Samuel Crozier was born Nov 1822 in Red Bud, Randolph, Illinois to john Campbell Crozier (1796-1843) & Mary "Polly" Lindsay (1800-????).
In the 1830's his parents wanted to leave the east coast and they came to Illinois and started a farm in Monroe County.
In 1848, Richmond Durfee became one of the first landowners in the area to have his property surveyed and offered for public sale. Samuel Crozier quickly followed suit. Now brothers-in-law, Richmond and Samuel Crozier soon became business partners as well. Each listed “merchant” as his occupation in the federal census records of 1850, and five years later, the pair invested in a more permanent location for their joint business. They funded the construction of the Durfee & Crozier Store, a brick building in the Greek Revival style, on the northeast corner of Main and Market Streets. It still stands today.
Samuel married Nancy Ross(1820-1905) 5 Dec 1845 and they had the following children.
Photo by KCK
The Richmond & Caroline Durfee House was designated as a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in 1984, and in 1991, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places as a part of the larger St. James Park Historic District. He would be so proud to know his home is forever saved and his store in Red Bud is still stand, what an amazing accomplishments he made in his life as well as Samuel. Their store now houses a popular barbecue restaurant called The Burnt End.
Samuel sister Lavanda Caroline Crozier was born Jul 1826 in Red Bud, IL, she married Richmond Devol Durfee 13 Nov 1844. Richmond was born 25 Oct 197 in Tiverton, RI to Aaron Durfee (1815-1897) & Ruth Cook (1791-1852).
Richmond's photo is below.
In the 1830's his parents wanted to leave the east coast and they came to Illinois and started a farm in Monroe County.
Samuel & Richmond went into business together starting a store, which would also be used as the towns post office and Richmond was post master for many years.
Located on the southeast corner of present-day Main and Market Streets and Because of the abundance of flowering trees near his new store, he decided to call the place Red Bud. By May 1847, that name had become widely adopted, and even the name of the local post office (with Richmond still serving as US Postmaster) was changed from “Prairieville” to “Red Bud.”
In 1848, Richmond Durfee became one of the first landowners in the area to have his property surveyed and offered for public sale. Samuel Crozier quickly followed suit. Now brothers-in-law, Richmond and Samuel Crozier soon became business partners as well. Each listed “merchant” as his occupation in the federal census records of 1850, and five years later, the pair invested in a more permanent location for their joint business. They funded the construction of the Durfee & Crozier Store, a brick building in the Greek Revival style, on the northeast corner of Main and Market Streets. It still stands today.
Samuel Crozier also did a term as US Senator for Illinois in 1822-1823.
Samuel married Nancy Ross(1820-1905) 5 Dec 1845 and they had the following children.
Georgia Ross Crozier 1845-1914
Harden Crozier 1849-1858
Albert Crozier 1852-
Ella Crozier 1855-1939
Colonel Crozier 1857-1934
Lavanda & Richmond had the following children:
Eric Hudson Durfee 1850-1883
Herbert Durfee 1851-1854
Cora Elizabeth Durfee 1856-1935
Guy Samuel Durfee 1858-1924
Charles Crozier Durfee 1866-1941
In Dec of 1856 Richmond gave up his Post Master post and he and Samuel started another adventure in trying to figure out a way to ship goods directly to and from their Red Bud store. With news of a railroad coming through town they were excited for their future business and families lives. So they expanded the store, but in the late 1850's the railroad wouldn't becoming and more sadness was on the horizon for the families. Samuel's and Nancy's oldest son James drowned in the mill pond, and the next year Samuel himself would die at age 34 of consumption as is in the Mortality Census.
He is buried in the Red Bud Old City Cemetery.
Here is his Find A Grave Memorial.
Richmond's father Aaron would pass away also 1861. Richmond would continue to manage the store un the 1860's when he decided to relocate his family to St Louis, where their oldest son Eric enrolled in school at Washington University. This is where their youngest son Charles was born in 1866.
They would only be there a short time and then move a final time to Florence outside of Los Angeles, CA where they had a farm and Richmond, who retired from life as a merchant, built a two-story farmhouse for the family in a modified version of the popular Queen Anne style. Where Richmond, Caroline, Guy, Cora, and Charles established themselves.
Guy would become a real-estate agent and gardener. Richmond would develop heart problems and die 22 Apr 1897. His body was returned to Jacksonville, where he was buried near his son, Eric.
The family decided to part ways with their farm — but not with their farmhouse. Caroline, Guy, and Cora decided to have the house moved from Florence to North University Park, where Richmond had purchased a double lot a decade earlier. Members of the family resided in the house, now located at 1007 W. 24th Street, until the spring of 1936. See photo below.
Here is a photo of Eric Hudson Durfee
Samuel & Lavanda Crozier are my 1st Cousin's 5 Times Removed on my Maternal side. (Mom's)
I am so proud of my ancestor's and all they achieved how amazing it is to add another wonderful story to my tree. Although I also add the bad and ugly as well, because it is all a part of their lives and those stories all should be told as well.
All photos from Randolph County Genealogy Society.
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