Men With Custer, Editor: Ronald H. Nichols, (Custer Battlefield Historical & Museum Association, Inc., Hardin, Montana, 2000), CRAYCROFT, WILLIAM THOMAS
Rank: First Lieutenant Born: Jan. 28, 1847, Springfield, KY
Assign: Company B Died: Oct. 31, 1906, Dallas, TX
LBH: Not present - on detached service

Ordered before Retirement Board on May 18. Did not accompany expedition. The son of Thomas and Loretta Mudd Craycroft. Entered the Military Academy on July 1, 1865, by appointment from Kentucky. The 2290th graduate, he ranked 18th in his class (1869) of 39 graduates. Appointed second lieutenant, 7th Cavalry, on June 15, 1869. Accepted the appointment on July 7 at Springfield. James Porter and Charles Braden were classmates also assigned to the 7th Cavalry. After graduation leave he joined Company F at Fort Wallace, KS, on October 17. On scouting duty in Kansas and Colorado in November 1870 with winter station at Fort Leavenworth. In South Carolina from 1871 to April 1873 during the Ku Klux Klan troubles. At Fort Rice during the Yellowstone expedition in 1873. Transferred to Company B on December 2, 1875, at Shreveport, LA, and appointed first lieutenant to occupy the vacancy created by the transfer of Lieutenant Thomas Custer. On detached service purchasing horses in Kentucky from April to September 1876. Rejoined the regiment on September 28. On sick leave from October 17, 1876, until his retirement on June 28, 1878, for disability in line of duty. Resided in [L]amar, MO, and Bridgeport, CT, where he was employed in an industrial school. Also engaged in insurance and newspaper business. Died at age 59 on October 31, 1906, in Dallas, TX. Cause of death was apoplexy. Survived by his brother Hunter A. Craycroft, Dallas. (See Annual Report of the Association of Graduates of the … Military Academy… 1908, and O. W. Baylor, History of Washington County, First Families-Genealogies, October 31, 1935.).

Wm L Craycroft