Crossley, G. W.

CROSSLEY

Posted By: Joyce Hickman (email)
Date: 12/2/2007 at 21:38:26

G. W. Crossley

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, by J. H. Keatley, p.94, Garner Twp.)
G. W. Crossley, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Council Bluffs, was born in Lincolnshire, England, August 6, 1854, son of William and Susan (Hand) Crossley, natives of England, and both dead. He came here in 1855, with his parents, and settled on the the farm where he now lives; he has two sisters, one, Mrs. John A. Orr, living in Harrison County, Iowa, and one, Mrs. S. S. Fletcher, keeping house for him at the present time. The family came to this country with a company expecting to join the Mormons in Utah, but the mother was taken sick, and by the time she recovered they decided not to go to Utah. They landed first in New Orleans, thence by steamer to Keokuk, Iowa, then across the State in ox carts. When they reached Garner Township, they found a Mormon settlement at what was called Carterville. Most of the early settlers were Mormons, dissatisfied with the religion as exemplied in the West. Upon first coming to this county, Mr. Crossley's father bought a claim from a man by the name of Clough, pre-empted 120 acres, and this has since been added to until the farm now consists of about 800 acres, 160 of which belong to our subject's sister, who keeps house for him. When they first settled on the place, it was in a wild state, and the only building upon it was an old log hut, left by the Mormons, on their way to Salt Lake City. Mr. Crossley is engaged in stock-raising, feeding the most of his grain; he has fourteen head of thoroughbred Short-Horn cattle, and all ther est ofhis stock is of a high grade; he has a small orchard and raises some small fruits. Mr. Crossley is no partisan, but votes for whom he considers the best man.