R. CROTSER, Livingston County, is a native of Montgomery County, Tenn., and was born near the city of Clarksville, October 8, 1836. His father, Allen Crotser, was born in Rowan County, N. C., March 12, 1812, and left his native State when but six years old, moving with the family to Tennessee and settling in Montgomery County, where subject's paternal grandfather, Jacob Crotser, died in 1848. Allen Crotser remained at Tennessee until 1853, at which time he immigrated to Kentucky and settled one mile from Salem Village, dying in that locality May 3, 1861. Subject's mother was Nancy (Powers) Crotser, daughter of Valentine Powers, a native of Pennsylvania, and an early pioneer of Montgomery County, Tenn. Mrs. Crotser was born in 1812, and died November 17, 1857. Mr. and Mrs. Crotser reared a family of seven children, named as follows; Martha, deceased; Robert (subject); Elizabeth, wife of L. F. Barrett; Sophia, wife of Dr. Clemens; Jacob; George (deceased) and William (deceased). Robert Crotser remained with his parents until after attaining his majority, receiving a fair education in the common schools of the country, and commenced life for himself as a clerk in the store of Leander Berry, at Salem, selling goods at the village for a period of three years. In 1860 he came to Carrsville, where he ran a store for his employer one year, and at the end of that time discontinued the business on account of the war. In 1862 Mr. Crotser opened a business of his own at Carrsville, which he conducted for two years, when he disposed of his store and engaged as clerk with J. C. Barnett, and later clerked for other parties until 1871. In the latter year he was again engaged in merchandising; which he has since continued, and at which he has been very successful. He has a large trade and carries a general stock of goods aggregating a capital of over $3,000. In addition to merchandising Mr. Crotser is also extensively engaged in buying and shipping tobacco, grain, stock, etc., and at one time ran a very successful milling business at Carrsville. Mr. Crotser was united in marriage, November 28, 1862, to Joann, daughter of Barnett and Maria (McElroy) Robertson, of Carrsville. The result of this union has been six children, as follows: Lenna, wife of C. J. Lemon; Nanna B.; William F.; Mattie B.; Myrtle and Maud, deceased. Mr. Crotser is a member of the I. O. O. F., and belongs to the Christian Church, as does also his wife.
Source: J. H. Battle, W. H. Perrin, & G. C. Kniffin. Kentucky. A History of the State. Louisville, KY, Chicago, IL: Battey, 1885. Page 815.