Celebrity Genealogy      Research - My Family

The Life and Legacy of My Great-Great Grandfather, Charles James Crosby (1861–1925)

This is the story of my maternal great-great grandfather, Charles James Crosby, born on January 27, 1861, in Niagara Falls, New York, USA. Unfortunately, little is known about his early life. Despite extensive research, I have yet to locate birth records or family documentation from that time. The earliest record I’ve found is from the 1871 Canadian Census, where a ten-year-old Charles appears as a resident of a Catholic orphanage in Toronto.

By the 1880 U.S. Census, Charles had returned to the United States. At just 19 years old, he was working for the railroad in Kittson, Minnesota. Interestingly, this record lists both his parents as “English,” though family stories have long claimed Irish ancestry. Until I uncover more definitive records of his parents, I can neither confirm nor deny those origins.

Although Charles may not have achieved fame like some of my other ancestors, I deeply admire his resilience. Orphaned at a young age, he managed to build a stable and respectable life through determination and hard work.

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A Helping Hand: The Usher Family

At some point during his youth, Charles was taken in by William and Mary Usher of Toronto. According to other genealogists I’ve connected with on Ancestry, the Ushers were known for their generosity, helping young people establish themselves in life—a rare kindness during an era when orphans often faced harsh conditions.

Charles’s deep appreciation for the Ushers is evident: on his marriage certificate, William Usher is listed where a groom’s father’s name would normally appear.

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Marriage and Family

On September 3, 1884, Charles married Annie Dunlop, my great-great grandmother. Annie was of Irish heritage, though she was born in Scotland. Together, Charles and Annie had six children, including a set of male-female twins. Five of their children survived into adulthood.

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A Distinguished Career at the Toronto Telegram

That same year, 1884, Charles began working at the Toronto Telegram, under the direction of the newspaper’s founder, John Ross Robertson—a prominent and sometimes controversial figure in Canadian journalism.

Over the next 41 years, Charles advanced steadily, eventually becoming General Superintendent of the entire Telegram plant. His dedication and reliability earned him not only professional success but also a friendship with Robertson himself. Family stories recall that Robertson once gifted Charles a wall clock from his office, which he gave to him during a renovation—a treasured heirloom still in our family today.

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Remembering Charles James Crosby

When Charles passed away in 1925, the Toronto Telegram published a heartfelt memorial honoring his decades of service and integrity. His journey from orphan to respected newspaperman stands as a testament to perseverance, humility, and character.

I continue to research Charles’s life and heritage, hoping to uncover more about his parents, ancestry, and Irish or English roots. His story is one of triumph over adversity—a reminder that even without wealth or fame, a person can leave a lasting mark through hard work, kindness, and resilience. The origins of my 2x Great grandfather continues to remain a mystery...one that hopefully I can unravel before someone puts my biography on a page like this!