William H. Crook

William H. Crook was born in Prince George’s County, Maryland on October 15, 1839. Little is known about his childhood and upbringing. He enlisted during the Civil War, serving in Captain Knight’s Company 3rd Battalion Infantry.¹ He was assigned by the Metropolitan Police to guard duty at the White House in January 1865.² Later that year, Crook was employed as one of two policemen stationed at the Executive Mansion.³ A couple years later, Crook was listed as a clerk within the Treasury Department though he likely was still working at the White House.⁴ 

After the election of Ulysses S. Grant in 1869, Robert Todd Lincoln wrote a recommendation for Crook to remain as a clerk in the Executive Office.⁵ He held this position for the Grant, Hayes, Garfield, and Arthur presidencies, handling correspondence and other official paperwork. During the first term of Grover Cleveland, he was briefly the disbursing clerk and then named executive clerk once again.⁶ He retained that title until the Theodore Roosevelt presidency, when he was also named disbursing officer.⁷ In this role, Crook’s administrative duties included managing office personnel and accounting for White House expenses. 

In 1910, Crook’s memoir Through Five Administrations was published, detailing his long career at the White House spanning from the Lincoln to Arthur presidencies. By 1911, Crook was no longer an executive clerk, solely serving as the disbursing agent.⁸ In January 1915, his 50 years of White House service were recognized by President Woodrow Wilson, cabinet officers, and staff with the gifting of a gold-headed cane.⁹ On March 13, 1915, he passed away in Washington, D.C. President Wilson, along with White House staff members, attended his funeral service.¹⁰ Crook was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.