Source: History of Boone County, Indiana, by Hon. L.M. Crist, 1914.

WILLIAM B. CROSE This is a time of progress and development. Old methods are
being revised, and old or previously accepted facts are being examined and questioned as
never before. "Every man to his business," no longer means that the knowledge of others
is to be ignored by the successful business man. The man who succeeds, whether he be a
farmer, merchant or manufacturer, knows more of his business than an outsider can
know; but this does not mean that the successful business man may not learn many useful
and profitable facts and principles from the outsider who has made a thorough study of a
large number of business establishments and their methods.

One of the progressive citizens of Eagle township, Boone county, who has sought helpful
information f rom every source, and has had the tact to apply the same is William B.
Crose, proprietor of Maple Park Farm, where he successfully carries on general farming,
stock raising and dairying, his valuable place containing two hundred and eight acres, all
under a high state of improvement and cultivation, and on which stands a modern
residence and outbuildings of a present day type of convenience.

Mr. Crose was born in Washington township, Boone county, February 2, 1860, a son of
David Crose, a well-known early settler here, who was born in Tippecanoe county,
Indiana, in 1835. David Crose was a son of Benjamin Crose, who was born in Kentucky
in 1813, where he spent his earlier years and married, and in 1830 he and his wife
emigrated to Tippecanoe county, and there their son David grew to manhood and married
Martha E. Bovee, who was born in 1841, and whose death occurred at the age of seventy-
two years.

The father of our subject reached the age of seventy-seven years. Their family consisted
of ten children, namely: Marion F., William B., Mary E., Clement L., Cynthia Ella, James
W., Sarah A., Pearly A., Edgar L., and Walter F.

William B. Crose was reared on the home farm and worked during the summer months
for his father, and during the winter attended the district schools, and for two years taught
school. On August 9, 1882, he married Mrs. Lillie A. Shaw, widow of David Shaw. He
was born February 6,1847. A history of the Shaw family appears on another page of this
work.

The death of David Shaw occurred October 3, 1877, at the age of thirty years. Mrs. Crose
is a daughter of Charles F. and Mary (DeLong) Foreman. The death of the mother
occurred in 1897. The father is still living, and resides in Zionsville. Mr. Foreman is now
eighty-two years old; but is a well-preserved man. He has made a success in life's affairs,
and has lived an upright and useful life.

Mr. Crose has devoted his life to general farming and stock raising. His present place is
one of the most desirable in Eagle township. Everything is up-to-the-date. He has two
large barns, his general barn being thirty-six by seventy-six feet, and his dairy barn is
thirty-six by eighty-two feet. Everything about his barn is sanitary and has been arranged
with a view to the comfort and proper care of live stock. He keeps an excellent grade of
cows, and finds a ready market for all his dairy products, owing to their superior quality.
His is a model twentieth century farm in every respect.

Our subject and wife have no children of their own; but have reared other children. Mr.
and Mrs. Crose are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and have been for many
years. They are both very active in church affairs. Mr. Crose has been the superintendent
of the Salem Sunday school for a period of twenty-five years. He is one of the leaders of
Methodism in this section of the state and has given liberally of his time and means to its
interests. He has been a trustee and steward in the local congregation for years; while his
wife has been devoted to missionary and temperance work. Both Mr. and Mrs. Crose are
popular with the best circles in the southern part of the county where they reside, and
their beautiful and well-furnished home is known to their many friends as a place of old-
time hospitality and good cheer. They are well informed, genial, obliging and pleasant
people to meet. Mr. Crose has been a life-long Democrat. He is a man of strong moral
convictions and temperance sentiments. He has always been upon the right side of the
temperance question, and has worked hard for the suppression of the saloon.

At this writing the Methodist church on Mr. Crose's farm, known as the Salem church, is
undergoing extensive repairs, and Mr. and Mrs. Crose are giving largely of their means
toward the enterprise. Mr. Crose being one of the trustees and also chairman and treasurer
of the building committee.

BOVEE CROSE DELONG FOREMAN SHAW

Submitted by Amy K Davis