Progressive Men of Iowa
1899

CROSSON, Francis Emery, county superintendent of schools of Taylor county, has by more than twenty years uninterrupted devotion to educational work, achieved a position of prominence and honor in his profession in the state, and especially in southwestern Iowa. He was born near Abingdon, Knox county, Illinois, December 20, 1857. His father, W. H.  Crosson, was born in Clinton county, Ohio, and was a farmer in moderate circumstances. While yet a young man he came west and settled in Knox county, Illinois, where, in 1856, he was married to Acenith Vinsonhaler. She was a native of Highland county, Ohio, and was brought to Knox county, Illinois, by her parents when she was a young child. Mr. Crosson enlisted in the First Illinois cavalry in 1861 and was in active service until captured by General Price, in Lexington, and was paroled. After the war he followed farming in Illinois until 1873, when he removed with his family to Taylor, county, Iowa, and lived there until his death, in 1894. 

The public schools of Knox county, Illinois, and Taylor county, Iowa, with one year's work in the Bedford high school, prepared young Crosson for Oskaloosa college, where he spent one year, and later attended Drake university, in Des Moines, one year. He was a member of the Athenian society in both these colleges, and took the class honors in oratory in Oskaloosa college. Mr. Crosson began to teach school in 1876. obtaining his first certificate from J. B. Owens. By this means he earned his way through college, and laid the foundation for his future professional success. With the exception of time spent in college, and one year in newspaper work, he has been engaged in school work since that time. In 1896 he was nominated for county superintendent by the republicans over four other candidates, and elected by a handsome majority. Two years later he was re-nominated without opposition and elected over the fusion candidate, running ahead of the state ticket. He has always been a republican, and an active one, and his election to the office was a recognition of his ability as an educator and his worth as a republican and good citizen. He has made a national reputation in the county superintendent's office, being always spoken of as an efficient and painstaking officer.

He belongs to the Masonic and Pythian fraternities, and is a member of the First Christian church in Bedford. Mr. Crosson was married February 2, 1886, to Alice J. Daugherty. They have three children: Phillip, born April 14, 1887; Mary, born January 20, 1892, and Ellen, born September 16, 1894.