The Crofton and Shubrick families were descendants of a prominent French American diplomat and businessman, Victor Marie du Pont (1767-1827), and represent middle-class American families in the mid-to-late nineteenth century.

Irvine Shubrick (1797-1849) was the son of Thomas Shubrick (1755-1810) and Mary Branford (1757-1832), born in South Carolina. He served in the Navy for thirty five years, including service during the War of 1812 and the Second Barbery War, earning the rank of commodore. Shubrick married Julia du Pont (1806-1882) and the couple had five children: Thomas Branford (1825-1847), Francis du Pont (1827-1849), Alicia Cecelia (1830-1894), Gabrielle Josephine (1835-1894), and Richard (1838-1900). Shubrick died April 5, 1849.

Julia du Pont Crofton (1866-1948) was born September 12, 1866 in Philadelphia to Robert E.A. Crofton (1834-1898) and Gabrielle Josephine Shubrick (1835-1894). Because her father was in the military, her early life was spent moving around to different forts, including time in the Dakota Territory and Washington, DC. In 1891, Crofton married Lieutenant Charles Carroll Walcutt Jr. (1861-1946), then stationed at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Like in her childhood, with Walcutt's military service, the couple lived in a variety of locations including Columbus, Ohio; Manila, Philippines; Honolulu, Hawaii; and Washington, DC. The couple is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.