son of Charles T Crossman
and Julia Beers;
husband of Caroline Viola Bentley;
Civil War Veteran. CPT, Co I 56th NY Inf
"CITY'S OLDEST RESIDENT IS DEAD, AGED 96 - Norris Crossman, Born in 1833, Came Here Soon After Oil Was Found - SERVED IN THE UNION ARMY - Norris Crossman, aged 96, Titusville's oldest resident, passed away at his home on North First street last evening at 11:30 o'clock. He had been in failing health for about 10 weeks, the cause of his death being the infirmities of old age. Mr Crossman was born on May12, 1833, at White Lake, NY. In January, 1866, after his discharge from the Union army, in which service he rose from private to captain, he came to Titusville. On June 12, 1867, he was married to Miss Carrie V Bently (sic) [Bentley] in Titusville. Mrs Crossman passed away about 10 years ago. Mr Crossman leaves three daughters - Mrs Adelaide C Wyman who lives at home; Mrs Samuel V Mulkey of LaMond, Okla; and Mrs Henry A Morse of Brooklyn, NY; also two grandchildren, Henry A Morse of Los Angeles, Calif; and Norris C Morse of Brooklyn, NY. Drove Mules on Canal - At the age of 8 years Mr Crossman became a driver of horses and mules on the Erie canal, following this work until the age of 16 years of age, when his parents moved to Greenfield, Ulster county, NY. Later he followed the canal in summer time and worked in the lumber woods in the winter. When President Lincoln called for volunteers at the outbreak of the Civil war in 1861, Mr Crossman was among the first to offer services, enlisting in the 56th New York infantry as a private in August of that year. Within a year he had been promoted to captain, serving first under General McClelland and then under General L A Gilmore in the Department of the South. At the close of the war Captain Crossman was sent to Greenville, SC, with a company of soldiers to maintain peace between the whites and the negroes, and he remained there until December 20, 1865, when he was mustered out of the service. Entered Store Business - Attracted by stories about the discovery of oil in this section, Mr Crossman came to Titusville, but he did not follow the oil fields very long. For a time he worked about oil wells, but most of his time was spent in the mercantile lines. Late in the 60's he engaged in the grocery business and for more than a quarter of a century conducted a store in Titusville, gaining a wide acquaintance through the city and vicinity. For a number of years he was associated with the Elastic Chair company. Mr Crossman always took much interest in public affairs and served two years in the old common Council and was also the city overseer of the poor. Always a total abstainer, Mr Crossman affiliated with [the] Prohibition party in the early 80's and he was prominently identified with that party in its work, locally, state and nation. Mr Crossman was a member of Chase post, GAR, and served as its commander until advanced years made it unwise for him to participate. Mr Crossman always attended the memorial services and marched with the veterans. He had been a member of the First Methodist Episcopal church for many years. Friends are invited and will be welcome to call at the home until noon Saturday. Funeral services will be conducted privately at the late home, North First street, Saturday afternoon at 3 o'clock. Interment will be made in Woodlawn cemetery. Friends are asked to omit flowers."
(Titusville Heald, Aug 29, 1929, p.5)
