|
A Biographical Record of
Hamilton County, Iowa A - Z L. M. CROSLEY submitted by Martha A Crosley Graham. L. M. Crosley is engaged in the drug and jewelry business in Randall and is an enterprising merchant, wide-awake and progressive. He was born September 9, 1875, and is therefore a young man, but has already attained an enviable success which argues well for the future. He is a native of Marshall county, Iowa, and is a representative of an old family of this state. His paternal grandfather, John Croslev, was born about 1816, resided for a long period in Iowa and died in Rushville, Nebraska, in 1892 at the age of seventy-six years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Catherine Myers, died in Grundy county, Iowa, at the age of fifty-six years. They were both settlers of Dubuque county and in that county Edgar Croslev, the father of our subject, was born, February 16, 1855. He pursued his education in the public schools of Grundy county, but in the meantime he resided in Illinois, to which state his parents removed when he was a year and a half old, there remaining until he reached the age of thirteen years, when they located in Grundy county, Iowa. He lived upon the home farm until he was twenty years of age and the occupation to which he was reared he has made his life work. He remained in Grundy county until 1882, when he removed to Hardin county and later located in Hubbard, Iowa. There he engaged in buying and shipping pouitry and eggs. In October, 1901, he came to Hamilton county, where he is now living a retired life. In 1875 he married Miss Cora Best, who was born October 21, 1855, and is the eldest daughter of G. W. and S. E. ( Moore ) Best who were natives of Ohio. In their family were seven children: Kate, who is living with her parents in Webster City; George, who is deputy auditor of Hamilton county and lives in Webster City; William and Mamie, both deceased; Lute, of Webster City; Mrs. Susie Moyer of Rockford, Illinois; and Mrs. Croslev. Mr. and Mrs. Best now live north of the Illinois Central depot in Webster City and are highly respected citizens of the county seat. Unto the parents of our subject have been born six children of whom L. M. is the eldest. Blanche is the wife of F. B. Smith of Randall. Birdie is the wife of C. H. Lambert. Sadie, Leonard and Bessie are all at home. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal church and in his political views the father is a Republican. Mr. Croslev of this review pursued his education in Radcliffe. Iowa, and when about seventeen years of age spent one year in the Hubbard high school. In the meantime he had taken up the study of pharmacy. He removed to Laurens Pocahontas county. Iowa, where he remained for fourteen months, when he became a registered pharmacist. He then went to Linn Grove, Iowa. where he took charge of a drug store for Roberts & Campbell, remaining there until Mr Roberts was registered. For one year he engaged in clerking in Le Mars, Iowa. after which he spent two years in charge of the Hubbard Drug. Store in company with D. E. Whitney. He then established a drug and jewelry store in Randall, opening this for business on the 1st of January, 1898. On the 15th of July, 1899, he purchased his partner's interest and has since continued alone. He now employs an experienced jeweler and is conducting a good business in both branches of his mercantile enterprise, receiving- a liberal patronage, which he well merits, because of his honorable business methods. He has had to contend against sickness having suffered from lung fever, from appendicitis and from the smallpox. In addition to his store he owns property in Randall, including the building next door to his own store and a quarter section of land in South Dakota. On the 15th of May, 1898, Mr. Crosley was united in marriage to Miss Edith May Beecher, who was born May 30, 1878, and is a daughter of G. W. and Amanda (Hall) Beecher. She is an only child and for a time attended the academy. at Providence. She afterward served as postmistress of Lawn Hill, where her parents are now living. Mr. Crosley has filled the position of township trustee, has served as a delegate to the county conventions and is recognized as one of the leading members of the Republican party. He deserves great credit for what he has accomplished in life, owing his success entirely to the exercise of sound business judgment and unfaltering energy. He is yet a young man, but to one of his determination, strong purpose and energy it is only a matter of time when he shall have gained a most desirable competence. |