A native of New York, Mr. Crosby was born in Syracuse on the 30th of July, 1835, and is of Scotch descent. His parents, Joseph and Sarah (Johnston) Crosby, emigrated to the United States, landing in New York in June, 1835, just a month before the birth of their son, David. From the Empire state they removed to Detroit, Michigan, and settled upon a farm in Wayne county, where Joseph Crosby cleared a tract of land and improved his fields, there carrying on agricultural pursuits throughout the remainder of his life. Both he and his wife were industrious and respected people and were Presbyterians in religious faith. He died at the age of fifty-two years, and his wife passed away in the same month, both dying of pneumonia, leaving a family of eight children, of whom David is the eldest. All the children are still living, but Mr. Crosby is the only one in Nevada.

Reared upon his father's farm, David Crosby attended the public schools throughout the winter months, and in the summer seasons was busily engaged with the labors of field and meadow. The sun shone down upon many a field which he plowed and planted, and in which he afterward garnered rich harvests as the reward of his labors. When he attained his majority, not desiring to follow the plow any longer, he embarked in the jewelry business in Detroit, Michigan, also carrying a line of fancy goods. He became a senior member of the firm of Crosby, Lovell & Company, and conducted his enterprise until 1860, when, having disposed of his business interests there, he came to the west. He set sail for California, going by way of the Isthmus route, and eventually landed at San Francisco. He then went to Sacramento, where he was engaged in the wood, coal and lumber business. He extended the scope of his labors by adding a trucking and freighting department, thus transporting goods from Sacramento to Virginia City, Nevada. It was thus that Mr. Crosby gained a knowledge of the city in which he has so long made his home. It then required three weeks to make the round trip, and he was paid from three to twenty-two cents per pound for hauling, according to the kind of goods which he carried and the season of the year.

In 1864 Mr. Crosby opened a general mercantile store on C street in Virginia City, and he has throughout the intervening years been identified with the commercial interests of the city. On this street he carried on a successful enterprise, and the house has ever sustained an enviable reputation for straightforward methods and honorable dealing as well as on account of the excellent line of goods carried. They have ever been prompt in meeting obligations, paying one hundred cents on the dollar, and their word has come to be as good as their bond. Prospering in his undertakings as the years have gone by, Mr. Crosby is now one of the capitalists of the city. While promoting his individual success he has also labored for the public welfare, and has done much for the upbuilding and improvement of the town, giving hearty co-operation to movements that have for their object the substantial progress of Virginia City. He erected one of the best buildings here, and is still the owner of the property. On the 13th of March, 1865, Mr. Crosby was united in marriage to Miss Isabella McKinsie, a native of Prince Edward Island.

Mr. Crosby is a jovial, genial gentleman, cordial in manner and kind-hearted in disposition. In his younger days, however, he possessed much of the fire and hot temper of youth, and, being fearless, it was well not to molest him. On a certain occasion, about eleven o'clock, near his own home, he was attacked by three men. He shot two of them and the third escaped with a bullet through the tail of his coat. The grand jury made an investigation and acquitted him. Mr. Crosby possesses not only personal bravery, but also the courage of his convictions and has ever been fearless in defense of what he believes to be right. In politics he says he is a "black Republican" and has been very active in support of the party. He never withdrew from any position through fear, and maintained his cause, if need be, with strength and muscle. The old days have long since gone by. With the passing of the freighting period there came the improvements known to the older east, and Nevada progressed as have the other western states, Virginia City keeping pace with the general progress and Mr. Crosby doing his full share to make the city a prosperous commercial center and a desirable place of residence. He stands to-day as one of the honored pioneer merchants of the state, and in the evening of his life his labors are crowned with an abundance of the comforts and luxuries which go to make life worth the living.

Source:
A History of the State of Nevada: Its Resources and People
By Thomas Wren, Lewis Publishing Company
Published by The Lewis publishing company, 1904