WILLIAM CRAPP is recognized as one of the progressive farmers of the town of Oregon, and his success has been achieved entirely by his own efforts and the counsel and economy of his faithful wife.He was born in England, September 14, 1857, being one of the sixteen children of Thomas and Elizabeth (Keam) Crapp, both natives of England, where the mother still resides, the father being deceased.

The parents of our subject were among the unfortunate many in the mother country who, being poor, have but a slim change of bettering their condition, and the father earned the living for himself and family by working by the month or day. William Crapp received his education in the schools of his native land, and realizing the few opportunities that present themselves in England, in 1884 he and his young wife set sail for America.

First locating in Canada he remained in the dominion three years, and then came to Dane county, Wis., by the way of Chicago. He located in the town of Dunn, where he worked as a farm hand for a time and then purchased forty acres of land in the town of Fitchburg, near Lakeview, upon which he resided until 1895. He then sold his farm and purchased another, comprising one hundred and twenty acres of land, a large part of which was improved, in the town of Fitchburg, where he resided ever since.

There he has given his entire attention to the tilling of the soil, combined of course with the kindred occupation of stock-raising. In the latter line he has devoted his efforts mainly to the breeding of Shropshire sheep, in which he has been very successful, and he also follows dairying to a considerable extent. Since purchasing the farm on which he resides he has added extensively to its improvement, mainly the matter of buildings a fine resident, a barn, granary, etc.

Mr. Crapp is independent in his political views, and gives his support to men and measure as they appeal to his ideas of right and expediency, uninfluenced by the fetich of a party name.

He was married on June 16, 1882, to Miss Jane Hooper, daughter of John and Ann Hooper, of Saint Neots, England, where the father follows the occupation of a farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Crapp were members of the Church of England before coming to America, but they now are members of the Presbyterian denomination. They have no children.

1906 History of Dane County, Wisconsin, p. 203-204.