Oscar Crosby

"...Crosby, Oscar – (13th Ten) Born about 1815, to Vilate Crosby, an African descendant. She was a slave of William Crosby, one of the Mississippi converts. Oscar Crosby was baptized at Mormon Springs in Monroe Co., Mississippi, probably before 1845, where many other Mississippi converts were baptized. During the trip from Mississippi to Nauvoo, the company he was with encountered severe snow and ice, and two of the slaves died. He was sent ahead to assist the pioneer company. After the company's arrival in the valley, Oscar Crosby helped prepare a place for the Crosby family who were to follow. When the family arrived, they were reportedly welcomed by Crosby, a cabin and patches of potatoes, buckwheat and turnips. In 1851, he and a number of Mississippi converts helped settle San Bernardino, Calif., where they helped to establish freight route to Los Angeles. Crosby became free in California, and his former master helped him settle. Oscar Crosby died in Los Angeles, Calif., in 1870 at age 55..."

SOURCE: http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/58061/Biographies-of-the-orig...