Crosby, Carl Biography

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Biographies

Carl Crosby

Source: The Lewis Publishing Co., Vol. II pg.48-9 1923
Author: The History of Florida: Past & Present

Carl Crosby Biography

CROSBY, CARL. A native of progressive, stirring, Walton County, CARL CROSBY has the distinction of being the youngest clerk of the court in the State of Florida, a post which he holds at DeFuniak Springs. His career hasbeen a somewhat varied and active one and includes active service in France with the American Expeditionary Forces. Mr. CROSBY was born at DeFuniak Springs, October 21, 1895, and is a son of JAMES A. and FANNIE (ADKINSON) CROSBY.

On the paternal side, Mr. CROSBY is descended from English ancestors, while on the mother's side he is of Holland extraction. His paternal grandfather was SOLOMON CROSBY, a native of Georgia, and his maternal
grandfather was JEFF ADKINSON, who married LOUISA HARRELL, of Pensacola, Florida. JAMES A. CROSBY was born in Georgia, the son of a Confederate veteran of the war between the states, and as a young man learned the tradeof carpenter, which he has followed for a number of years as a contractor and builder. He came to DeFuniak Springs in 1892, and since then he and Mrs. CROSBY, a native of Florida, have lived on a farm in Walton County which Mr.CROSBY purchased at the time of his arrival, and which he still operates
with much success. He is one of the substantial and influential men of his community, and while not a seeker of office has taken an active interest and helpful part in public affairs, and is held in high esteem.
CARL CROSBY attended the graded and high schools of DeFuniak Springs, graduating from the latter in 1916, although prior to this time he had commenced teaching. In all, he taught schools in the country districts for about four years, but when the United States entered the World war he gave up his classes and enlisted, June 7, 1917, for service in the United States army. He was sent first to Jacksonville, Florida, and then to Fort Screven, where he joined the Three Hundred and Twenty-first Infantry. After three months he was ordered to Camp Jackson, South Carolina, and joined the Eighty-first Division, putting in six months more of training. He joined the Divisional Headquarters at Camp Jackson, and after leaving that camp went to Camp Sevier, South Carolina, for two weeks. This was followed by twenty days at Camp Mills, Long Island, following which he embarked for overseas duty, sailing from Hoboken. After about three weeks in England, having landed at Liverpool and going thence to Southampton, his contingent crossed to LeHavre, France, and on to Tonnerre,where the division spent about sixty days in training. They were then ordered to the front line trenches at St. Die,where they spent eleven weeks under Col. KENT NELSON. During this time the Americans were under fire much of the time and Mr. CROSBY was badly wounded by a shell fragment, which tore his side, necessitating his remaining in the hospital for forty-two days. On his recovery he rejoined his command on the front line, and with them went into the Verdun sector, where the command was under fire almost continuously until the signing of the armistice, and took part in the engagement at Vosges Mountain. His hospital confinement was at Field Hospital No. 64, Chatillon, France. After Verdun, the command was in a rest camp for some time, then going to Brest, France, where they spent about
two weeks, after which they sailed for home, landing at New York about June 25, 1919. They then went to Camp Mills, and later to Jackson, where they received their honorable discharge. Mr. CROSBY, on completing his military service, located at DeFuniak Springs, and resumed his duties as a schoolteacher, teaching two eight-month terms without an interruption. In June, 1920, at the primary for the office of clerk of the court, he became a candidate for the office against two of the strongest men in the county, one of whom had been clerk of the court for twenty-two years and one twelve years. He won the election by a large majority, and as before noted is the youngest man to hold this kind of an office in the state. His term commenced January 4, 1921, and will continue until January 1, 1925. His record thus
far has been an excellent one and he has fully vindicated the faith placed in him by the voters of the county.

Mr. CROSBY was united in marriage January 30, 1922, at Pensacola, Florida, with Miss ROSA LEE St. MARY, daughter of FRANK and LIZZIE(CALLAWAY) St. MARY, natives of Florida, Mr. St. MARY being identified with the United States Forestry Department. Mr. and Mrs. CROSBY are very popular in their community, and Mrs. CROSBY is well known as an active worker in the Methodist
Episcopal Church, South, of which she has been a member since girlhood. Mr.CROSBY owns allegiance to the democratic party, and in fraternal affiliation is an Odd Fellow.

Presented by Nancy Rayburn

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