John Schuyler Crosby

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John Schuyler Crosby
Florence, Italy
In office
1876–1882
Preceded byJames Lorimer Graham Jr.
Succeeded byWilliam L. Welch
Personal details
Born(1839-09-19)September 19, 1839
Albany, New York
DiedAugust 8, 1914(1914-08-08) (aged 74)
Newport, Rhode Island
Resting placeAlbany Rural Cemetery
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Harriet Van Rensselaer
​
​
(m. 1863; died 1911)​
Children2
Parent(s)
Civil Engineer
AwardsOrder of the Crown of Italy

John Schuyler Crosby (September 19, 1839 – August 8, 1914) (usually referred to as J. Schuyler Crosby)

fifth Governor of the Montana Territory
.

The descendant of several prominent families in

Indian Wars
.

After leaving the Army in 1871, Crosby worked as an engineer, designing and supervising the construction of lighthouses, breakwaters, and other marine projects. He served as U.S.

Florence, Italy from 1876 to 1881, Governor of the Montana Territory from 1883 to 1884, U.S. First Assistant Postmaster General from 1886 to 1889, and as New York City
school commissioner from 1889 to 1891.

Crosby died in Newport, Rhode Island, on August 8, 1914, and was buried at Albany Rural Cemetery.

Early life

Crosby was born to Clarkson Floyd Crosby (1817–1858) and Angelica Schuyler (1820–1896) in Albany, New York, on September 19, 1839.[4] He was a lineal descendant of Pieter Schuyler and the great-grandson of William Floyd, a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence.[5]

He attended the

Pacific Islands, the East Indies, and China.[6]

Career

Civil War

At the beginning to the

New York State Militia, was commissioned a second lieutenant in the First Artillery.[7] His initial service was with the Army of the Potomac and he earned promotion to first lieutenant in August 1861.[5] In 1862, Crosby was transferred to the Department of the Gulf and following the battles of Fort Bisland, Irish Bend and Vermilion Bayou was brevetted a captain for gallantry.[7]

From 1863 until 1865, he served as assistant

Admiral Farragut.[6] Following the capture of Mobile, Alabama, Crosby transferred to become assistant inspector general under General Philip Sheridan.[5]

Post-war

Following the war, Crosby remained on Sheridan's staff as

Indian Wars. He was brevetted four times for gallantry during his military service .[6] Crosby resigned from the army on January 1, 1871, as a brevet lieutenant colonel.[4][7]

After leaving the military, Crosby went to work as a civil engineer, building breakwaters and lighthouses.[7] He helped found the Westchester Polo Club during this period and also won an international pigeon-shooting contest in 1875.[5] On July 20, 1876, Crosby was with Vice-Commodore William T. Garner of the New York Yacht Club on the vessel Mohawk when a sudden squall overturned the yacht.[8] The U.S. government later presented Crosby with a medal recognizing his heroic efforts to save lives during the boat's sinking.[6][9]

Consul in Italy

Crosby was appointed

Florence, Italy by President Ulysses S. Grant in 1876. While at this posting, he assisted the local government in the capture and prosecution of a group of forgers.[5] For his assistance, on June 29, 1881, Crosby was awarded the Order of the Crown of Italy.[4]

Governor of Montana Territory

Crosby was nominated to become Governor of Montana Territory by President Chester A. Arthur.[4] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on August 4, 1882, and took office on January 15, 1883.[10][11]

Upon his arrival, Crosby indicated his commitment to the territory by making over $20,000 of investments within Montana. Despite this level of dedication, the Republican governor still managed to antagonize the territory's Democratic majority through liberal use of his veto power. The most prominent example of his veto use was his blocking of a bill authorizing the establishment of a cattle commission and cattle inspection system. Despite the veto, Crosby did take steps to halt cattle infected with

Texas fever from being imported into the territory. Other activities pursued by the governor were a strong anti-crime policy, opposition to polygamy, and an effort to reduce lands held by Native Americans.[4] He also played an important role in blocking cattle interests from gaining control of Yellowstone.[7]

Crosby was an avid

Secretary of War Robert Todd Lincoln, Senator George Graham Vest, Daniel G. Rollins and other dignitaries.[5] Crosby resigned as governor on November 11, 1884, in order to become First Assistant Postmaster General.[4]

Later life

Crosby held the position of First Assistant Postmaster General until March 1885. He then moved to New York City where, from 1889 to 1891, he was the city's school commissioner.[7] After completing his job as commissioner, Crosby traveled extensively until 1897. He was also active in the Grand Army of the Republic, Loyal Legion, Sons of the Revolution, and a variety of Washington, D.C., and New York City social clubs.[6]

Personal life

On June 26, 1863, Crosby married Harriet Van Rensselaer (1838–1911),

U.S. Senator Philip Schuyler. The marriage produced two children:[4]

During his final years, Crosby suffered from declining health. On January 20, 1913, while he was in his sick bed, one of his servants suddenly became crazed and he was forced to fight off and subdue the knife wielding valet.[16] Crosby died in Newport, Rhode Island on August 8, 1914.[5] He is buried in Section 14, Lot 1 of Albany Rural Cemetery in Menands, New York.[17]

Descendants

His grandson was Henry Sturgis Crosby (1898–1929),[18] a bon vivant, poet, and publisher who for some epitomized the Lost Generation in American literature,[19] who was married to Mary Phelps Jacob (1891–1970).[20]

References

  1. ^ Executive Documents Printed by Order of the House of Representatives During the Second Session of the Forty-First Congress. Vol. 11. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. 1870. p. 169.
  2. ISBN 978-0-8093-2632-7
    .
  3. ^ Contributions to the Historical Society of Montana. Vol. VI. Helena, MT: Historical Society of Montana. 1907. p. 484.
  4. ^
    ISBN 0-930466-11-X
    .
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h "Col. JS Crosby Dies in 75th Year". New York Times. August 9, 1914. p. 15.
  6. ^
    OCLC 6182270
    .
  7. ^
    OCLC 17692533
    .
  8. ^ "A Disaster in the Bay". New York Times. July 21, 1876. p. 1.
  9. ^ "Notes From the Capital". New York Times. June 13, 1877. p. 5.
  10. ^ "Nominations and Confirmations". New York Times. August 4, 1882.
  11. OCLC 2539133
    .
  12. ^ "MRS. HARRIET CROSBY DIES; She Was Youngest Daughter of Gen. Stephen Van Rensselaer". The New York Times. December 18, 1911. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
  13. ^ COL. J. S. CROSBY DIES IN 75TH YEAR; Veteran of Civil and Indian Wars Never Recovered from Attack of Insane Servant. NOTED BIG GAME HUNTER Governor of Montana from 1882 to 1884;- Received a Life-Saving Medal from Congress. Special to The New York Times. (); August 9, 1914, Section, Page 15
  14. ^ Times, Special To The New York (January 4, 1959). "STEPHEN VAN R. CROSBY". The New York Times. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
  15. ^ Wolff 2003, p. 16.
  16. ^ "Col. John S. Crosby Attacked by Valet". New York Times. January 21, 1913. p. 1.
  17. ^ Staff, Albany Rural Cemetery (1914). "Colonel John Schuyler Crosby in the Albany Rural Cemetery Burial Cards, 1791-2011". Ancestry.com. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, LLC. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  18. ^ Greenberg, Arnie (April 4, 2005). "The Glory Years: The Crosbys: Harry and Caresse". Bonjour Paris. Retrieved February 26, 2014.
  19. ^ Wolff 2003, p. 12.
  20. ISBN 0-595-15928-1
    .

Sources

External links
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