Will County ILGenWeb Biographies..... ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. ************************************************ File contributed for use by: Dori Leekly & Margie Glenn Author: History of Will County IL, 1878 Daniel W. CROPSEY, retired farmer; P. O. Plainfield, Universalist; Republican. Owns homestead in the village; was born in Peterboro, Madison Co., N. Y., Feb. 15, 1797; resided with his parents in that county until 20 years old; he then went to Ontario Co., and remained five years; then to Niagara Co., where he remained twenty-five years; his business during that time was farming; in 1846, he came to this county, and continued the business of farming; he bought at that time 480 acres of Chester INGERSOLL, and settled on the northwest quarter of Sec. 36. The eighty acres in the northwest corner was the farm that took the first premium as the best-cultivated farm in the county in 1859. The following is a correct copy of the diploma received, viz.: The Will County Agricultural Society award this diploma to D. W. CROPSEY for having on exhibition at the annual fair of said Society, A. D. 1859, the best cultivated farm of eighty acres or more.
Ira Austin, Pres., [Signed.] W. B. HAWLEY, Sec. With the above diploma, he also received a set of silver forks, valued at $16. Mr. C. received other premiums at different times, once as high as $30 in silver; at one time, he took five animals to the fair, and took premiums on every one on grades. Mr. C. was twice married; first to Elizabeth STRAIGHT Feb. 14, 1819; she was born in Argyle, N. Y., in April 1797, and died in August, 1871; had nine children, six now living - George, Jacob, Andrew J. (formerly Lieutenant Colonel of the 129th IL V. I., now in Lawrence, Texas), John, Mary Ann, Mahala (wife of D. WYLAND, Esq.); the names of the deceased are Nancy, Laura and Harriet. Mr. C. was the first Supervisor from the town of Wheatland, and occupied the position of Chairman of the Board; was Poormaster (the first) one year; no tax was needed that year, there being no paupers. Mr. C. is now 81 years of age; he never was sick but three days in his life, to be confined to the house; he remembers well seeing the first steamboat as it came up the Hudson in 1808. Additional Comments: HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS; Chicago: Wm LeBaron Jr & Co, 186 Dearborn Street, 1878.