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this biography, and their children were:
Alice, of Brooklyn, New York; Charles
W., also of Brooklyn, New York ; Joseph
and Harry A.,
Porter, of whom further ;
a resident of Brooklyn. Mr. Crosby died
November 24, 1902. He and his wife were
members of the Baptist church.
(V) Joseph Porter Crosby, son of Cap-
tain Ansel (2) and Elizabeth (Porter)
Crosby, was born April 4, 1855, in Yarmouth,
Nova Scotia. He received his education
in the public schools of his home
town. He learned the carpenter's trade,
and in connection with his trade he
learned draughting, studying the theory
as well as mastering the practical art of
building, and after finishing his apprenticeship
he went into business for himself
in Yarmouth. In 1880 he removed
to Newton, Massachusetts, and served for
five years as superintendent for a contractor
and builder. In 1885 he removed
to Greenwich, Connecticut, and went into
business for himself, his specialty being
fine country houses. Among those which
he has erected may be mentioned the residences
of James McCutcheon, A. W.
Johnson, N. Wetherell, the Hon. R. J.
Walsh and many others, all these being in
Greenwich. He constructed the interior
finish in the Greenwich Trust Company's
building, and since 1887 has operated a
wood-working mill, thus getting out
nearly all his own finish.
In politics Mr. Crosby is a Republican,
and has long taken an active part in pub-
lic affairs. After serving a term as a
member of the Board of Burgesses he was
elected, in 1915, to the Legislature, where
he served on the committee on cities and
boroughs. The same year he was elected
warden of the borough of Greenwich, an
office which he has ever since continu-
ously retained. Among the results accomplished
during his administration are
the building of permanent roads and the
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2.M
sewage disposal plant. When Mr. Crosby
became warden the borough was under a
floating debt of $200,000. The borough
has since been bonded to cover that
amount and the bonds are being retired.
From 1845 until Mr. Crosby became warden
the borough borrowed money every
year, but during his administration it did
not borrow a dollar and has retired about
$25,000 of its old indebtedness. Among
the minor offices held by Mr. Crosby is
that of secretary of the school committee
that erected three modern schoolhouses,
situated, respectively, at Hamilton avenue.
Coscob street and New Lebanon.
He affiliates with Acacia Lodge, Ancient
Free and Accepted Masons, and he and
his wife are members of the Methodist
Episcopal church, in which for some years
Mr. Crosby held the office of steward.
Mr. Crosby married, August 27, 1878,
Maria D. Trefry, daughter of De Lancey
and Rachel (Wescott) Trefry, of Yarmouth,
Nova Scotia, and they are the par-
ents of the following children: i.
Charles, born September 12, 1879; married
Elsie Clifif, of Greenwich. 2. Chester
N., born October 19, 1884; married Hilda
Wiederman, and they have three children:
Joseph P. (2), Chestine and Ruth
L. 3. Joseph Elton, born October 21,
1889; married Estelle White, and they
have one child, Joseph Elton, Jr. (see following
sketch). 4. Genevieve, born October
23, 1891 ; married Ralph Benson
Hurlbutt, and they have one child, Ralph
Benson, Jr. 5. Helen, deceased.
The record of Joseph Porter Crosby is
that of an all-round man. As a business
man he has by his ability and enterprise
helped to increase the material prosperity
of his community, and in the different
offices to which he has been summoned
by the voice of his fellow-citizens, he has,
by his public-spirited devotion to the
rights and privileges of his constituents,