Passaic County NJ Archives Biographies.....Henry Barrett CROSBY, 1815 - 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 November 10, 2008, 2:53 am

Author: Mary Depue Ogden, Editor  (1917)

CROSBY, Henry Barrett,
Founder of an Important Business.

  Of the three important periods in the life of Henry Barrett Crosby, Paterson's
leading merchant for so many years— childhood, youth and man, the first and
second most truly show his mettle and the strength of his character. Descended
from good English forbears, he inherited a strain of ambition, industry,
perseverance and determination which, with a sound mind and body, were his only
fortune. Yet as a boy he worked, contrived and saved, secured enough education
to render his after business life secure, purchased his freedom, and partially
learned a trade. His youth was a repetition of his childhood experiences, but he
persevered, never lost heart, and at the age of twenty-seven years had completed
his trade, tested of many of life's changes, accumulated a small capital which
he invested in a small business in Paterson that grew and grew until at his
retirement he had been for many years at the head of a very large wholesale and
retail grocery business. When prosperity came, the traits that won success
predominated, and that period of his life was noble and useful. But the
twenty-seven years preceding his entrance into business and the first years
thereafter were the years that proved his inward quality and his right to rank
as "a man among men."

  Henry Barrett Crosby was a descendant in the seventh generation of the Crosby
family in America founded by Simon Crosby, who came from England to New England
in 1635, on the ship "Susan and Ellen." Simon Crosby was a descendant of that
Ode de Crosseby who was constable of Titchall, Yorkshire, England, in 1204 A. D.
and bore arms: Per chevron sable, argent three goats pass, countercharged.
Watson Crosby, of the sixth generation, moved from Massachusetts to Brattleboro,
Vermont, but never prospered financially, although noted for honesty and
shrewdness of wit. He married Desiah Bangs, and had ten children, his only fortune.

  Henry Barrett, son of Watson and Desiah (Bangs) Crosby, was born at
Brattleboro, Vermont, April 13, 1815, and died in Paterson, New Jersey. He
attended the public schools until ten years of age, then began a life of toil
and privation that extended over a long period, but which, instead of crushing
his spirit and ambition, developed those latent qualities that carried him
finally to the topmost rounds of the ladder of success. He worked for two years
on a neighboring farm, his employer being the grandfather of President
Rutherford B. Hayes. At twelve years of age the family returned to
Massachusetts, locating in Springfield. the lad beginning work in a cotton
factory at Chicopee Falls. At the age of fourteen years he began learning the
paper maker's trade, but the introduction of machinery convinced him that the
day of the handmade paper worker was over. He worked at farming at fifteen
dollars monthly wages until sixteen years of age, then decided upon the
machinist's trade as his life work. He went to Woonsocket, Rhode Island, where
for six months he worked for his board, then for eight months at one dollar per
day wages. He made rapid progress in his trade, and next went to Chicopee Falls,
where he worked until June, 1834. His parents had returned to Brattleboro some
time before, and, having saved some money, he resolved to visit them and spend a
few months in attending school. He did so and for six months attended
Brattleboro Academy. During this period he bought his release from his father,
giving him notes for two hundred and twenty dollars, which he later paid in
full. He was then about twenty years of age, and with nothing but his freedom
papers he again started out to face the world. He secured employment in a
machine shop at Ware, Massachusetts, where he was employed three years. He then
started west by way of the Erie Canal, but only got as far as Utica, New York,
then started on the return journey. He got as far as Troy, there being taken
sick. After recovery he went to Poughkeepsie, where he obtained employment at
his trade, helping to build two engines for piledriving purposes. He then
started to return to Massachusetts, but on the steamer he met Supt. Lawton,
under whom he had formerly worked, and by him was induced to go to Paterson, New
Jersey, where Samuel Colt was beginning the manufacture of guns and pistols
under his own patents. He arrived in Paterson, April 23, 1837, being then
twenty-two years of age. He worked for Mr. Colt for some time, contracting
portions of the lock and revolving parts of the guns. Mr. Colt did not succeed
and Mr. Crosby was again out of work. Fortune now deserted him, his health
failed, and he was obliged to spend a summer at Cape May. A summer by the sea
completely restored his health, but times were bad, and having a very few
hundred dollars saved he decided to invest it in a small grocery store, although
he had no especial knowledge of that line of trade. He secured as assistant
Lewis L. Conklin, and under his advice stocked a small store on Main street,
near Broadway, opening for business, May 6, 1868. The little venture was a
success, Mr. Crosby proved an apt pupil, and soon demonstrated that at last he
had found his true vocation. In two years he was compelled to enlarge, and,
moving his business to Main street and Broadway, he obtained commodious and more
suitable quarters. There he remained ten years, then by purchase acquired more
property on Main street, and the property in the rear extending to Washington
street. He then not only extended his retail lines but also added a wholesale
department. His business became very large in both departments, but Mr. Crosby
had grown with it, and at no time was he at a loss to properly manage and direct
it. In 1867 he admitted his son, J. Henry Crosby, to a partnership under the
firm name of H. B. Crosby & Son. For twenty-one years longer he continued at the
head of the magnificent business he had created, then on April 2, 1888, after
forty-five years of successful endeavor in mercantile life, he retired, his son
continuing under the reorganized form, Crosby, Ackerman & Van Gieson, until 1893.

