An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The
Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893, pages 325-326
	
	
	HON. C. CROSBY, a representative pioneer of Washington, dates his advent to
the State as early as 1851. Since that time he has been prominently identified
with the growth and prosperity of Thurston and Lewis counties. When the
industries of milling and manufacturing were in their infancy he gave every
encouragement to those undertaking their establishment. He justly has the
distinction of being the pioneer merchant of Centralia, but inasmuch as many of
the enterprises with which he has been connected are mentioned at length on
other pages of this volume, this sketch will be confined to his personal
history.
	The place of his birth is East Brewster, Massachusetts, and the date January
6, 1838. His parents, Clanrick and Phebe H. (Fessenden) Crosby, were also
natives of Massachusetts, and were descendants of old and influential New
England families. Clanrick Crosby was a seafaring man, and was commander of the
brig Grecian, the vessel in which the family sailed around Cape Horn to
California in 1849. After some time in the port of San Francisco, Captain Crosby
continued his voyage north to Portland, Oregon, where he disposed of his
interest in the vessel and gave up his command. The following year (1850) he
came to Washington and purchased property where the town of Tumwater now stands;
there he engaged in milling and prosecuted other enterprises until the time of
his death, in 1875.
	C. Crosby, son of the above, is the eldest of a family of six children; he
was a student in the schools of Forest Grove, Oregon, and also at Tumwater,
where the family joined the father in 1852. After leaving school he engaged in
business with his father, and remained at Tumwater until 1874; he then located
permanently at Centralia and embarked in mercantile trade, which he has
continued to conduct with marked success through a long term of years. He was
elected County Commissioner of Thurston county in 1865, and for nine years
served as Postmaster of Centralia, discharging the duties of this office with
rare fidelity. In 1885 he was joint Councilman in the Territorial Legislature,
the district he represented comprising Lewis and Thurston counties. He has been
twice elected a member of the City Council, and has rendered the community most
excellent service as a member of the Board of Trade. For many years he has given
especial attention to the educational facilities afforded the youth of the
State, and has done much to elevate the standard in his county.
	Besides his mercantile business, Mr. Crosby has other investments that have
proven very profitable; he has been one of the leading factors in the
development of the native resources of both Thurston and Lewis counties, and is
highly esteemed by all classes of citizens. Politically he adheres to the
principles of the Republican party. He is a member of the I.O.O.F., and of the
order of Good Fellows.
	He was married at Tumwater, December 23, 1863, to Miss Martha Ward, of Stark
county, Illinois, and of this union four children have been born: Walter E. and
Fannie (wife of T.J. Homer) survive; those deceased are Carrie E. and Ella M.,
who was the wife of Mr. W.H. Peter.
	
	
Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in September 2003 by Jeffrey L. Elmer
	
	
	
	
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Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project.  Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.