Rutland

CROFT, Leonard F.

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, pp 84-85 
(portrait p 85)

Leonard F. CROFT, of North Clarendon [Rutland County, Vermont], was born 25 
May 1851 in Wallingford [Rutland County, Vermont], son of William and Ruth 
(PALMER) CROFT. After receiving a common school education in the schools of 
his native town, supplemented by a course at Burr and Burton Seminary at 
Manchester [Bennington County] and Kimball Union Academy at Meriden [Sullivan 
County], New Hampshire, he entered St. Lawrence University at Canton [St. 
Lawrence County], New York, where he remained a year. He then entered Union 
College of Schenectady [Schenectady County], New York, where he graduated 
with high honors in the department of civil engineering in the class of 1873. 
After completing his education, he engaged in railroad and mining 
engineering in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, and for about three years was 
the mining engineer in charge of the Penn Gas Coal Company near Pittsburg. 
Returning to Vermont in 1878, he purchased a large farm in Clarendon, on 
which he has since resided. He has been successful in this agricultural 
enterprise and found it remunerative, still he has given some attention to 
engineering, especially in cases which have come before the courts. He is an 
extensive dairy farmer and breeder of Holstein cattle, and has also been 
successful in breeding fine road horses. He has filled nearly all the 
offices of trust in his adopted town, and represented Clarendon in the 
Legislature in 1890. Mr. CROFT, from his natural abilities and superior 
educational advantages, is naturally an influential man in his town and 
section of the county.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly