Crosley, Varick W (1875-1958)

CROSLEY, WHITLEY, MILLEN, SEIDMAN

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 12/12/2020 at 10:52:02

Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, Iowa, Friday, December 19, 1958

Varick Crosley Died Thursday; Rites Monday

Had Been Active in Webster City Business Firm Since 1900

Varick W. Crosley, 83, widely known Webster City businessman who had been active in the realtor and abstract business here since 1900, died last evening at 10 o'clock at the Hamilton county hospital. He had been a patient there since last Saturday.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Foster funeral home with the Rev. E. G. Brinkmeyer officiating and with burial at Graceland cemetery.

Varick W. Crosley, son of Col. and Mrs. George W. Crosley, was born Nov. 11, 1875 in Webster City. He received his education and grew to young manhood in this community.

He was united in marriage in 1906 to Miss Gladys Whitley of Webster City and the Crosley family has always resided in this city.

He opened his abstract and farm loan office here in 1900 after having been employed as an abstractor for six years in Webster City and at Nevada. In 1918 the Crosley Investment Co. was organized, and in 1940 the business was reorganized as Crosley and Boeye, Incorporated.

Early in his career he became prominent among title men, and was a charter member of the Iowa Title association which he helped to found and of which he was president in 1906. He was also a charter member of and helped found the American Title Association and last year was honored at the 50th anniversary meeting of the association held at Richmond, VA., being one of three living charter members so honored. He served as secretary of the American association in 1909 and in 1922 was elected president of the Farm Mortgage Bankers Association of Iowa.

During World War I, he served in many capacities to aid the war effort, being chairman of the county Red Cross chapter, a member of the draft board, chairman of the defense council, county food administrator, chairman for Liberty Loan drives and chairman of Hoover Relief Commission.

He was also active locally as park commissioner, being instrumental in the establishment of Kendall Young park, Briggs Woods and Bells Mill park. He was active in the Republican party both in local, county and state circles and was one of the eldest members of the Webster City Masonic lodge and the Elks lodge.

In 1950, he was honored on the anniversary of 50 years in business in Webster City and was undoubtedly the eldest resident with the longest record of continuous business in this community.

He was preceded in death in 1924 by his wife; by his parents; two brothers and one sister.

Surviving are one son, Carlton W. Crosley, a business associate of his father for many years; two daughters Mrs. James K. (Mary Eleanor) Millen of Los Angeles and Mrs. Nathaniel (Virginia) Seidman of Evanston, Ill.; three grandsons and two granddaughters.