PHILLIP M. CRAPO

Is a native of Freetown, near New Bedford, Massachusetts,
where he was born June 30, 1844. In youth he enjoyed excellent educational
advantages, but chose to forego a college career that he might enlist in the
Third Massachusetts Infantry, serving in the eastern department. After the
war he became a civil engineer in Michigan and was engaged in the State
offices at Detroit in the preparation of the Military History of Michigan.
In 1868 Mr. Crapo came to Iowa as the representative of the Connecticut
Mutual Life Insurance Company which he seved in various capacities for more
than twenty-one years. He has always been a public spirited citizen and
aided materially in numerous important enterprises in Burlington. He assured
the establishment of the Burlington Free Library and has recently made
possible the erection of a permanent home for it by subscribing half of the
cost of a beautiful building. He was also chiefly instrumental in providing
a public park for Burlington which bears his name. Mr. Crapo assured the
success of the Semi-Centennial Celebration of the admission of the State into
the Union, which was held in Burlington in 1896, serving as President of the
Board of Commissioners which had charge of the enterprise. He was largely
instrumental in securing the establishment of the Soldiers' Home at
Marshalltown and delivered the address on behalf of the soldiers at the
dedication of the building.


Debbie Clough Gerischer