his young days he was of a roving disposition and traveled extensively through the states and territories of this country. During the Mexican war he served throughout the entire unpleasantness in the Second Missouri Cavalry, having enlisted in St. Louis. At the end of the war he returned to Illinois only to join the gold seekers to California in 1849, where he succeeded in accumulating, considerable wealth. Following his career in California he went to Cascade, Iowa, and engaged in the mercantile and milling business and was very successful in his business operations there. The remaining, twenty years of his active business career he spent at Crete, Neb., where he suffered financial reverses and for the past couple years has resided in Le Mars with his niece on Franklin street.

Mr. Croston was always a kind, generous hearted roan, always ready and willing to aid one in distress.

Mr. Croston was never married. Mrs. Robt. Steele, Mrs. Wm. McCartney, Mrs. John Featherstone, Mrs. L. A. Lehner, Miss Mary Croston and Miss Ann Croston of this county, and Mrs. Jas. McCartney of Auburn, Cal., are nieces of the deceased and a nephew, Greg Croston, also resides in Plymouth county.

The funeral took place yesterday afternoon at the residence on Franklin street, Rev. J. J. Lace, pastor of the Methodist church officiating.