  During these forty-five years Mr. Crosby, although starting with no experience
and little capital, never allow a note or check to go to protest, never owed a
bill that was not paid exactly when due, nor ever paid less than one hundred
cents on the dollar. He was both exact and exacting, rendered to every man his
just due, and demanded from others the same. He never went outside his chosen
business, but into that he threw all the energy he possessed. He personally
directed and superintended his business, not until 1869 allowing himself an
extended vacation. He then toured Europe with his family, and also spent eight
months in California. His business record is a wonderful one, but its beginning
was on the sure foundations of honesty and uprightness, and on these foundations
was built the largest business of its kind, perhaps in the entire State.

  It is pleasant to record that Mr. Crosby was also a man of public spirit, and
aided in the establishment of other enterprises of importance and was foremost
in civic improvement. After his return from Europe in 1869 he read a paper
before the Paterson Board of Trade on "public parks," the result of his
investigation of parks and park systems abroad. From this paper sprang the
movement that gave to Paterson her splendid park system, Mr. Crosby long serving
as president of the board of park commissioners. He was associated with others
in founding the Cedar Lawn Cemetery Association, and from 1876 was its
president. He aided wonderfully in the suburban development of Paterson as
president of a building association, as president of the East Side Land Company,
as president of the Passaic Land Improvement Company at Lake View, and gave an
impetus to the building of modern homes of beauty by erecting his own beautiful
home, corner of Broadway and Paterson streets, in 1853, the location then being
a cornfield.

  He was one of the largest stockholders in the First National Bank, aided in
its organization, was a member of its first board of directors, and always held
that position while he served. He was for many years vice-president of the
Paterson Savings Institution, was one of the organizers of the Paterson Board of
Trade, and in New York was connected with the Produce Exchange and the Chamber
of Commerce. In all these his sound judgment, prudence and practical business
experience were of the greatest value. He gave to them the same careful
attention that he gave to his private business, neglecting no precaution to
safeguard corporate interests entrusted to him.

  In religious faith, Mr. Crosby was a Baptist, a member of the Paterson First
Church for forty years, serving as trustee and member of the building committee
that erected their new edifice. In politics he was an ardent Republican, served
as a delegate to the convention that nominated Abraham Lincoln for President,
and always was a loyal supporter of party principles. He was a strong temperance
man and, when starting in business in 1843, excluded all liquors from his stock.

Thus at all points Mr. Crosby met the requirements of good citizenship. He was
indeed the builder of his own fortune, and right well he built, but withal he
was modest and unassuming. His life should prove an inspiration to the young
man, showing as it does that no place in the business world is beyond the reach
of the clean living, clearheaded, ambitious and persevering boy or man, even
though handicapped by little capital and the absence of influential friends.

  Mr. Crosby married (first) February 27, 1840, Pauline Fairfield Hathorn, born
at Smithfield, New Jersey, September 3, 1821, died at Paterson, January 23,
1872, daughter of Thomas W. and Anna (Hinchman) Hathorn, and granddaughter of
General John Hathorn, of General Washington's staff during the Revolution, and a
member of the Second and Fourth United States Congresses. Mr. Crosby married
(second) December 6, 1875, Harriet Eliza Rogers, born January 8, 1839, daughter
of Noah and Rebecca (Clark) Rogers, of Cornwall, Connecticut, a descendant of
Puritan and Huguenot ancestors. Children of the first marriage: Pauline Crosby,
married Samuel Coit Allen; John Henry, married Mary Harriet Crowell; Annie
Louise, married Isaac Newton, Jr.; Isabella Stewart, deceased. Children of
second marriage: Henry Barrett (2), married Mabel Marion; Florence Lyon. Mrs.
Crosby died in September, 1916.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

MEMORIAL CYCLOPEDIA OF NEW JERSEY

UNDER THE EDITORIAL SUPERVISION OF MARY DEPUE OGDEN

VOLUME III
MEMORIAL HISTORY COMPANY NEWARK,  NEW JERSEY
1917


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