From Proud Heritage, Vol. 1 by DCPA, not currently in print.
James Willeford Crosby was born in Mississippi 15 September 1853, died 28 May 1917 , and is buried at McCree Cemetery, Dallas. He married 18 July 1872 in Monroe County , Mississippi, Mary Texana Hollingsworth, born 28 May 1853, died 27 June 1936. She was the daughter of Lucinda and William Hollingsworth of Aberdeen, Monroe County, Mississippi. She is also buried at McCree Cemetery.
They came to Texas in 1876, farming and renting from his father, J. J. Crosby, in the area northeast of Dallas and north of White Rock Lake now called Church Road.
J. W. is said to have believed in rising early and getting the chores done early. “If you are going to burn (coal) oil, burn it early.” Mary Texana was very active in the Red Cross during World War I, knitting sweaters and socks, and sewing.
There were seven children: Eva Green, James Duke, Tildon Barnes, John Willeford, Vertie Vera, Ira Virgil and Alvis Lionel.
1) Eva Green Crosby was born in Mississippi on 1 September 1872 and married 27 April 1890, Caleb William Jackson, born 4 June 1866, died 20 October 1949.
2) James “Duke” Crosby born 21 July 1875, Monroe County, Mississippi , married 22 March 1893, Nannie Louise Forbes, born 4 March 1877.
3) Tildon Barnes Crosby born 1 November 1876, died 8 April 1948, married 3 October 1900, Jenny Florence Dotson, born 16 December 1880, died 4 December 1909.
4) John Willeford Crosby born 21 June 1880, died 7 December 1967, married 11 December 1898, Lee Etta Dice, born 21 December 1874, died 21 June 1952. He is buried at Restland Cemetery. The longest time the family lived at one place was two years; the shortest length of time, he never unpacked. John and Lee Etta were the parents of four children: Emmitt Bryan, Lillian Faye, Johnny Lee and Ruth Elveta.
Emmitt Bryan Crosby, son of John Willeford Crosby, born 4 October 1899, died 21 November 1978, married 19 February 1922, Lillian Ho(a)tzenbuhler, born 28 April 1900, died 20 May 1984. Emmitt served in the US Navy in WWI. Their children were: June; Emmitt Jr., who served in the US Air Force in WW II; Richard, who was in the US Navy in 1952; and Willie.
Lillian Faye Crosby, daughter of John Willeford Crosby, born 3 September 1903, married 29 December 1921, Richard “Dick” Monroe Hatfield, born 10 August 1893, died 11 December 1967. Dick worked for the Dallas Times Herald for many years. They had two daughters, Annie Lee and Doris May Hatfield.
Johnny Lee Crosby, son of John Willeford Crosby, born 3 January 1909, died 3 January 1986; married 16 June 1934, Ruth Moore born 21 November 1909, died 25 August 1980. J. L. worked for the Mercantile National Bank.
Ruth Elveta Crosby, daughter of John Willeford Crosby, born 12 September 1919, died 6 October 1983, married 21 January 1943, Lester Dorris Hendrix. They had one daughter, Shirley Pierce.
5) Vertie Vera Crosby born 21 January 1888, died 10 August 1982, married 7 August 1914, Benjamin A. Rose born 10 September 1884, died 1963. They farmed and lived with her mother, Mrs. J. W. Crosby, east of Vickery on what is now Church Road. Benjamin was a painter and paper hanger. After her mother’s death they moved to Garland where he continued in the painting business. Vera bought her own White sewing machine for $12 at the age of 12, earning the money picking cotton. She did beautiful sewing and handwork all her life, crocheting 350 afghans. Their seven children were: James Albert, Malcom Crosby, Jessie Marie , Mary Alice, Paula Miranda, Evatex and Lila Faye.
James Albert Rose, son of Vertie Vera Crosby Rose, born 3 June 1915, died 29 October 1983, married 6 June 1936, Opal Wanda Nelson. He was also a paint contractor in Garland. He is buried at Restland Cemetery. Their children were: Jimmy who was in the US Army, serving mostly in Germany; Deidri; and Debra.
Malcom Crosby Rose, son of Vertie Vera Crosby Rose, born 15 October 1916, died 1 May 1983, married 8 February 1947, Jane Thomason. He was in the US Army, 1941-1945, serving on Okinawa. He is buried at Restland Cemetery. Their three sons were: Malcom Thomas, Douglas and Kevin.
Jessie Marie Rose, daughter of Vertie Vera Crosby Rose, born 5 January 1919, died 20 April 1973, worked for Continental Insurance. She is buried at Restland Cemetery.
Paula Miranda Rose, daughter of Vertie Vera Crosby Rose, born 16 February 1925, married 22 July 1941, George Rosenbaum. Their three children were: Sharon, who married Tom Johnson and had two sons, Tommy and George; Sally, who married Wilfred Cain and had two daughters, Mindy and Nan; James Benjamin Rosenbaum, who married Cindy Diane Sellers and had two children, Benjamin Aaron and Miranda Renee’.
Evatex Rose, daughter of Vertie Vera Crosby Rose, born 11 September 1926, married 28 January 1946, John David Yates. They had three children: David Wayne, Gail and Rex.
Lila Faye Rose, daughter of Vertie Vera Crosby Rose, born 11 February 1929, married 8 February 1947, Luther J. Brown. Their son was Mark Brown who married Aleta Caldwell and had two children, Allen and Kristi.
6) Ira Virgil Crosby born 9 October 1890, died November 1924, is buried at McCree Cemetery. He married 16 December 1910, Cynthia Annie Smith born 25 June 1891, died 31 July 1983, buried at Restland Cemetery. They had three daughters: Vertie Louise Crosby born 14 December 1912; Jimmy Ruth Crosby born 19 August 1914; and Billy Lawson Crosby born 20 August 1921.
7) Alvin Lionel Crosby born 16 November 1892, died 19 November 1964, married (1) Ardell Darling Martin, 10 December 1910; married (2) Sallie Morris and married (3) Thelma Khrome. Alvin and Thelma had two daughters, Christine Lyonelle “Cookie” Crosby born 1942 and Mary Alice “Peaches” Crosby born 1945.
By Mary Jackson Sutherland, Garland
