George W. Crosley (1839-1913)

CROSLEY

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 4/20/2019 at 13:46:04

George W. Crosley was born in New Haven, Ohio, March 4, 1839; he died at Webster City, Iowa, December 27, 1913. When he was four years of age his parents emigrated to Illinois where he grew to manhood. In 1856 they removed to Story county, Iowa, where he assisted his father in cultivating a farm now within the limits of Ames. Two years later he removed to Nevada where he remained until the outbreak of the Civil war. On May 21, 1861, he enlisted in Company E, Third Iowa Volunteer Infantry and served throughout the war, participating in many important engagements. He was promoted to Major of his regiment and was brevetted Colonel for meritorious service. At the close of the war he located in Webster City where he engaged in the mercantile business. He was postmaster during Grant's administration, and a commercial traveler for some time. In 1879 he was elected sheriff and by reelection served two terms. In 1884 he was appointed warden, of the Iowa penitentiary at Ft. Madison and filled that position for six years. Returning to Webster City he served six years as member of the city council. Tn 1907 he began his work on the Roster Board which prepared the roster of all Iowa soldiers under the direction of the Thirty-second General Assembly. Colonel Crosley was appointed secretary of the Boaird and for more than four years spent practically all his time in that work, preparing the historical sketches and compiling and revising the records.

Citation: "George W. Crosley." The Annals of Iowa 11 (1914), 397-397.
Available at: https://doi.org/10.17077/0003-4827.3920