Career
Crossley was born in Bellair, Missouri in Cooper County, Missouri. He was raised in Boone County, Missouri and grew up in Mexico, Missouri where he attended high school. He attended William Jewell College and the University of Missouri.
After college he returned to Mexico to teach English and then taught at Warrensburg Normal School (now University of Central Missouri).
In 1907 he acquired The Daily Journal-Star and continued to own it until his death.