Col. George W. Crosley (1839-1913)

CROSLEY, CROSSLEY

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 7/5/2016 at 19:53:54

From Nevada Representative December 30, 1913 (front page)

COLONEL CROSSLEY DEAD

Lived at Webster City but was Story County Pioneer and Soldier

Colonel George W. Crossley long and familiarly known in Story county a distinguished veteran of the civil war and one of the leading citizens of Hamilton county, died at his home in Webster City lat Saturday night in the 75th year of his age. His death followed a somewhat protracted and steady decline in health and strength and does not come as a surprise to his friends, though it is most profoundly regretted. His funeral is held at Webster City today, at which his old Story county friends will be represented by Messrs. J. A. Fitchpatrick, F. D. Thompson and perhaps others.

Colonel Crossley was born near New Haven, Ohio, March 4, 1839. He came with his father's family to Story county in 1856 and helped to open up the farm where the city of Ames now is. There he was living when the first call to arms was sounded in 1861, and he responded with those who enlisted in the first company raised here, Company E of the 3rd Iowa Infantry. He wen tout as orderly sergeant of this company and was soon promoted to a lieutenancy. This this rank he went in to the battle of Shiloh, from which battle he emerged as senior officer, in command of what was left of the regiment. As the result of his service in this battle he was jumped to the rank of major, which he held for the most of the war. He served with distinction in many engagements and was always one of the honored ones among the Iowa soldiers. He married during the war and located at the close in Webster City, where he ever after resided. He served as sheriff of Hamilton county and as warden of the penitentiary at Ft. Madison and in various other posts of civil usefulness; but his final and perhaps great civil service--certainly the one that will be of most lasting consequence--was in his later years by appointment of Governor Cummins, as compiler of the records of the Iowa soldiers in the civil war. This was work of tremendous detail and labor, but its results are a monument to Iowa patriotism and self-sacrifice. Indeed it was in this work that his health broke down, and to it he may fairly be said to have devoted his life.

The colonel is survived by his wife and three children, George R. of Ft. Madison and Varrick C. and Miss Charlotte of Webster City. Varick was in J. A. Fitchpatrick's office here a dozen or fifteen years ago for considerable time and its the best known of the family here excepting for the colonel himself.