Jefferson Cruger, school teacher, soldier, temperance movement activist, and farmer, was born in Poughkeepsie, New York in 1804(?), son of Daniel C. Cruger, Jr., a New York Congressman. He began his career as a school teacher in Poughkeepsie. On September 17, 1831, he married Mary Sherwood. They had eight children: Mary, Minerva, Jefferson, Henry, Elizabeth, George W., Daniel D., and Joseph. Prior to the Civil War Cruger moved to Iowa and started farming. In 1862 at the age of 58 he enlisted in Company K, 46th Iowa Infantry, Union Army. His sons, Jefferson, who died in New Orleans during the war, and Henry, also enlisted. After the war Henry moved to Waterloo, Wisconsin. His father bought a farm and settled in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. As times were hard after the war, the elder Cruger returned to teaching near Mondovi, Wisconsin. He died in Eau Claire on October 26, 1884.
