Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-01-11
Death of a Former Bennlngtonlan.

Death of a Former Benningtonian.
In our Christmas issue we noted the
death in Constantine, Mich, of George
1. Crossett, which occurred the 18th, ult.
He was born in Bennington of Puritan
ancestry, on the 9TH day of January,
1928, and was personally known to many
of our readers. We have been furnished
some fm ther facts of Mr., Crossett's life
by his sister, Mrs. R. L. Steen, and give
them in addition to what was said De-
cember 25th. The extracts are from
Constantine paper: Mr.. @ Ossetts pa
rents, Isaac and Samantha Pratt Cros-
sett, were natives respectively of Salem,
Mass, and Bennington. His father was
a cabinet.makec and inventor, his most
important invention being a stave cutter,
which proved to be both valuable and
profitable and for which he received a
prize medal from Cooper Institute, N.
York. Circumstances compelled Mr.
Crossett to early learn to depend upon
his own resources, he having attended
school but three months after arriving
at the age of twelve. In later years,
however, he made up for this early lack
of educational advantages by reading
extensively such books as are calculated
to instruct and develop the mind.
Having a special talent for music,
while yeta boy, he joined the band in
his native town, becoming its leader a
few years later, but gave that up when
he entered business for himself at the age
Of twenty three. The Rev. Chas S. Rob
inson, D. D., in his book entitled "Bil-
lingham's "reminiscences of His Boy
hoods Days in Bennington" relates sew
eral anecdotes connected with Mr. Cros-
sett's musical ability, one of which reads
thus: cat the funeral of Captain Mar
tin Scott, who was killed in the Mexican
war and brought to Bennington for bur
ial, the band of which Mr. Crossett was
leader, played Pleyers hymn. l seemed
to distinguish Crossett's clarionet carry
ing the melody with its notes beautifully
clear" Mr., Crossetts love fer music
never departed him, and for about fifty
years he sang in different church chOirs.
Tie worked in his fathers shop until
twenty-three years of age, when he be-
gan selling his fathers patents, which
he continued until 1865. He made his
home in Bennington un il 1856, when he
went to Joliet, ILL.,, and engaged in the
manufacture of slaves and heading for
the wholesale trade. He remained res
dent of that city for four and half
years, when he removed 10 New Buffalo,
Michigan, where he opened large stave
mill and carried on mercantile business
in connection with it. Two and a half
years later he came to Constantine,
where, in 1864, he helped to incorporate
the First National Bank. In January
1869, he was chosen president of that in
stitution and held the position for TWEEN
ty consecutive years. This bank was
changed to the First State Bank IN June,
1894. For more than year previous to
this he had been president of the First
National Bank, and upon the incOrpora-
ton of the State Bank he was elected it's
president, which office he held at the
time of his death.
He was twice married. October 18th,
1851, in B Rim, N. Y, hr was married to
Minerva A. Hull, but this union termi-
mated four months later by her death,
February 18th, 1852. He was again mar
ried November 18th, 1856, to Mrs. Della
S. Thayer, daughter of the late Norman
and Rhoda Morse Harvey. who survives
him. Their life together ha' been one
of implicit confidence, usefulness and
trust in each other
In 1870 Mr.. Crosseut erected his fine
residence which is one of the ornaments
of Constantine.
OF Mr. Crossett's Christian life, his
character as a man, and benevolent i'm
pulses, we spoke in our previous article.
The Obsequies were held in the COngre-
gational church, in the city where he has
so long been prominent citizen, Deem
Der Goth. His decease is considertd a
great loss to that community.