Peter died in Prairie Township, Holmes Co., OH
The Krakau sons found their way to America. One son was wounded as a British soldier at Brandywine, but both finished the war fighting for the American cause and being awarded large tracts of land in Lancaster, Pa, after the war.
It is now 1813 and Peter Kraukau, son of one of the Revolutionary War heroes has changed his name to Croco (American pronunciation) and settled on land on Salt Creek North of Holmesville, paying for it with Military script bestowed on him for Military Valor.
One of the first structures he built was a 20 square foot block house ( this might be a typo- 200 sq ft sounds better), with an extended eight foot second floor to stop the climbing Indians. He extended hospitality to surrounding neighbors when danger approached. Remains of this structure existed until 1935.
Services to the State of Ohio were recognized in 1820 and Peter was named "District Judge" and was referred to as "Judge Croco" for the remainder of his life.
Judge Peter Croco built a home north of Holmesville where his farm lay. The house was lined with walnut lumber which was tongued and grooved by hand. This house oreginally stood on a tract of about 1,000 acres, which has had the reputation of never being covered by a mortgage.
The historical story is that Croco took many slaves across the road to his brother John's farm because he was overloaded, and one time he put five in a hay-filled wagon and boldly drove down the main street of Wooster to another station. There were five caves back of the house which was believed used to hide slaves.
The solidly built home has brick walls extending from the basement to the attic. They are 18 inches thick. The ceilings are 10 ft high and there are seven doors in one room. All the doors are more than eight feet high. Floors are solid oak
A narrow staircase leads to the attic which is unfinished. A wooden ladder leads from the attic to the widow's walk cupola.
Then in 1873, a kitchen was built on by Keifer Croco and his wife Belle. Ruth miller of Smithville, Ohio remembers going with her mother to Uncle Peter's house. Her mother was Barbara Ellen Burns Croco.
After Keifer Croco was gone, Mel Marquis acquired the house. Mel Marquis' wife was a Croco. Many years later George Spargrove ingerited the house. Many families lived in this historical house, namely some of the known: The Henry Livingston family, The Kiser Family, The Joseph Schmucker Family, The Byron Mullen Family, The Johnny B.C.Miller Family.
William and Rosanna Painter bought the house in May, 1982 from nieces of George Spargrove. They are restoring this beautiful old landmark which has stood empty for many years. It was in need of much repair. There is a family living there once more and the house is smiling with happiness. If only it could talk, there would be many more stories to tell.
Submitted to a local book by: Rosanna Painter
The Krakau sons found their way to America. One son was wounded as a British soldier at Brandywine, but both finished the war fighting for the American cause and being awarded large tracts of land in Lancaster, Pa, after the war.
It is now 1813 and Peter Kraukau, son of one of the Revolutionary War heroes has changed his name to Croco (American pronunciation) and settled on land on Salt Creek North of Holmesville, paying for it with Military script bestowed on him for Military Valor.
One of the first structures he built was a 20 square foot block house ( this might be a typo- 200 sq ft sounds better), with an extended eight foot second floor to stop the climbing Indians. He extended hospitality to surrounding neighbors when danger approached. Remains of this structure existed until 1935.
Services to the State of Ohio were recognized in 1820 and Peter was named "District Judge" and was referred to as "Judge Croco" for the remainder of his life.
Judge Peter Croco built a home north of Holmesville where his farm lay. The house was lined with walnut lumber which was tongued and grooved by hand. This house oreginally stood on a tract of about 1,000 acres, which has had the reputation of never being covered by a mortgage.
The historical story is that Croco took many slaves across the road to his brother John's farm because he was overloaded, and one time he put five in a hay-filled wagon and boldly drove down the main street of Wooster to another station. There were five caves back of the house which was believed used to hide slaves.
The solidly built home has brick walls extending from the basement to the attic. They are 18 inches thick. The ceilings are 10 ft high and there are seven doors in one room. All the doors are more than eight feet high. Floors are solid oak
A narrow staircase leads to the attic which is unfinished. A wooden ladder leads from the attic to the widow's walk cupola.
Then in 1873, a kitchen was built on by Keifer Croco and his wife Belle. Ruth miller of Smithville, Ohio remembers going with her mother to Uncle Peter's house. Her mother was Barbara Ellen Burns Croco.
After Keifer Croco was gone, Mel Marquis acquired the house. Mel Marquis' wife was a Croco. Many years later George Spargrove ingerited the house. Many families lived in this historical house, namely some of the known: The Henry Livingston family, The Kiser Family, The Joseph Schmucker Family, The Byron Mullen Family, The Johnny B.C.Miller Family.
William and Rosanna Painter bought the house in May, 1982 from nieces of George Spargrove. They are restoring this beautiful old landmark which has stood empty for many years. It was in need of much repair. There is a family living there once more and the house is smiling with happiness. If only it could talk, there would be many more stories to tell.
