Commander William Michael Crose
November 10, 1910 - March 14, 1913

A Biographical Sketch of American Samoa’s Seventh Naval Governor: Commander William Michael Crose, U.S. Navy  (Term of Office: November 10, 1910-March 14, 1913)

On February 8, 1867, William Michael Crose, American Samoa's seventh naval governor (November 10, 1910-March 14, 1913), was born in Greencastle, Indiana. (1a. Anonymous 1921: 673)

On November 10, 1910, Commander William Michael Crose relieved Captain John F. Parker, and took office as the seventh naval governor of American Samoa (until March 14, 1913). (6. Sorensen 2003: 1)

On December 1, 1910, Governor Crose, issued his "Regulation No. 3-1910," which amended Commandant Benjamin Tilley's "Regulation No. 11-1900: Licenses, Etc., for Firearms." (1a. Noble 1931: 40-43)

On January 3, 1911, Commander Crose, appointed a Board of Education, comprised of the following members: Navy Chaplain H.M.T. Pearce; Navy Assistant Surgeon W.H. Connor, and Mrs. Charles Moore, wife of a Fagatogo school teacher. (1d. Bryan 1927: 82)

On January 3, 1911, Governor Crose, appointed a Board of Education, comprised of the following members: Navy Chaplain H.M.T. Pearce; Navy Assistant Surgeon W.H. Connor, and Mrs. Charles Moore, wife of a Fagatogo school teacher. (1d. Bryan 1927: 82)

On February 4, 1911, Governor William M. Crose asked the U.S. Navy's Bureau of Medicine and Surgery to send an eye specialist to the U.S. Naval Station Tutuila for temporary duty. (2f. Crose 1911: 4)

On February 11, 1911, Commander Crose asked the Secretary of the Navy, George von L. Meyer, to send a dentist to the U.S. Naval Station Tutuila. (2f. Crose 1911: 4)

On May 15, 1911, Governor Crose wrote a two-page letter to Secretary of the Navy George von L. Meyer stating that the designation "U.S. Naval Station Tutuila" was inadequate and incorrect, as it did not include the eastern Samoan islands. He said that "The people of Manu'a resent their being classed as part of 'Tutuila,' as Manu'a has always been independent, prosperous and of great pride of race." He suggested that America's Samoan Territory be called either "American Samoa" or "Eastern Samoa." (2f. Letter, Crose-Meyer: 05/15/1911)

On May 20, 1911, Commander Crose, issued his "Regulation No. 4-1911: Trespass of Pigs, Cows, Bulls or Calves and Removal of Walls Across Public Highways," which amended Governor E.B. Underwood's "Regulation No. 1-1904" of the same title. (1a. Noble 1931: 20)

On May 25, 1911, during Governor Crose’s administration, a Samoan Hospital Fund was created in American Samoa. Its sources were "small fees for medical services and operations at the Samoan Hospital, extra attendants, bed patients, and the sale of drugs purchased by the fund." (2f. Crose 1911: 4)

On June 10, 1911, Governor William Michael Crose, enacted his "Regulation No. 5-1911: Administration of Oaths and Acknowledgements and Punishment of the Crimes of Perjury and Subornation of Perjury." (1a. Noble 1931: 65-66)

On July 17, 1911, in his Annual Report for Fiscal Year 1910, Commander William Crose, asked Secretary of the Navy George von L. Meyer to appropriate funds for a library like the "handsome Carnegie Library" in Suva, Fiji. Crose said that "the library here should be more general than the Navy standard libraries. It should contain full sets of the works of standard authors. It should have books on all branches of science and on agriculture and farming in all of their phases.....[There should be books of reference of all kinds. Particularly, it is desired to have a large collection of literature concerning Samoa and the South Seas." He added that "It would not be objectionable if these books were not new, provided they were in good condition." (2f. Crose 1911: 3)

On July 17, 1911, in his "Annual Report to the Secretary of the Navy," (George von L. Meyer) American Samoa's Governor, Commander William Michael Crose, reported on the Fita Fita Guard as follows: "A noticeable improvement has been effected in the teaching of the English language to the members of the Native Guard. The instruction has been, and is, in charge of the Chaplain. He now holds two instruction periods daily, of one hour each, and more interest is shown by the fitafitas than formerly. An attempt will be made to have a limited conversational knowledge of English a requirement for re-enlistment, but it seems next to impossible for some of the fitafitas to learn English...Instruction in wig-wag signalling has begun, and some of the Guard are able to send and receive messages, signalling slowly. Signal parties are today on two mountain peaks--Matafao and Tuaolo--signalling to each other. Practice marches have been instituted, and the fitafitas are gaining much more extended knowledge of the trails on the island. Small-arm target practice will be taken up during this year. The Band plays very well, considering the material from which it is made. Samoans do not play any musical instruments except the harmonica, and have no knowledge of written music, so the difficulties confronting a bandmaster may be appreciated. Some of the bandsmen have been in this band since it was established in 1902. The Band has twice given concerts in Apia, and was complimented upon its performance. It is taken to Manu'a when the station ship goes to that Island. There is a great demand for duty in the fitafitas, and we have no trouble in getting the best of the young men of the Island to enlist." (2f. Crose 1911: 4-5)

On October 17, 1911, Commander William Michael Crose issued his "Regulation No. 6-1911: Construction and Maintenance of Roads." (1a. Noble 1931: 73-74)

On October 17, 1911, Commander William Michael Crose, Governor of American Samoa, issued his "Regulation No. 6-1911: Construction and Maintenance of Roads." (1a. Noble 1931: 73-74)

On February 23, 1912, American Samoa's Governor, Commander William Michael Crose, issued his "Regulation to Enforce the Educational Rights of Children" and his "Compulsory Education Regulation of 1912." These regulations required all children between the ages of 6 and 13 to attend school at least four days a week during the school year. (1d. Bryan 1927: 84)

On May 6, 1912, Commander William Michael Crose, Governor of American Samoa, issued his "Regulation No. 2-1912: Buildings," which repealed Governor Benjamin Franklin Tilley's "Regulation No. 1-1901: Buildings," which was enacted on March 25, 1901. (1a. Noble 1931: 23-24)

On July 12, 1912, American Samoa's Governor, Commander William Michael Crose, wrote to the President of the Kamehameha Schools in Hawaii, asking if it would be possible to send Samoan students there. (1d. Bryan 1927: 84)

On July 20, 1912, American Samoa's Governor, Commander William Michael Crose, issued his "Regulation No. 4-1912: Importation of Animals," which forbade the importation of any animals, "excepting certified domestic animals," namely, "Horses, mules, donkeys, cattle, sheep, swine, goats, dogs, cats and poultry." (1a. Noble 1931: 18)

On October 24, 1912, President William Howard Taft commissioned Commander William Michael Crose as "Governor of American Samoa." Prior to this, American Samoa's governors had been commissioned as "Governor of Tutuila," which, Crose felt, was a slight to the Manu'ans. (1d. Bryan 1927: 54-55)

On March 14, 1913, Lieutenant Nathan Woodworth Post relieved Commander Crose and became American Samoa's eighth naval governor (acting: until July 14, 1913). (2e. USNHC: Post RO)