For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 348
WILLIS HAROLD CROZER----Willis Harold Crozer, engaged in business as a member of the firm of Watson & Crozer, contractors for plumbing, heating, gas-fitting and sewer-work and gas and mill supplies, is a native of Downey, Iowa, born September 21, 1879. His parents were Willia and Dora ( Cornwall ) Crozer, natives of Ohio and Iowa respectively. His grandfather, James Crozer was born in the Buckeye state and devoted his early life to farming, but, following his removal to Iowa, became one of the first settlers of Downey and there turned his attention to merchandising. He made the journey westward by way of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers before the era of railroad travel and landed at Muscatine, living in the country for a short time. He then removed to Downey, where he opened a store, which he conducted successfully for many years, being numbered among the leading and progressive merchants of the town. At length when success had come to him in liberal measure he put aside business cares and lived retired until 1893, when his death occurred at the age of seventy years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Johanna Whitesell, is still living at Downey ay the advanced age of eighty-five years. They were the parents of six children : Charles, Emma, Willis, Kate, Frank and Joseph.The maternal grandfather of Willis Harold Crozer was Armenas B. Cornwall, who on removing from New York settled first in Ohio and afterward came to Iowa, spending much of his life on a farn near Downey. At length, he too retired from active business and took up his abode in Downey, where he died when about eighty years of age. He married Margaret Loy, who is still living in Downey at the age of eighty five. They had a large family, their children being: Mary, George, Helen. Dora, Alice, John, Elizabeth, Jessie, and two who died in early childhood.
Willis Crozer, the father of Willis Harold Crozer, was brought to Iowa in his youthful days and was reared in Downey, where he acquired a common school education and then took up the study of telegraphy. He followed that occupation during much of his life, and as station master and operator remained at Downey for a number of years. He was also a member of the firm of Crozer Brothers, general merchants of Downey, and subsequently was in partnership with Frank Gregg in the manufacture of cheese for a short time, but not liking that business he returned to telegraphy. He was connected with the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Company for over twenty years previous to engaging in the manufacture of cheese. About 1895 he went to West Liberty, Iowa, where he was manager of the postal telegraph service, and at the same time he conducted a confectionery and ice cream parlor. He came to Muscatine as the first manager of the postal telegraph service at this point in the fall of 1895 but died here two months later at the age of forty-three years. His first wife, the Mother of Willis Harold Crozer, died in 1880. Both were consistent members of the Baptist church. For his second wife the father chose Mary Schenck, of Muscatine county,and unto them two children were born: Robert F. and Kathleen. The mother of these children still survives. There were also two children of the first marriage : Alice, the wife of H. F. Kelch, of Lake View, Iowa, and Willis H. While living at Downey the father served as justice of the peace for seven years and proved a most capable official, his decisions being strictly fair and impartial. In politics he was an earnest republican, unfaltering in his allegiance to the party and its principles. In all matters of citizenship he was progressive and his aid and cooperation could be counted upon to further any movement for the public good.
Willis Harold Crozer was reared in Downey to the age of fourteen years and there attended the public schools. He then put aside his text-books and worked at various odd jobs, but later resumed his studies and was graduated from the Iowa City Academy in 1899 and from the Cedar Rapids Business College in 1901. Thus he was well qualified by educational training for the practical and responsible duties of life. He came to Muscatine in November, 1902, and entered the employ of the Roach & Musser Sash & Door Company, with which he continued until December, 1909, when he joined William J. Watson in a partnership under the firm style of Watson & Crozer. They have since taken contracts for plumbing, heating, gas-fitting and sewer-work and gas and mill supplies, with their place of business at No. 226 Iowa avenue. They are accorded an extensive patronage and their business is steadily growing along substantial lines.
Mr. Crozer holds membership in the Baptist church and also belongs to Liberty Lodge, No. 190, I. O. O. F., and to the Royal Arcanum. His political indorsement has been given to the republican party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, and while he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day he does not seek nor wish for office, preferring to concentrate his attention upon his business affairs, which are capably conducted and in which he is making steady progress, winning for himself a creditable position in the business circles of his adopted city.
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