# Alvah Crocker

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American politician

Alvah Crocker Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts 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 Party Whig, Republican Children Charles Thomas Crocker Signature

**Alvah Crocker** (October 14, 1801 – December 26, 1874) was an American manufacturer and railroad promoter. He served in the [Massachusetts General Court](/source/Massachusetts_General_Court) and was a [U.S. representative](/source/United_States_House_of_Representatives) from [Massachusetts](/source/Massachusetts).

## Biography

Born in [Leominster, Massachusetts](/source/Leominster%2C_Massachusetts), Crocker attended the public schools and [Groton Academy](/source/Groton_Academy). He was first employed in a [paper mill](/source/Paper_mill) at [Franklin, New Hampshire](/source/Franklin%2C_New_Hampshire), in 1820. In 1823, he borrowed the money necessary to establish a paper mill at [Fitchburg](/source/Fitchburg%2C_Massachusetts) 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 the [Massachusetts legislature](/source/Massachusetts_legislature) in 1835, where he advocated steam communication with [Boston](/source/Boston). 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 the [Vermont and Massachusetts](/source/Vermont_and_Massachusetts_Railroad), the [Troy and Boston](/source/Troy_and_Boston_Railroad), and the [Hoosac Tunnel](/source/Hoosac_Tunnel) railroads, and in 1847/8 lectured in behalf of the tunnel project.[3] The [Science Channel](/source/Science_Channel) documentary *Driven to Invent: Killer Tunnel* called Crocker "The Father of Modern Tunneling" for his influence in advancing the use of [geologists](/source/Geologist), [explosives](/source/Explosives), [pneumatic tools](/source/Pneumatic_tool), [boring](/source/Boring_(earth)) technology, and said, "He laid down the rules for tunnel construction even to the present day."[4]

He served as president of the [Fitchburg Railroad](/source/Fitchburg_Railroad). During the [American Civil War](/source/American_Civil_War), he was a member of the [Massachusetts State Senate](/source/Massachusetts_State_Senate) for two terms.[3]

Crocker was elected as a [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) to the [Forty-second Congress](/source/42nd_United_States_Congress) to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of [William B. Washburn](/source/William_B._Washburn) (who was elected Governor). He was reelected to the [Forty-third Congress](/source/43rd_United_States_Congress). He served in Congress from January 2, 1872, until his death in [Fitchburg, Massachusetts](/source/Fitchburg%2C_Massachusetts), on December 26, 1874. He was interred in Laurel Hill Cemetery.[5]

## See also

- [List of members of the United States Congress who died in office (1790–1899)](/source/List_of_members_of_the_United_States_Congress_who_died_in_office_(1790%E2%80%931899))

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Crane, Ellery Bicknell (1907). [*Historic Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Personal ..., Volume 4*](https://books.google.com/books?id=ByzhgLUOIRIC&q=Alvah+Crocker+fitchburg+ma&pg=PA244). Lewis Publishing Company. p. 244.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-biodictgoog_2-0)** [*The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans*, by John Howard Brown](https://books.google.com/books?id=mFEDAAAAYAAJ)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-acab_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-acab_3-1) [Wilson, J. G.](/source/James_Grant_Wilson); [Fiske, J.](/source/John_Fiske_(philosopher)), eds. (1900). ["Crocker, Alvah"](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Appletons%27_Cyclop%C3%A6dia_of_American_Biography/Crocker,_Alvah). *[Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography](/source/Appletons'_Cyclop%C3%A6dia_of_American_Biography)*. New York: D. Appleton.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [Driven to Invent: Killer Tunnel](http://science.discovery.com/tv-schedules/series.html?paid=48.13783.109418.27620.x)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** - United States Congress. ["Alvah Crocker (id: C000916)"](http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=C000916). *[Biographical Directory of the United States Congress](/source/Biographical_Directory_of_the_United_States_Congress)*.

**Attribution**

This article incorporates [public domain material](/source/Copyright_status_of_works_by_the_federal_government_of_the_United_States) from [*Biographical Directory of the United States Congress*](http://bioguide.congress.gov). [Federal government of the United States](/source/Federal_government_of_the_United_States).

## Future reading

- Wheelwright, William Bond, *Life and Times of Alvah Crocker* 1923, Reprint, New York: Arno Press, 1981.

## External links

- Crane, Ellery Bicknell: [*Historic homes and institutions and genealogical and personal memoirs of Worcester County Massachusetts*](https://books.google.com/books?id=ByzhgLUOIRIC&pg=RA2-PA243), page 241.

U.S. House of Representatives Preceded by William B. Washburn Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 9th congressional district January 2, 1872 – March 3, 1873 Succeeded by George F. Hoar Preceded by Henry L. Dawes Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 10th congressional district March 4, 1873 – December 31, 1874 Succeeded by Charles A. Stevens

