Charles William Croft was born in Barnwell County South Carolina on January 27, 1836 to parent John and Abigail Hunter Croft.  Sometime around 1837, as a result of mounting debts, the Croft Family had to sell their South Carolina property and they moved to Lowdens County Georgia.  According to Croft Family research, sometime in 1857 while the family was living in Georgia, Charles Croft married to Mary Jane McCloud in a double wedding at Moultrie.  Shortly after the marriage the Croft Family again moved farther south to settle in New River [Bradford] County Florida sometime in December of 1857. At the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861 Charles didn't enlist right away and instead remained with his family.  As the second year of war raged on and the call for more men came, Charles volunteered his services and enlisted.  On March 4, 1862 Charles W. Croft traveled to the small town of Lake Butler, Florida where he would enlist for service with the Confederate States Army.  In Lake Butler Charles was mustered into service with Company A of the 7th Florida Infantry Regt.  During his services with Company A of the 7th Florida, Croft was promoted to rank of Sergent. According to the writings of Charles Croft, in 1865 he was discharged from service in Lake City, Florida on account of the close of the war.  He further writes that he was discharged at the Lake City Hospital, however it is unclear if he was a patient of the hospital or simply there with his company. After being discharge Charles found his way back home to his family awaiting him in New River County.  According to Croft Family research, upon returning home Charles found his family in a most terrible state of near starvation.  In 1869 Charles lost his father, John, to death while the family was still living in New River County.  Within 5 years of John Croft's death the family moved to Pasco County where they settled near Dade City in ca. 1874.  Upon arriving in Pasco County Charles acquired property and soon engaged in the occupation of farming. Sometime that year, 1874, Croft employed a man by the name of Jim Smith to work as a farm laborer.  Smith was hired to work for the three month harvest season at the rate of $15 a month.  After about a month Smith became dissatisfied and quit the job as laborer.  Smith immediately demanded that Croft pay him for the one month that he had worked and instead of giving Mr. Croft a chance to pay he filed a lawsuit against him for the money.  Charles Croft then made a trip to Brooksville where he met and hired a new lawyer named Charles Harrison to represent him in the lawsuit.  With the case being the first for the new lawyer, Harrison gave a brilliant and successful defense resulting in a win for Croft.  Smith becoming outraged at the results of the trial, he began cursing the entire court, judge, lawyers, Mr. Croft and all in the room.  A fist fight soon ensued in the courtroom, which Charles Croft is also said to have won.  As a result of the trial Mr. Croft paid Charles Harrison for a defense, the fee was $15. In December of 1879 Charles Croft added to his property interest in Pasco County through the purchase of additional acreage.  According to land records, on December 19, 1879 Charles Croft purchased a section of property from State of Florida, which is further described as being located section 22, range 24, township 21; in near Dade City.  By May of 1881 Charles had made yet another purchase of property from the State of Florida, which adjoined to his previously purchased property in section 22.  After his acquisition of property Charles soon engaged in the the orange growing business.  Croft Family research indicates that Charles acquired a packing house in Dade City sometime in the early 1890's.  It was the packing house where the oranges from Charles Croft's groves were packed for shipping and sale. By January of 1895, like many, Charles Croft had lost all of his orange groves to the devastating Great Freeze of 1895-95.  Between December of 1894 and January of 1895 temperature in Pasco County stayed in the high teens to low twenties for nearly two weeks killing orange grove throughout the state.  Croft would never replant the groves on his property but instead turned to farming the land instead. Sometime ca. 1900 Charles Croft became a member of the United Confederate Veteran Camp No. 57 in Dade City.  At Veteran meeting Croft was able to share in the company of those he had served in the Civil War with.  Charles remained and active member of the United Confederate Veteran Camp in Dade City for many years.  By 1906 the Charles Croft suffered with the loss of his wife.  On August 9, 1906 Mary Jane McCloud Croft died at the family home in Dade City, after her death Charles interred her body in the Dade City Cemetery in the Croft Family plot. Soon after his wife's death Charles met Mary L. Martin, who had lived in Dade City since the age two.  On December 23, 1907, at age 71, Charles Croft married to Mary L. Martin, who at the time was only 31.  Charles and Mary L. continued to reside in Dade City where Charles continued his occupation as a farmer, however they would not have any children together. After being married for nearly 12 years, on June 19, 1919, Charles W. Croft passed away at his home in Dade City.  According to his obituary, Charles was actively engaged in tilling the soil of his farm to within ten months of his death, always producing plenty to simply care for his large family.  In his last days Mrs. Mary Martin Croft tenderly cared for her dear husband.  After his death Mary interred Charles in the Dade City Cemetery in the Croft Family plot. (Research by Jeff Cannon- Copyright © 2008)