Crosby, Theodore. In the year 1813 Enoch Crosby, with his wife and a large family of children, emigrated from Dutchess county to Ontario county and took up their abode in the town of Phelps, about one and one-half miles south of the village (then known as Vienna). Here both the pioneer and his faithful wife died, he aged seventy-seven and his wife seventy-nine years. In their family were twelve children, and all of them are dead but two : Alfred, of Phelps, and Theodore, of Canandaigua. Theodore Crosby, the subject of this sketch, was born in Dutchess county, November 7, 1802, hence, at the time of his father's removal to Phelps was a lad of eleven years. Until twenty-two years old Theodore lived at home and worked on the farm, but in 1824 he started out to make his own way in life. He married Melinda, daughter of Elam Crane, and at once moved to a farm near the city of Rochester, where he remained five years, then sold his farm and returned to Ontario county. One year later he bought a farm in Hopewell and there he lived until 1861, when he moved to the county seat"and devotes the remainder of his active business life to dealing in cattle, sheep and general stock. In this pursuit he is still engaged, and although ninety-one years of age still retains all his mental faculties and enjoys business life seemingly as well as he did half a century ago. From what we have stated here it must appear that Mr. Crosby has led a very busy life, and we may say in addition that, notwithstanding the multitude of his business transactions and operations, he has never been charged with unfairness or deceit • on the contrary, it is said by his old acquaintances and associates that his business has ever been characterized by straightforward honesty and integrity, and his success has been as well merited as it has been abundant. Mr. Crosby married Melinda Crane in 1825 and their married life extended throughout a period of sixty years, and until her death in 1885, at the age of eighty years. Of their children only one grew to maturity, Marietta, who became the wife of Charles Hopkins, and now lives in Canandaigua. n Dutchess county. Thomas H. married Harriet A. Pardee of Phelp?, daughter of Israel and Phirza (Crosby) Pardee, and they have three children: Gertrude (Mrs. Albert Williams), Hattie H., and Milton P. Mr. Gerow's farm of 100 acres is used principally for grain. He is a representative citizen, and has served the town as road commissioner continuously for eight years.
