Alvah Crocker | |
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 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromMassachusetts | |
| In office January 2, 1872 – December 26, 1874 | |
| Preceded by | William B. Washburn |
| Succeeded by | Charles A. Stevens |
| Constituency | 9th district (1872–73) 10th district (1873–74) |
| Massachusetts State Senate | |
| In office 1862–1864 | |
| Massachusetts House of Representatives | |
| In office 1842–1843 | |
| Massachusetts House of Representatives | |
| In office 1835–1836 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 14, 1801 Leominster, Massachusetts |
| Died | December 26, 1874 (aged 73) Fitchburg, Massachusetts |
| Resting place | Laurel Hill Cemetery |
| Political party | Whig,Republican |
| Children | Charles Thomas Crocker |
| Signature | .png) |
Alvah Crocker (October 14, 1801 – December 26, 1874) was an American manufacturer and railroad promoter. He served in theMassachusetts General Court and was aU.S. Representative fromMassachusetts.
Born inLeominster, Massachusetts, Crocker attended the public schools andGroton Academy. He was first employed in apaper mill atFranklin, New Hampshire, in 1820. In 1823, he borrowed the money necessary to establish a paper mill atFitchburg and served as proprietor of paper manufactures there.[1] His paper mills became the largest in the United States and he built extensive machine shops and foundries in the neighborhood of his mills. In manufacturing white paper he was the first to use cotton waste and also the first to use palm leaf fibre in wall papers.[2]
He was elected to theMassachusetts legislature in 1835, where he advocated steam communication withBoston. He returned to the legislature in 1842, and obtained a charter for a new railroad between northern Massachusetts and the seaboard, which was completed through his exertions in 1845. He afterward engaged in building theVermont and Massachusetts, theTroy and Boston, and theHoosac Tunnel railroads, and in 1847/8 lectured in behalf of the tunnel project.[3] TheScience Channel documentaryDriven to Invent: Killer Tunnel called Crocker "The Father of Modern Tunneling" for his influence in advancing the use ofgeologists,explosives,pneumatic tools,boring technology, and said, "He laid down the rules for tunnel construction even to the present day."[4]
He served as president of theFitchburg Railroad. During theAmerican Civil War, he was a member of theMassachusetts State Senate for two terms.[3]
Crocker was elected as aRepublican to theForty-second Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation ofWilliam B. Washburn (who was elected Governor). He was reelected to theForty-third Congress. He served in Congress from January 2, 1872, until his death inFitchburg, Massachusetts, on December 26, 1874. He was interred in Laurel Hill Cemetery.[5]
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromMassachusetts's 9th congressional district January 2, 1872 – March 3, 1873 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromMassachusetts's 10th congressional district March 4, 1873 – December 31, 1874 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
