Commemorative Biographical Record of the County of Lambton Ontario, J.H. Beers & Co., Toronto, 1907; pp.51-53:
Gilbert S. Crosbie, deceased. To few men have greater opportunities of studying mankind in all their varying aspects been accorded than to the late Gilbert S. Crosbie, whose reputation as an oil prospector brought him business engagements in almost every position of the globe and enabled him to study at close range an unusual number of nationalities.
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Gilbert Crosbie, father of our subject, was born on the homestead, in the town of Perth, County of Lanark, Ont., April 28, 1828... he remained at home in charge of the farm until 1857, when he and his wife moved to Lambton County, settling at Sarnia, on the line of Moore township...
Gilbert Crosbie was married, in Bathurst township, July 11, 1849, to Miss Jane Tole, daughter of Patrick Tole, who was born in Ireland... She bore her husband six children, as follows: ... Gilbert S. was born Sept. 12, 1858...
Gilbert S. Crosbie was born in the township of Sarnia, Sept. 12, 1858. His opportunities as a boy for an education were rather limited, although he attended both the public school of Sarnia township and the Petrolia high school, and made the best possible use of every advantage. He worked at home with his father until he was twenty-two years old and then went to Petrolia to work in the oil fields with his uncle, John Crosbie, remaining there two years. In the fall of 1883 he accepted a position with the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, to go to Texas and New Mexico, to bore for oil and water. He returned to Petrolia, however, in the fall of 1884, and soon after came the first of his foreign engagements. The Trans-Continental Company sent him to Germany to prospect for oil in the Province of Hanover, and for six months he was busy there. He then went to Galicia, Austria, as manager of the oil fields of Bergheim & McGarvey, and was very successful in the operations there for a period of nine years. The next eight years he was in Germany again, being in charge of the oil fields of Count Dugais and Baron Bleichrhoider, Berlin bankers.
On severing relations with the British parties Mr. Crosbie entered into arrangements with a large London oil company, to operate in the Province of Caucasia, Russia, and after two years there he was ordered to the west coast of Africa. Some time was spent there in exploring for petroleum, but with little success, and the prospectors returned to London, where another expedition was at once formed to proceed to Siberia and carry on operations in the Saghalien Islands, where criminals are imprisoned. Passports to St. Petersburg were obtained from the Russian ambassador in London, and on arriving there the Russian officials made all the necessary arrangements for passports to their destination and for the safety of the party. Under the protection of ten soldiers Mr. Crosbie and his men traveled by the Trans-Siberian railroad to Manchuria, proceeded to Vladivostock and Port Arthur, and went by steamer to Saghalien Island. He was received there by the chief of police, who did everything possible to facilitate the enterprise, and six months were spent prospecting on one of the islands of the group, a territory 360 miles long and fifty-six miles wide. The party then returned to Port Arthur, and there, in October, 1903, it was intimated to Mr. Crosbie by the British consul that a war was likely to break out between Japan and Russia, and that he might find it best to leave the country before that occurred. A return journey by rail brought the party in twenty-two days to Moscow, whence Mr. Crosbie went to London, and then returned to his native land to remain there until a more favorable opportunity for investigation was presented. He spoke in the highest terms of the invariable courtesy received from the government and all it officials, and was particularly enthusiastic over the Trans-Siberian railway, which he considered superior in accomodations to any road in the United States or Canada. Meantime he went down to Texas and after an illness of six weeks there returned home for his health. However, it was too late for any permanent benefit, and died three weeks later, Aug. 17, 1905, at Oil Springs, where he is buried.
Mr. Crosbie chose for his wife Miss Martha B. Wallen, born in Superior City, daughter of Capt. John Wallen, a well-known captain on the great lakes. They were married Feb. 2, 1887. Mrs. Crosbie accompanied her husband upon many of his expeditions, traveling extensively through Europe and visiting all the great capitals. The children born to Gilbert S. and Martha Crosbie were seven, as follows: Gilbert Frederick, born in Austria; John Wallen, in Wama, Austria; Grover Stanley, born in Austria; Ada, born in Austria; Edwin Kerbic, in Germany; Olga McI., in Germany; and Maude Vera in Bedford, England. Mr. Crosbie was a member of the Baptist Church, and Mrs. Crosbie is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Politically he was a Conservative, and fraternally he belonged to the A.F.&A.M. and the I.O.O.F. The family are at present residing in Oil Springs, Enniskillen township.
Mr. Crosbie was not only a man splendidly qualified professionally, but of great executive ability, which was promptly recognized by those who came in contact with him and correspondingly important responsibilities were laid upon him.
Commemorative Biographical Record of the County of Lambton Ontario, J.H. Beers & Co., Toronto, 1907; p.70:
Alex C. Wallen, a prominent oil producer at Oil Springs, Lambton County, was born Feb. 27, 1866 in Dresden, Kent County, Ont., eldest son of Capt. John and Ellen (Lane) Wallen. He is a member of one of the prominent families of Oil Springs. His father was born in Kent County, on the River Sydenham, and still resides at Oil Springs, being one of the prominent retired citizens of that place. His mother was born in Dublin, Ireland, and died at Oil Springs, in 1886, mourned by her family and beloved by all who knew her. Of their family of twelve, (1) Martha, the eldest, married Gilbert S. Crosbie, of Petrolia, late a prominent citizen of Oil Springs, who died in August, 1905. For a number of years he lived in Austria, Germany, Russia and England, as foreman for oil companies, and subsequently was interested in the same business at home. Mr. and Mrs. Crosbie had seven children, Gilbert, Ada, Wallen, Grover, Kerbic, Olga and Vera...
Gilbert S.
Crosbie
Eliza Crosbie 1852-
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