Submitted to a local book by: Rosanna Painter
Peter died in Prairie Township, Holmes Co., OH
The Krakau sons found their way to America. One son was wounded as a British soldier at Brandywine, but both finished the war fighting for the American cause and being awarded large tracts of land in Lancaster, Pa, after the war.
It is now 1813 and Peter Kraukau, son of one of the Revolutionary War heroes has changed his name to Croco (American pronunciation) and settled on land on Salt Creek North of Holmesville, paying for it with Military script bestowed on him for Military Valor.
One of the first structures he built was a 20 square foot block house ( this might be a typo- 200 sq ft sounds better), with an extended eight foot second floor to stop the climbing Indians. He extended hospitality to surrounding neighbors when danger approached. Remains of this structure existed until 1935.
Services to the State of Ohio were recognized in 1820 and Peter was named "District Judge" and was referred to as "Judge Croco" for the remainder of his life.
Judge Peter Croco built a home north of Holmesville where his farm lay. The house was lined with walnut lumber which was tongued and grooved by hand. This house oreginally stood on a tract of about 1,000 acres, which has had the reputation of never being covered by a mortgage.
The historical story is that Croco took many slaves across the road to his brother John's farm because he was overloaded, and one time he put five in a hay-filled wagon and boldly drove down the main street of Wooster to another station. There were five caves back of the house which was believed used to hide slaves.
The solidly built home has brick walls extending from the basement to the attic. They are 18 inches thick. The ceilings are 10 ft high and there are seven doors in one room. All the doors are more than eight feet high. Floors are solid oak
A narrow staircase leads to the attic which is unfinished. A wooden ladder leads from the attic to the widow's walk cupola.
Then in 1873, a kitchen was built on by Keifer Croco and his wife Belle. Ruth miller of Smithville, Ohio remembers going with her mother to Uncle Peter's house. Her mother was Barbara Ellen Burns Croco.
After Keifer Croco was gone, Mel Marquis acquired the house. Mel Marquis' wife was a Croco. Many years later George Spargrove ingerited the house. Many families lived in this historical house, namely some of the known: The Henry Livingston family, The Kiser Family, The Joseph Schmucker Family, The Byron Mullen Family, The Johnny B.C.Miller Family.
William and Rosanna Painter bought the house in May, 1982 from nieces of George Spargrove. They are restoring this beautiful old landmark which has stood empty for many years. It was in need of much repair. There is a family living there once more and the house is smiling with happiness. If only it could talk, there would be many more stories to tell.
Submitted to a local book by: Rosanna Painter
The Krakau sons found their way to America. One son was wounded as a British soldier at Brandywine, but both finished the war fighting for the American cause and being awarded large tracts of land in Lancaster, Pa, after the war.
It is now 1813 and Peter Kraukau, son of one of the Revolutionary War heroes has changed his name to Croco (American pronunciation) and settled on land on Salt Creek North of Holmesville, paying for it with Military script bestowed on him for Military Valor.
One of the first structures he built was a 20 square foot block house ( this might be a typo- 200 sq ft sounds better), with an extended eight foot second floor to stop the climbing Indians. He extended hospitality to surrounding neighbors when danger approached. Remains of this structure existed until 1935.
Services to the State of Ohio were recognized in 1820 and Peter was named "District Judge" and was referred to as "Judge Croco" for the remainder of his life.
Judge Peter Croco built a home north of Holmesville where his farm lay. The house was lined with walnut lumber which was tongued and grooved by hand. This house oreginally stood on a tract of about 1,000 acres, which has had the reputation of never being covered by a mortgage.
The historical story is that Croco took many slaves across the road to his brother John's farm because he was overloaded, and one time he put five in a hay-filled wagon and boldly drove down the main street of Wooster to another station. There were five caves back of the house which was believed used to hide slaves.
The solidly built home has brick walls extending from the basement to the attic. They are 18 inches thick. The ceilings are 10 ft high and there are seven doors in one room. All the doors are more than eight feet high. Floors are solid oak
A narrow staircase leads to the attic which is unfinished. A wooden ladder leads from the attic to the widow's walk cupola.
Then in 1873, a kitchen was built on by Keifer Croco and his wife Belle. Ruth miller of Smithville, Ohio remembers going with her mother to Uncle Peter's house. Her mother was Barbara Ellen Burns Croco.
After Keifer Croco was gone, Mel Marquis acquired the house. Mel Marquis' wife was a Croco. Many years later George Spargrove ingerited the house. Many families lived in this historical house, namely some of the known: The Henry Livingston family, The Kiser Family, The Joseph Schmucker Family, The Byron Mullen Family, The Johnny B.C.Miller Family.
William and Rosanna Painter bought the house in May, 1982 from nieces of George Spargrove. They are restoring this beautiful old landmark which has stood empty for many years. It was in need of much repair. There is a family living there once more and the house is smiling with happiness. If only it could talk, there would be many more stories to tell.
Submitted to a local book by: Rosanna Painter
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