William Crooks (colonel)

William Crooks
William Crooks
Personal details
Born	June 20, 1832; New York City, US
Died	December 17, 1907 (aged 75); Portland, Oregon, US
Resting place	Oakland Cemetery, Saint Paul, MN
Spouse(s)	Arabella Crooks, Harriet Marie Crooks
Relations	Ramsay Crooks (father)
Children	4
Military service
Allegiance	United States; • Union
Branch/service	Union Army
Years of service	1862–1864
Rank	Colonel
Battles/wars	American Civil War Siege of Spanish Fort (March 26 – April 8, 1865); Battle of Fort Blakeley (April 9, 1865); ; U.S.-Dakota War of 1862 Battle of Birch Coulee (September 2–3, 1862); Battle of Wood Lake (September 23, 1862); ; Sibley's 1863 Campaign Battle of Big Mound (July 24, 1863); Battle of Dead Buffalo Lake (July 26, 1863); Battle of Stony Lake (July 28, 1863); ;
Member of the Minnesota Senate
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives; from 's 23rd district district
	In office; 1881–1883
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives; from 's 23rd district district
	In office; 1875–1878

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William Crooks (June 20, 1832 – December 17, 1907) was a Colonel during the American Civil War, member of the Minnesota House of Representatives, U.S. Military Academy graduate, and a veteran railroader. He led the 6th Regiment Minnesota Volunteer Infantry from August 1862 to October 1864, mainly contending against the Sioux. Crooks built the first rail line in the State of Minnesota, the St. Paul & Pacific. His first locomotive he named for himself the William Crooks 4-4-0 and began its operation in 1861. His operation was taken over by James J. Hill. The William Crooks would become the first locomotive of Hill's Great Northern Railroad, and he would serve as the naming inspiration for one of the communities it passed through, Crookston, Minnesota.