This gentleman came from a family remarkable for its longevity. His father, Tertullus Crosby, was born February 2, 1775, and lived until September 14, 1874, having become almost a centenarian. There is a photograph of a family group in the possession of A. J. Crosby containing the picture of the father, his son, his grandson, his great-granddaughter, and his great-great-granddaughter, making five generations having a direct lineage. His father married Elizabeth Jones, who died June 29, 1839. After this his father made his home with Andrew J., and lived with him until his death, nearly thirty-four years.

The subject of this sketch was born in Columbia county. New York, June 18, 1815, and was the youngest of eight children. In 1816 his father moved to Onondaga county, where young Crosby lived until he married Lurania W. Miles, of Homer, Cortland county. New York, in 1838. Six years later, in 1844, he moved to Livonia, Wayne county, Michigan, where he resided until 1855, when he removed to Farmington, Oakland County, and from there to Troy, where he now resides, owning a fine farm on section 30, well stocked with Spanish merino sheep and Berkshire hogs.

Although not exactly a pioneer Mr. Crosby has had his share of trials, resulting from bad roads and other inconveniences attending a new country, and has contributed his share in the work of transforming the country to its present condition. Mr. Crosby has been twice married, the last time in Farmington, June 25, 1865, to Mary Jane Roberts. By this marriage there was one child, Lemuel R., born September 12, 1866, and died September 24, 1867. By the first wife there were two sons, Andrew Jackson, born September 9, 1840, and Tertullus M., born May 4, 1847. The oldest son served one year in the First Michigan Infantry in the late war, and Tertullus served through the war as a member of the Tenth Michigan Cavalry.

Mr. Crosby is a farmer, and attends strictly to that business; but he has frequently held town offices, having been town clerk in 1852, supervisor in 1853, and justice of the peace in 1862. He has also been repeatedly urged to allow the use of his name for legislative honors, but the cares of his farm were too pressing, and have lately engrossed his entire attention.