Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1913-12-30
Died at the Family Home on Walnut
Street After Long Illness
at the Age of Nearly IS
Years.
CAME TO WEBSTER CITY IN 1865
Held Many Positions of Public Trust
Had a Fine Record as a
Soldier.
CAME TO WEBSTER CITY IN 1865

Col Geo. w. Crosley died at the
family home on Walnut street at ten
O'Clock Saturday night, December
9th, at the age of "A years, nine
months and % days, from complica-
tions growing out of a wound receiv-
ed while serving as soldier in the
union army.
Col Crosley was born in New
Haven, Ohio, March 4, 1889, and
went to illinois with his parents
four years later, remaining a resi-
dent of that state, where he grew to
manhood, until 1866, when he came
to Iowa. locating in Story county,
where he assisted his father in i'm
proving farm now embraced within
the city of Ames. In 1858 he re-
moved to the town of Nevada, resid-
ing there until the outbreak of the
civil war. On May 21, 1861, he en-
listed in company E, Third Iowa Vol
unteer Infantry, and few days lat
er left with his company for Keo-
kuk, the rendezvous of the regiment
where he was mustered into service
as first sergeant. He was subse-
quently promoted to first lieutenant
OF his company and later to major of
his regiment. He received the
brevet rank of lieutenant colonel
and afterwards colonel Of his regi-
ment for meritorious service in bat
tie He was active during the entire
war and participated in many OF the
most important engagements. At the
close of hostilities he received an
honorable discharge and came to this
city in September, 1865, and has
made Webster City his home ever
since For a number of years he
was engaged in the general merch-
andise business and was postmaster
for some time during the first adj
ministration of President Grant. Lat
er he was commercial traveller and
later again engaged in business, oc-
cupying for six years in the early
DAYS the corner store room now oc-
cupied by w. E. Brown. He took an
active interest in politics and was an
ardent republican. In 1879 he re-
tired from business and was nomin-
ated and elected sheriff of the coun-
ty, which position he held for twoI
terms, performing the duties of the
Office with that fidelity and ability
that marked all his efforts through
out his honorable career. He was NOM
mated for third term, but declined.
In 1884 he, was made warden of the
Iowa penitentiary at Fort Madison
and served in that capacity six years,
filling the position with credit to
himself and to the satisfaction of
the people of the state. When he
retired from the wardenship of the
penitentiary he returned to Webster
City. He served six years as a mem
Der of the city council and in that
position, as in all others, he measur-
ed up to the full stature of man.
He has been Unidentified with all
good movements for the moral in
tellectual and material up-building
and progress of Webster City during
all the years of his residence here
and no man in Webster City enjoy
ed in fuller degree the respect and
esteem of those who knew him best.
AS an indication of the character
of the man and with what jealousy
he regarded his reputation-really
the most valuable asset a man can
possess-it might not be improper
to relate a circumstance, apparently
of little consequence, yet of great
importance when estimating the
worth and integrity of public ofic-
ial. While warden of the peniten-
tiary and a resident of Fort Madison,
. merchant Of that town gave pros
ent to a member of the colonel's
family. It was small thing, but
the colonel did not approve Of pub
lic oflcial accepting such favors or
OF allowing his family to do so.