Biographies | 1896 Bios
Isaac F. Crosby, M. D.
He is a native of the neighboring State of Illinois, born in Rock Island county, September 2, 1864, son of Isaac B. and Elizabeth (Marshall) Crosby, natives respectively of .New Hampshire and New Jersey. The Crosbys were residents of New Hampshire for many years. Grandfather John Crosby was born there. Isaac B. Crosby was born in 1819, the eldest of his father's children, and about 1841 came out to what was then considered the far West-Illinois-and on the banks of the Mississippi selected a place of location. Shortly afterward he was followed by the father and other members of the family. The venerable father spent his closing years with his children, and died in Illinois. On first coming West, Isaac B. purchased a tract of land, and for some years farmed and worked at the carpenter's trade. He was prospered in his undertakings, acquired other lands from time to time, and finally became the owner of a thousand acres, on which he was extensively engaged in farming and stock-raising and where he built a fine large residence. Here he died in 1873. He was well known throughout the county, was a Baptist and a prominent church and Sabbath-school worker, and had the respect of all who knew him. Indeed there were few men who stood higher in Rock Island county than did Isaac B. Crosby. His widow is still living and resides at the old home place. They were the parents of seven children, namely: Amos, a fruit-grower of Kansas; Clara, wife of Stephen Sprague, died in Polk county, Minnesota, and left three children; Horace, who has charge of the home farm; Ella, wife of Henry Fletcher, died at Riverside, California, in 1895; Dr. Isaac F., of this sketch; Hattie, who died at the age of twenty-one years; and Lottie.
Dr. Crosby was born and passed his boyhood days on the farm above mentioned. He attended the district schools until he was seventeen. Then he went to school at Fulton two years, where he took a commercial course and graduated. From the time he was nineteen until he was twenty-one he worked on the home farm, and after attaining his majority he commenced the study of medicine in the office of Dr. J. W. Morgan, of Port Byron. Later he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Chicago, where he graduated in due time, being a member of the class of 1889. Immediately after his graduation he came to Menlo, Iowa, and established himself in practice and here he has since remained, having built up a large and lucrative practice to which he gives his closest attention.. In 1894 he took a post-graduate course at Chicago, thus further fitting himself for his life work, and, judging the future by what he has already attained, it is fair to predict that his career will be one of great usefulness. He is a member of both the Guthrie District Medical Society and the Iowa State Medical Society, and is secretary of the former.
Dr. Crosby was married June 23, 1892, to Miss Lucy Mack, daughter of Mr. Platt Mack, of Menlo. She was born in Adair county, and not far from Menlo. They have one child, a son, Fory.
Dr. Crosby takes only enough interest in political matters to be an intelligent voter, and casts his franchise with the Republican party. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Presbyterian Church.
A Memorial and Biographical Record of Iowa, Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company 1896, pg. 695.