Robert Crozier

This article is about the United States Senator. For the English artist, see Robert Crozier (artist).

Robert Crozier
United States Senator
from Kansas
In office
November 24, 1873 – February 12, 1874
Appointed byThomas A. Osborn
Preceded byAlexander Caldwell
Succeeded byJames M. Harvey
Chief Justice of the Kansas Supreme Court
In office
1864–1867
Preceded byNelson Cobb
Succeeded bySamuel Austin Kingman
United States Attorney for the District of Kansas
In office
1861–1864
Preceded byJohn T. Burris
Succeeded byJames S. Emory
Personal details
Born(1827-10-13)October 13, 1827
Cadiz, Ohio
DiedOctober 2, 1895(1895-10-02) (aged 67)
Leavenworth, Kansas
Resting placeMount Muncie Cemetery, Lansing, Kansas
Political partyWhig (before 1854)
Republican (from 1854)
Spouse(s)Margaret Atkinson (m. 1852–1865, her death)
Susan Eleanor Hunt (m. 1877–1895, his death)
RelationsJohn Edgar Reyburn (son in law)
William Stuart Reyburn (grandson)
Children2 (including William Crozier)

Robert Crozier (October 13, 1827 – October 2, 1895) was an attorney, judge and politician from Kansas. A Republican, he was most notable for his service as Chief Justice of the Kansas Supreme Court (1864–1867) and United States Senator from Kansas (1873–1874).

Early life

Crozier was born in Cadiz, Ohio on October 13, 1827, the son of John Thomas Crozier (1790–1867) and Jane Ann (Ginn) Crozier (1801–1839).[1][a] He attended the public schools and Cadiz Academy, then began to study law with an attorney in Carrollton, Ohio.[1] He was admitted to the bar in 1848, and began to practice in Carrollton.[1]

Start of career

While residing in Carrollton, Crozier also became editor of the Carroll Free Press newspaper.[2] Originally active in politics as a Whig,[3][4] from 1848 to 1850, Crozier served as prosecuting attorney of Carroll County.[1] In the 1850s, Crozier served on Carroll County's board of examiners, which was responsible for reviewing the qualifications of teachers in the public schools and approving them for employment.[5]

Continued career

Crozier moved to Leavenworth, Kansas, on March 7, 1857, where he established the Leavenworth Daily Times newspaper and continued to practice law.[1] He became a Republican when the party was founded in the mid-1850s, and he served on the Kansas territorial council from 1857 to 1858.[1] In 1861, and Crozier was appointed United States attorney for the district of Kansas by President Abraham Lincoln.[1] He served until 1864, when he resigned.[1] From 1864 to 1867, Crozier served as Chief Justice of the Kansas Supreme Court.[1] After leaving the bench, he resumed practicing law and also served as cashier and manager of the First National Bank of Leavenworth.[1]

Later career

On November 24, 1873, Crozier was appointed to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Alexander Caldwell.[1] He was not a candidate for election to the seat, and served until February 12, 1874, when a successor was elected.[1] After leaving the Senate, Crozier resumed his banking and legal interests in Leavenworth.[1]

Crozier served as judge of the first judicial district of Kansas from 1876 to 1892.[1] He was a member of the board of directors of the Kansas Historical Society from 1886 to 1889.[1]

Death and burial

After retiring, Crozier continued reside in Leavenworth.[1] He died in Leavenworth on October 2, 1895.[1] Crozier was buried at Mount Muncie Cemetery in Lansing, Kansas.[1]

Family

In August 1852, Crozier married Margaret Atkinson (1824–1865) of Carrollton.[6][7] In October 1877, Crozier married Susan Eleanor Hunt (1838–1902) of Princeton, New Jersey.[8] With his first wife, Crozier was the father of son William (1855–1942) and daughter Margaretta (Maggie) (1863–1941).[9] William Crozier was a career officer in the United States Army who attained the rank of brigadier general and served as the Army's Chief of Ordnance from 1901 to 1917.[10] Margaretta Crozier was the wife of John Edgar Reyburn and mother of William Stuart Reyburn.[11]

Notes

  1. ^ Crozier's name is sometimes spelled "Crosier."

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Capace, Nancy (2000). Encyclopedia of Kansas. Vol. I (Third ed.). St. Claire Shores, MI: Somerset Publishers. p. 19. ISBN 978-0-4030-9312-0 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ "Masthead: The Carroll Free Press, R. Crosier, editor". The Carroll Free Press. Carrollton, OH. February 13, 1852. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Whig District Convention". Carroll Free Press. Carrollton, OH. June 2, 1848. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Grand Rally of the Whigs of the 17th Congressional District". Carroll Free Press. Carrollton, OH. September 15, 1848. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "To School Teachers". The Carroll Free Press. Carrollton, OH. March 26, 1852. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Married: Crosier-Atkinson". The Carroll Free Press. Carrollton, OH. August 27, 1852. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Death Notice, Mrs. Robert Crozier". The Union. Junction City, KS. November 11, 1865. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Married: Crozier-Hunt". Leavenworth Times. Leavenworth, KS. November 4, 1877. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "1870 United States Federal Census, Entry for Robert Crozier". Ancestry.com. Lehi, UT: Ancestry.com, LLC. 1870. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  10. ^ Davis, Henry Blaine Jr. (1998). Generals in Khaki. Raleigh, NC: Pentland Press. p. 81. ISBN 978-1-57197-088-6.
  11. ^ "Mrs. Reyburn Dies". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, PA. October 2, 1941. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
U.S. Senate
Preceded by U.S. senator (Class 2) from Kansas
1873–1874
Served alongside: John J. Ingalls 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Chief Justice of the Kansas Supreme Court
1864–1867 		Succeeded by