The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-03-13
COL. CROOK DEAD
Intimate With Every President
Since Time of Lincoln.
Made Disbursing Officer of
White House by Grant.

Washington. March 13.-Colonel w.
H. Crook, disbursing officer of the
White House. who was President Lin
coins body guard and who has been
intimately acquainted with every pres
ident since 1860, died today at his
| home here. He has been sick with
pneumonia more than a week
Sketch of His Life.
| Fifty years of service as a White
House employee, through the admin
iStratiOnS of twelve presidents, made
Col. William H. Crook one of the
most familiar figures in the national
capital, and in his old age left him
rich in personal "reminiscences of the
intimate side of White House life. The
assassinations of Lincoln and Gar
field, various weddings at the White
House. and the impeachment of Pres
1dent johnson, were among numerous
events which Colonel Crook recalled.
in memoirs of his half-century of
White House service.
He was taken from the Washington
police force in 1865 and appointed
President Lincoln's body guard. Prior
to this he had served in the Union
army. He accompanied Lincoln on
many of his walks and drives, and it
was his duty to watch over the presi-
dent during public receptions.
Colonel Crook told often of how,
on the afternoon before Lincoln's as
SasSinatiOn, the president had come
to him in confidence and said that on
three successive nights he had had
dreams which foretold his murder.
Crook thereupon begged the president
not to go to the theater that evening,
as planned. Lincoln insisted, and fur
thermore would not hear of Crook ac-
companying him. He ordered Crook
to go home and rest. AS they parted.
Lincoln failed to say Good night
the only time he ever failed to say it,
said Crook.
Colonel Crook also always main
tanned that the substitute guard that
night became interested in the play
and left his post of duty, and that if
he himself had been present, Booth
would never have entered the theater-
box to shoot Lincoln.
1t was Colonel Crook who, during
the next administration. carried 10
PRESIDENT johnson the first news of
his acquittal on impeachment charges.
He served as Johnson's body guard
ana on the day the verdict was ex-
pected he was on hand. When he
was told the news he ran all the way
from the capitol to the White House.
The presidents eyes filled with tears.
and he gulped when Colonel Crook
burst in with the tidings later thank
ing him warmly for his trouble.
Was C-Ose to Grant.
Col Crook was unusually close to
PRESIDENT Grant and the members of
his family, and in 1870 he was ap
i've CleEh " the VI
ldent of the United States" Later. in
1877. President Grant made him dis
bursting officer of the White House,
the position he held during the sue
ceedlng dministrations. 1t was dur
ing the Grant administration that life
at the White House began to be more
ceremonial
Col. Crook saw five White House
marriages. He collected letters and
other mementoes of the various preSi-
dents under whom he served, includ-
ing notes from all the presidents who
spoke in the highest terms of his faith
fulness and abilities. On the occasion
of his oOth anniversary of entering the
White House service. which he cele-
brated January, 1915. he was present
ed with beautiful cane, given by
President Wilson and members of the
White House staff.