Berkeley County, West Virginia Biography of William CROSFIELD ************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: Material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor. Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Nancy Taylor March 2000 ************************************************************************** The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume II, pg. 434 WILLIAM CROSFIELD. It is not difficult while considering the business men of a community to discover why some are frankly prosperous while others advance only slowly year after year. Persistant industry is a very necessary factor in the achievement of success, and those who possess this quality, along with a certain amount of ability and capacity for good management, are reasonably to be numbered among those who will attain prosperity. Industry has been one of the characteristics in the life of William Crosfield, of Berkeley Springs, the owner of a planing mile, lumber business and farm, a dealer in wood and coal and proprietor of a handle factory, who is also accounted a progress and public-spirited citizen. Mr. Crosfield was born at Strathroy, County Lambton, Province of Ontario, Canada, a son of Rev. George Crosfield, who was born in the village of Boston Spa, Yorkshire, England. John Crosfield, the grandfather of William Crosfield, was born in Yorkshire, England, where he followed the business of milling, and late in life immigrated to the United States and spent his last years as a resident of Brooklyn, New York. His wife was a life-long resident of Yorkshire. George Crosfield, the only son of his parents, acquired a good education in his native country, where in his youth he was converted and joined the Wesleyan Methodist Church, in which he became a local preacher. Immediately after his marriage he came to America, accompanied by his bride, the sailing vessel on which they traveled being several months in crossing the ocean. Upon their arrival they settled in the wilds of Canada West, as the Province of Ontario was then known, where Reverend Crosfield secured a tract of timber land in County Lambton and erected a small log cabin, in which he and his young bride started housekeeping. As they did not possess a stove, Mrs. Crosfield was compelled to prepare their frugal meals at the open fireplace, and during their early years they experienced all the other hardships of pioneer existence. After a few years they returned to England, where they remained eighteen months, then returning to Canada and locating at Smithville, County Lincoln, Mr. Crosfield there joining the Methodist Episcopal Conference and remaining in the ministry for a few years. He then came to the United States and joined the Baltimore Conference, subsequently being sent to Romney, Hampshire County, West Virginia, and from that point to Hedgeville. While there, at his own request, he was transferred to the West Virginia Conference and placed in charge of the Brandonville Circuitry. Later he was transferred to Ellenboro, then to Pomeroy, and, finally, when in ill health, to Berkeley Springs, where his death occurred. He was a man of fine talents, and indefatigable worker in the ministry and a man who was held in esteem and affection in whatever community he labored. He married Dorothy Botterill, who was born in the village of Brannon, Yorkshire, England, and who spent her last years at the home of her son William, with whom she died at the age of eighty-five years. She and her husband were the parents of four children: John b., Mary Ann, William and Loduska. William Crosfield received his early education in the public schools, this being supplemented by attendance at Wyoming Seminary, Kingston, Pennsylvania. When he was but eighteen years of age he commenced teaching, his first school being held in the Duling Church, near Keyser, Mineral County, West Virginia. He continued his labors as an educator for several years, and thus earned sufficient capital with which to embark in business at Berkeley Springs. His initial efforts were modest in character, but he has persevered, has been industrious and has exercised good judgment and effective management, with the result that he is the prosperous owner of a flourishing lumber yard, planing mill and coal and wood business and the proprietor of a well-cultivated farm on which there are to be found the latest improvements. His career has been one of consistent advancement and of close application to high ideals in his business transactions. Mr. Crosfield married first Mrs. Belle Diel, who for several years operated the Florence Hotel, one of Berkeley Springs' popular hostelries. After two years of happy married life Mrs. Crosfield passed away, and Mr. Crosfield later married Anna Hunt, who was born at Miltonville, Ohio, a daughter of Nathaniel Hunt. The have had five children. Three deceased are George, Eugene, and Hattie, and those living are Dorothy and Anna H. Mr. and Mrs. Crosfield are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has served several years as recording steward and as superintendent of the Sunday school.