v t e United States representatives from Massachusetts 1st district F. Ames Dexter Goodhue Holten Sedgwick Skinner Sedgwick J. Bacon Eustis Quincy Ward Jr. Mason Gorham Webster Gorham N. Appleton Gorham A. Lawrence Fletcher A. Lawrence Winthrop N. Appleton Winthrop S. Eliot W. Appleton Scudder T. D. Eliot Hall T. D. Eliot Buffington Crapo R. Davis Randall Wright G. Lawrence Treadway Heselton Conte Olver Neal 2nd district Goodhue Foster W. Lyman Sedgwick Ward Sr. W. Lyman Shepard J. Crowninshield Story Pickman W. Reed Pickering Silsbee Barstow B. Crowninshield Choate Phillips Saltonstall D. King Rantoul Fay Crocker Buffington O. Ames Harris Long E. Morse Gillett Churchill Bowles Kaynor Granfield Clason Furcolo Boland Neal McGovern 3rd district Gerry Bourne Coffin S. Lyman Mattoon Cutler Nelson Livermore White Pickering Nelson Varnum Nelson Osgood Cushing A. Abbott Duncan Edmands Damrell C. Adams Thomas A. Rice Twichell Whiting I Pierce Field B. Dean Field Ranney L. Morse J. Andrew Walker J. R. Thayer R. Hoar C. Washburn J. A. Thayer Wilder Paige F. Foss Casey Philbin Drinan Donohue Early Blute McGovern N. Tsongas Trahan 4th district Sedgwick Dearborn G. Thatcher Wadsworth Foster L. Lincoln Sr. Hastings Varnum W. Richardson Dana Stearns Fuller E. Everett Sa. Hoar Parmenter Thompson Palfrey Thompson Sabine Walley Comins A. Rice Hooper Frost J. Abbott L. Morse Collins O'Neil Apsley Weymouth Tirrell Mitchell Wilder Winslow Stobbs P. Holmes Donohue Drinan Frank Kennedy III Auchincloss 5th district Partridge Bourne Freeman L. Williams T. Dwight Ely Mills Lathrop Sibley J. Davis L. Lincoln Jr. Hudson C. Allen W. Appleton Burlingame W. Appleton Hooper Alley Butler Gooch Banks Bowman L. Morse Hayden Banks Sh. Hoar Stevens Knox B. Ames J. Rogers E. Rogers B. Morse Cronin P. Tsongas Shannon Atkins Meehan N. Tsongas Markey Clark 6th district G. Thatcher Leonard J. Reed Sr. J. Smith Taggart S. Allen Locke Kendall Grennell Alvord Baker Ashmun G. Davis Upham T. Davis Alley Gooch Banks Butler Thompson Loring Stone Lovering Lodge Cogswell Moody Gardner Lufkin A.P. Andrew G. Bates W. Bates Harrington Mavroules Torkildsen Tierney Moulton 7th district Leonard Ward Sr. Leonard Bullock Bishop Mitchell Barker Baylies Turner Baylies Hulbert Shaw H. Dwight S. Allen Grennell Briggs J. Rockwell Goodrich Banks Gooch Boutwell Brooks Esty E. Hoar Tarbox Butler W. Russell Stone Cogswell W. Everett Barrett Roberts Phelan Maloney W. Connery L. Connery Lane Macdonald Markey Capuano Pressley 8th district Grout G. Thatcher F. Ames Otis Eustis L. Williams Green Gardner Green J. Reed Jr. Baylies Sampson Hobart Lathrop Bates Calhoun J. Adams Mann Wentworth Knapp Train Baldwin G. Hoar J. M. S. Williams Warren Claflin Candler W Russell C. H. Allen Greenhalge Stevens McCall Deitrick Dallinger H. Thayer Dallinger Healey Goodwin Macdonald O'Neill Kennedy II Capuano Lynch 9th district Varnum Bishop J. Dean Wheaton J. Reed Jr. Folger J. Reed Jr. H. Dwight Briggs Jackson Hastings H. Williams Hale Fowler Little De Witt E. Thayer Bailey A. Walker W. Washburn Crocker G. Hoar W. Rice T. Lyman Ely Burnett Candler G. Williams O'Neil Fitzgerald Conry Keliher Murray Roberts Fuller Underhill Luce R. Russell Luce T. H. Eliot Gifford Nicholson Keith McCormack Hicks Moakley Lynch Keating 10th district Goodhue Sewall Read Hastings Upham J. Allen Brigham Wheaton Morton F Baylies Bailey H. A. S. Dearborn W. Baylies Borden H. Williams Borden Burnell Grinnell Scudder Dickinson Chaffee Delano Dawes Crocker Stevens Seelye Norcross W. Rice J. E. Russell J. Walker McEttrick Atwood Barrows Naphen McNary O'Connell Curley Murray Tague Fitzgerald Tague Douglass Tinkham Herter Curtis Martin Heckler Studds Delahunt Keating 11th district Bradbury Bartlett Cutler Stedman A. Bigelow Brigham B. Adams J. Russell Hobart J. Richardson J. Adams J. Reed Jr. Burnell Goodrich Trafton Dawes Chapin Robinson Whiting II Wallace Coolidge Draper Sprague Powers Sullivan Peters Tinkham Douglass Higgins Flaherty Curley Kennedy O'Neill Burke Donnelly 12th district H. Dearborn I. Parker Lee S. Thatcher Skinner Larned Bidwell Bacon Dewey Hulbert Strong Kendall L. Bigelow Baylies Hodges J. Adams Robinson F. Rockwell Crosby E. Morse Lovering Powers Weeks Curley Gallivan McCormack Keith Studds 13th district Wadsworth Seaver Ruggles Dowse Eustis J. Reed Jr. Randall Simpkins Greene Weeks Mitchell Carter Luce Wigglesworth Burke 14th district G. Thatcher Cutts C. King J. Holmes Lovering E. Foss Harris Gilmore Olney Frothingham Wigglesworth Martin 15th district Wadsworth Ilsley Whitman Widgery Bradbury Whitman Greene Leach Martin Gifford 16th district S. Thatcher Cook Tallman S. Davis Brown Orr Hill Thacher Walsh Gifford 17th district Bruce Chandler Gannett F. Carr Wood J. Carr Wilson Kinsley 18th district Wilson T. Rice J. Parker 19th district J. Parker Conner Gage Cushman 20th district Hubbard Parris E. Lincoln At-large Cobb

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Alvah Crocker](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alvah_Crocker) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alvah_Crocker?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.