Hiram Benjamin Crosby
* Photo of Hiram B. Crosby in uniform is from "Dartmouth College Association of New York", The American University Magazine, Nov 1894, page 294, image 330/556. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=chi.096025527&seq=330
Col. Hiram Benjamin Crosby
1831-1900
Col. Hiram B. Crosby, ca 1864*
Hiram Benjamin Crosby was a remarkable man. Intelligent, community-minded and driven, he took on many leadership roles, was an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War, and became a highly respected New York City attorney and businessman. He also had two families.
See below for stories about Hiram B. Crosby's life.
Father: Hiram Crosby (1806-1879)
Mother: Nancy Elizabeth Carew (1810-1890)
Spouse 1: Mary Zilpha Scott (ca 1842-1903)
Children:
- Charles Erskine Crosby (1860-1897)
Spouse 2: Margaret Anna Ackerman (1843-1924)
Children:
- Hiram Bedford Crosby (1872-1948)
- Margaret Acherman Crosby (1873- ? )
- William Carew Crosby (1875- ? )
- John Spencer Crosby (1878- ? )
- Helen Bancroft Crosby (1879- ? )
- Thoman Gresham Crosby (1880-1932)
- Constance C. Crosby (1883-1945)
- Alpheus Dixi Crosby (1885- ? )
- Gertrude Crosby (1888-1891)
- Elizabeth Ackerman Crosby (1891- ? )
Timeline
- 1831
December 25 - Born in Norwich, Connecticut. The first of 2 children born to Hiram and Nancy Elizabeth (nee Carew) Crosby.
- 1854
Graduates from Dartmouth College.
- 1856
Admitted to the Bar.
- 1859
September - Marries Mary Zilpha Scott.
- 1860
July 11 - Son Charles born in Norwich, Connecticut.
- 1862
Enlistes in the 18th Connecticut and is transferred to the 21st Connecticut.
- 1864
September 16 - Discharged from Union Army, returns to Norwich and resumes his legal career.
- ~1869
Moves to New York City.
- 1872
July 24 - Son Hiram born to Hiram's second wife, Margaret Anna Ackerman.
- 1872
Sept & Oct travels to Michigan's Upper Peninsula as part of a prospecting party to analyzed the potential for iron mines.
- 1873
July 4 - Daughter Margaret born.
- 1874
Sister Elizabeth Ann (Crosby) Lucas dies aged 40.
- 1875
October 9 - Son William born.
- 1878
February 6 - Son John born.
- 1879
August 4 - Daugher Helen born.
September 7 - Father dies aged 73. - 1880
November 26 - Son Thomas Gresham born.
- 1883
January 12 - Daughter Constance born.
- 1885
February 22 - Son Alpheus Dixi born.
- 1888
May 30 - Daughter Gertrude born.
- 1890
April 11 - Mother dies aged 79.
- 1891
April 6 - Daughter Elizabeth born.
- 1891
May 18 - Daughter Gertrude dies from cerebrospinal meningitis 12 days before her 3rd birthday.
- 1896
January - First wife, Mary, sues for divorce.
- 1900
October 7 - Dies in New York City, aged 68 years.
Stories
1862-1864
Hiram Benjamin Crosby in the Civil War
Stories to Come
- His Post-Civil War Life in Norwich CT and New York City
- His trip to Michigan's Upper Peninsula in the fall of 1872 as part of a prospecting party to analyze the potential for iron mines near Iron Mountain, Michigan
Newspaper Clippings
New York Herald, Saturday 18 January 1896: 
Photo Galleries
Last updated: 29 Nov 2025