Clearwater Republican., 1922-04-21
NOTED WASHINGTON PIONEER DIFs

ator r. C. McCrOskey died at his home
at Garfield on April 10. Slight of build
but with almost unlimited energy, his
life from early boyhood to the ad
vanced age of 75 was one of aspira.
ton. action AID accomplishment. He
was pioneer banker and educator
and a citizen OF exc eptionaily high
character and value Throughout his
long residence Of more than half a
century on the Pacific coast, he ex-
erted strong and helpful influence
ON education, was leader in financial
circles, and an earnest supporter OF
interests and institutions that aimed
for the intellectual and moral welfare
of his fellowmen.
Though he became totally blind FIVE
years ago, at the age of 20, the activi-
ties of Senator McCroskey did not
lessen in the least To man of his
enterprise, ability and magnanimOus
spirit the mere incident of blindness
was no deterrent. A point in illustra-
tion of his constant interest in other
people happened not long ago. Sena-
tor McCroskey had residence erected
/ for tenant on one of his farms.
Though blind and nearly rs years Of
age, he supervised personally the con-
/ struction of the house, and made a
trip to the farm every morning that
he was at home to see that the work
was being properly done. This spirit
of interest in things that pertained
to the welfare of others is what made
him such a large influence in the de.
velopment of his state.
Interests Were Many.
Senator McCroskey's interests were
many and varied. 1t is hardly con-
ceivable that a man could be so efii-
ciently identified with SO many i'm
portant affairs and help so wisely in
the solution of so many state, indus
trial and institutional problems as did
this man. Yet, with all his activities
he not only retained but developed
largely those virtues of mind and
heart that made him beloved by all
who knew him.
Senator McCroskey's financial in
terests were large. He was president
of the Pullman State bank, assisted
in the organization and was president
of the National bank at Palouse, and
was d director in the National Bank
of Olympia. He was also a stock
bp1dor in, bo LSyohono, Nat;1,,1 l>.,.1-
at Spokane, of which his son-in-law,
H. A. Kimbrough, is cashier. Mr. |
McCroskey was identified with the |
Farmers union, and always had
deep concern for the welfare of all |
agricultural interests.
Loved the State College.
One of his dearest interests was |
the state college at Pullman He was
instrumental in having the college es-
tablished at Pullman, and has been
closely identified with the institution
ever since. He was appointed a re-
gent of the college in 1898 by Gov.
John H. McGraw, and with the excep.
tion OF the six years from 1903-9 has
been active in that capacity ever
since, being reappointed by Governors
NJ. K. Hay, Ernest Lister and l.. F.
Hart. He was three times president
OF the board, in the years 1910, ~ and
20; four times vice-president and
from 1898 to 1904 served continuously
on the finance and experiment station
committees. For the past decade, the |
period of the heaviest building pro- |
gram in the history of the college, he
served practically without rest as
chairman of the building committee, |
created in 1911. He has been one of |
the chief councillors of the president
OF the college, and during the long
years of his service as a member of |
the finance and building committees
he has always insisted upon economy
In the use of the funds of the college
His personal interest has reached
every student who has ever been in
the college. Whenever he met anyone
who had been student at the state
college he Immediately showed his
great interest in what they were do
ing and how they were getting along.
The college felt this interest In a very
material way, too, when he contributed
to it last fall the sum Of $4,000.
Born in Madisonyille, Tenn. March
10, 1S45, McCroskey was hardly more
than a boy when he joined the 31st
Arkansas volunteers of the Confeder.
ate army as a private, and rose to
major. He took an active part in the
battles of Franklin, Nashville and Ben
tonville. He was in charge of one
wing of the Confederate army at the
battle of Franklin.
Following the war; he attended Gro
ton college. Tennessee, and was grad.
uated in 1868 In 1870 he went to Cal
ifornia, and was elected superintend.
ent of schools of Monterey county in
1874.
Whitman County Pioneer.
He came to Whitman county in 1888,
where he has lived ever since. He
1 ~ n ~ t..l