Compiled by Betty Jane Wilson, society president
"(The) Hon. R.H. Crosby, Gone to His Long Home!" were the blaring headlines of the Valley Falls New Era, Saturday, Jan. 2, 1892, followed by "The Tragic End of a Busy Life" and the story as follows:
"Last Tuesday afternoon, about 4 o'clock, the city was shocked by the news that 'Mr. Crosby is Dead.' It was, alas, too true; he was, indeed dead, and to make it more startling, at his own hands.
The particulars of the sad affair are quickly told, and to our mind, it is a plain case of temporary insanity. For several days, Mr. Crosby had been sick and was very nervous; his head bothered him a great deal. He complained in the forenoon of extreme pains in his head, almost unendurable; for weeks Mr. Crosby bore the appearance of fast failing health.
"He told hs wife about half an hour before his death was discovered, that he would 'take a little walk' and she observed him walking about their beautiful grounds and paid no special attention for some minutes, but later, missing him, she called, and receiving no answer, went to find him.
"Her attention was directed to the barn by the neighing of the horse at the door. She looked in and oh, horrors! There was her husband hanging from one of the left joists. Mr. McClurg was passing in a wagon at the time, to whom she gave the alarm, and he and Forrest Bliss took the dead man down. He was taken into the house and sympathizing friends gathered and sorrowfully viewed the remains of the departed.
"Mr. Crosby was one of the first settlers in this county. In 1855, he and his brother, William, established the first store of general merchandise in Valley Falls. He was a typical New Englander, born in Maine in 1834. He leaves a brother and sister in this county (William and Mrs. Mary Shepherd) and a brother, George, in Denver. He also leaves a loving wife and an affectionate daughter, Mrs. W.T. Kemper.
"Mr. Crosby has always prospered financially in every undertaking. He was known not only in his own community, but his state acquaintances was (sic) large and he was recognized by all as a model businessman.
"He was a Temperance man, using no liquors or tobacco, and always doing what he could to stop the traffic. He was an intelligent, well-informed man, a great reader, and a writer of ability."
He was a member of the Topeka Constitutional Convention and edited a paper, the Jeffersonian, in 1863. In 1872-73 he was a county commissioner and was mayor of the city two or three times and was a radical Republican.
His son-in-law became his partner in the Valley Falls Bank of Deposit ever being recognized as one of the reliable, substantial banks of the state.
One of his latest endeavors was to see that Kansas and Jefferson County were shown up at the world's Columbian Exposition, of which he was on the promotion committee.
From the address of the Rev. A.I. Bradley delivered at the funeral of Hon. Rufus H. Crosby, Dec. 31, 1891: "If we were to strike out the name and interests of Rufus H. Crosby from the history of Valley Falls, we would destroy the fabric of that history. We shall see his familiar form pass no more."
The historical society museum will be open at 10 a.m. Saturday.
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