My Genealogy Hound

HENRY A. CROSBY, a farmer and milk dealer of Northampton, was born in Williamsburg in 1844, son of Benjamin Franklin and Parthena (Bradford) Crosby.

Joshua K. Crosby, the grandfather of Henry A. Crosby, was a native of Enfield, Mass., and a son of the Rev. Joshua Crosby, who served in the Revolutionary War, and later as chaplain in the War of 1812. Joshua K. Crosby, who was a tiller of the soil and an enterprising citizen of Enfield, married Miss Minnie Sears, of Williamsburg. They reared two of the three sons born to them, namely: Joshua, a successful agriculturist of Searsville, in the town of Williamsburg; and Benjamin P., who was born in Enfield in 1820. The latter married in 1842, and he and his wife reared three children. Two are now living: Henry A.; and Ella, the wife of Nathan Abbott, of North Farms. Their mother died in 1852, when but thirty-six years of age. The father, who is still living, resides at North Farms with his daughter’s family.

Henry A. Crosby acquired his education in the Williamsburg common school. In 1877 he came to Northampton, and purchased from Charles Sanderson his present farm. It contains about sixty-eight acres of land. Besides his farming, he keeps a dairy of choice cows, the milk of which he sells to the people of Leeds.

He was married March 15, 1870, to Miss Mary C. Allen, a native of Dorchester, Mass. She is a daughter of Bennett and Cordelia (Warner) Allen, who now reside in Florence, to which they moved from Goshen, Mass. Her father is a successful carpenter and building contractor. He and his wife reared seven children; and all are now living except Clara M., who died, thirty years of age. Those living are: Charles T. Allen, of Manchester, N.H.; Mary C.; Flora I., the wife of G. N. Baker, of Florence; Lizzie E., who is unmarried, and resides at home; Lucy L., who married C. B. Tower; and Harriet B., the wife of Lynn Porter, of Florence. Mrs. Crosby’s paternal grandfather was Amzi Allen, who was born in Connecticut, but spent his life mostly in West Springfield and Florence, Mass. He was twice married, and had twelve children by the two unions, of whom nine grew to maturity, and six are now living. They are as follows: Hiram Allen, of Minneapolis, Minn.; Robert Allen, who resides in Washington, D.C., and is paymaster in the navy; Frederick, living in Manchester, N.H.; Mrs. George Readio, a widow, living in Florence; Mrs. William Currier, also of Florence; and Bennett, the father of Mrs. Crosby. Mrs. Crosby has borne her husband three children, namely: Flora Maud, eighteen years old, who is a graduate of the Springfield Business College, and is living with her parents; Earle Bennett, a lad of seven years; and Frank Ashley. Mr. Crosby is a Republican. He has served acceptably as Councilman. He is connected with various fraternal organizations, among which may be mentioned the A. F. & A. M., the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Northampton Grange, and the Knights of Honor.