1918 HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY

EMERY W. CROSBY, attorney, orator, and business man, who ranks well in the lead in Clark County affairs, was born in Sheboygan County, this state, Dec. 29, 1874, son of William and Adelle (Little) Crosby, grandson of Stephen and Demana (Wales) Crosby, and descended from a long line of distinguished ancestry on both sides of his house. Members of the Scotch-Irish family of Crosby, and of the English family of Wales fought in the Revolutionary War, and members of the English family of Little have also taken a prominent part in the history of this country. The Crosbys and the Littles are both well known in Sheboygan County. William Crosby was born in Madison County, N. Y., served with distinction in the Civil War, and spent the greater part of the years of his in Sheboygan County, where he and his good wife lived to celebrate their Golden Wedding Anniversary, his wife being the daughter of James Little who was likewise born in New York State and settled at an early day in Sheboygan County, attaining a commanding position among his fellow men, and serving with honor in the Wisconsin Assembly of 1859. With such blood in his veins, Emery W. Crosby was early designed for a career of influence and usefulness. He attended the high school at Glenbeulah, Wis., and the State Normal School at Oshkosh, Wis., and for five years was a teacher in the country schools of his native county. Having then decided to devote-his life to the profession of the law, he matriculated at the Northwestern University, at Evanston, Ill., and was graduated in 1902 with the degree of LL. B. With this preparation he began his career in this county, moving to Abbotsford, and on January 1, 1903, opening his office. His personal qualities, his ability and his fairness, soon attracted attention, and he was marked as a future factor in public life. As a member of the county board he had the opportunity of demonstrating his efficiency, and to enlarge his circle of friends, this laying the foundation for his later success. ln the fall of 1906 he was elected county attorney, and served in that office ably and conscientiously. In 1914 he was elected to the Assembly, and in this capacity made for himself an enviable record being one of the leading members of that body.

In 1915 he ran for judge of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit, and in a three cornered fight carried the county by a good majority, though defeated in the district.

He is now successfully engaged in the practice of his profession in Neillsville.

The entrance of the United States in the World War has given him an opportunity for much public effort, and his services as an orator and on various committees have been much in demand. Mr. Crosby's financial affiliation is with the First National Bank, of Neillsville, which he helped to organize, and of which he is now a director.

His fraternal affiliations are with the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Commandery of the Masons, the Canton and the Encampment of the Odd Fellows, and the Beavers, Woodmen and Moose.

Mr. Crosby was married, in June, 1901, to Rosa M. Beck born in Sheboygan County, Wis., daughter of Fred and Bertha (Krams) Beek, the former of whom was born in Germany, came to Wisconsin in pioneer days, and served in the Civil War. Mr. and Mrs. Crosby have one child, Frederick, born Oct. 13, 1906. Of Mr. Crosby it has been said: He is a young man of excellent ability, and good legal training, a strong speaker, and possessed of a pleasant personality, with the happy faculty of making staunch life-long friends. During his experience at the bar, by energetic hard work, constant attention to business, loyalty to the interests of his clients, and honesty in dealing with them, always taking the position to avoid needless and expensive litigation, he has gained a good reputation for the thoroughness with which he prepares his cases, and has won the title of the poor man's lawyer, so great is the confidence in which the people hold him. The popularity and success that he has gained in this region of the state has been due to his fidelity and to his effort to use all men fairly and squarely. He is a tireless student, and with-his wide experience and strong mental and physical force and temperament, is ideal timber for any position to which the people may call him. Young in years and of excellent health and good training, he is now in the full flush of virile and energetic manhood. His fairness before the courts wins the admiration even of his adversaries, and he is well qualified and endowed with all those characteristics which make for good citizenship and a useful life.