Governor Charles Croswell & the Daughters of the American Revolution

Governor Charles Croswell lived in Adrian Michigan at the home located at 228 North Broad Street, which is now the home of the Lucy Wolcott Barnum Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.  The DAR chapter was founded in April 1909 and the Tecumseh connection is the Abi Evans Chapter founded in 1926/27 later merging with the Adrian chapter in April 2001.

Betty Cummings, a member of the former Abi Evans DAR Chapter and Honorary Regent of the Lucy Wolcott Barnum Chapter, will present a slide presentation on Governor Croswell who was orphaned at 7 years old and moved to Adrian in 1837 with his uncle, Daniel Hicks, and family.   This event will be held on Thursday, July 14, 2022 at 7 p.m. at the TAHS museum. 

Croswell learned the carpentry trade while helping his uncle build their home here in Adrian and studied law, later becoming the Deputy Clerk of Lenawee County.  He bought the house from his aunt after his uncle died in 1853 for the sum of $1,700. 

Charles formed a law practice with Thomas Cooley, former Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court here in Adrian, and Croswell was later elected to the House of Representatives and became Speaker of the House.  In 1876 he was elected Governor.

DAR members will also be available to discuss membership for those interested in the organization and the history of the DAR and its chapters throughout the United States.  Membership is based on lineage genealogy of soldiers who fought in the American Revolution.