Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-04-04

grew, and long before November 1869.
when the great fire swept away the entire
west side of Main street. the firm was
known as one Of the leading flour commission
houses Of New England
What a blow TO the village this fire seem
ed TO be, all Brattleboro men who have now
reached middle life will remember. The
smoking ruins and the big gap in the midst
OF what had been the centre of the town q
business activity made a hard fact 10 face
Who would have the courage to shoulder
the financial burden and undertake the
work of rebuilding was a serious question
When the spring Of 1870 came. a syndicate
OF citizens of whom Mr. Crosby was one.
made an offer for the site, but the majority
deemed the price asked too high and nego-
tlations were dropped But Just here it
was that Mr.. Crosby's courage, energy and
sagacity rose TO their full development In
July he made an individual offer for the
site now occupied by Crosby block it was
accepted, he secured the necessary finan-
cial backing, began the erection of the
building and pushed the work with such
vigor that the commodious structure was
under rental by the next April, 1871 The
financial burden involved was such as few
men of Mr.. Crosby's then limited means
would have cared to assume 1t was pluck
that did it, but the underlying motive was
public spirit-an Unborn animating wish to
do something for the community aud to see
his town prosper. On the completion Of
the new building Crosby q Co. occupied
the rooms over the Vermont National bank
Tor an Office, though that end of the build
ing had then been sold 10 the bank Since
vacatlng those rooms the quarters Of the
urn have been ia the portion Of the build
ing still owned by Mr. Crosby. In 1873
Market block, sold last year to W + Rich
ardson, was built, and this was folowed in
1874 by the erection of Harmony building
The recent history of Mr. Crosby's firm
is familiar. In 1871 l.. +. Adams came as
clerk, and in 1876 he was admitted TO
partnership Mr.. Rice leaving at that time
10 establish a business in the same line in
Worcester About this time the now ia
nous Minneapolis flour. made under the
new roller process, began ~ come into the
market The business Of the concern
steadily grew and required an additional
number Of travelers-one with headquar-
tiers at Schenectady, and one at Springfield
to take charge Of 1t. In 1878, Mr. Rice's
health falling, his Worcester business was
bought back into the concern and in 1880
his health growing still further IMPAIRED
=
the three buildings-Crosb Market and
Harmony blocks-which he had held up 10
that time, having been associated with Mr.
Crosby in 1870 and thereafter in his real
estate transactions. In MAY 1888. Chas r
Crosby, Mr.. Crosbys youngest son and
child, was admitted ~ the firm, having
then recently reached his majority.
In 1887 Mr. Crosby bought the old found
ry building on the bank OF the river and
built in Its place the large and substantial
storehouse, in portion Of which L. Cros-
by * 20. have since done a successful whole
sale and retail business in grain, meal and
iced, handling these goods from all points
IN the West. The total amount of the
hrm business for several wears past has
approached or equalled 81 900 900 annually
volume which is reached by few concerns
IN the same line Of trade IN New England
such a business Of such n kind is iu itself
monument which any man might well
be proud to leave 10 his children
In 1860 Mr. Crosby bought what was
then the Seymour place on Western ave
nue., enlarged aud repaired the buildings
and moved there, occupying 1t until in the
summer Of 1856 he removed n the slightly
Kellogg place on High street which he had
bought and remodeled and which has since
furnished him an elegant aud fitting home
All his life he was distinctIvely d builder
tie never owned place or moved into any
house but he began some work Of improve
ment aud put everything into a state Of
good repair Dilapidation and loose ends
he could not endure Besides the new
buildings erected by him already mentioned
he built in lsGs for his son. +. c Crosby.
the house now occupied by Judge Wheeler.
and in 1880 he built the cottage in the rear
of his own residence for the occupation of
his son Charles. During the time he was
engaged III the shook business at Centre
vile he took the contract and built the
present school house in that district 1t is
a fact IN this connection which assumes a
peculiar interest in view of his sudden
death, that the very last work upon which
he was engaged WAS that of preparing
plans, estimates and bills Of materials for
the extension which Crosby q Adams are
70 make the coming season upon the rear
Of the Brooks House Following his strong
natural inclination he had offered 70 take
the oversight Of the work and was looking
forward 10 1t with all the zest Of his early
years
Though always actively Interested in pub
llc affairs and prominent IN the discussion of
all questions Of general interest, he had no
disturbing ambition for public office. aud
his only noteworthy service in this direc-
ton was when, in 1871. he WIS elected Il
member of the legislature His belief in
railroads as an essential factor in our mol
ern business and community life has al
ready been referred to. He was an early
and constant friend of the Brattieboro 4
Whitehall road and took an active part in
the discussion and agitation which attend
eh No of hot II.
determined and self sacrificing efforts in
behalf Of the Wilmington railroad project
are matter of very recent history, and
his course in regard to It does credit IN his
large public spirit and to his understanding
OF the demand OF the times 1t is fact
well known 10 his personal friends that he
spent from his own pocket the sum of ; 1920
IN the survey and other work on that en-
terprlse, 10 say nothing of a summers time
given To IT. II Is safe to say that it WAS
the one unsatished ambition of ms life that
he did not see that road built He felt
deeply, as did 50 many other citizens, the
mistake made by Brattleboro in refusing to
aid the enterprise. To the last he did not
give up hope of ultimate success. hut WAS
In constant correspondence with railroad
men and engineers on the subject, letters
in answer having been received since his
death With another ten years of active
life IN him We believe ms energy would
have found some way To reach the desired
end
In his early religious faith Mr. Crosby
was Congregationalist, and united with
that church while living IN Marlboro; later.
however, he found himself at variance with
the creed of the church and as a result he
was finally dropped from the roll of mem
trrhf u
de used TO relate with quiet satisfaction
that when the little tempest attending this
event had subsidized he said to Parson Joseph
Chandler, You have had good deal of
trouble on my account; come down and |
will give you the best barrel of flour have
got. few years ago he was connected
for time with a tree religious move
nent IN this place but promptly withdrew
when he found IN what direction II was
leading. His contributions for church SUP
port were always freely and generously
given.
In politics Mr.. Crosby was thoroughly
and genuinely a Republican. No man In
BrattlebOro, or in Vermont. was more en-
Enthusiastically, actively and heipfullv inter
ested IN the Harrison campaign Of two
years ago than was he, and 1t was TO him a
source of the greatest pride and satisfac-
ton that his vote, which helped 10 elect
the grandson in 1855 had also helped 10
elect the grandfather IN 1910. His most
recent interest IN anything political has
been IN the movement for the reAppoiut.
ment of Capt Childs for postmaster. lie
believed tins movement 70 he directly IN
the line of the Republican principles and
professions which he had always main
tanned, and on this ground gave it his un-
wavering support,
While Mr. Crosby's domestic life has
been of the happiest character his sorrows
have henn mnnN ~ nIn,n1, III -. -.