Historical Information

The site North of US Route 90 (according to some) was an encampment nicknamed “Lick Skillet” back in 1823 by Humphrey Jackson, one of the 300 original colonists to settle Texas. The name “Lick Skillet” came from the phrase “The East Texas oxen team drivers sipped the spring sweet water and licked their skillets clean.”

Humphrey Jackson (1784-1833) moved to Texas from Louisiana in September 1823 and built a log cabin outside Austin’s colony on the San Jacinto River, a half mile west of the site of present Crosby. On August 16, 1824 the Baron de Bastrop, granted him title to a league and a labor of land, including the place where he had settled, in what is now Harris County. Jackson next petitioned the Mexican government to form the San Jacinto District under control of the Austin colony; he was elected alcaldeqv of the new district in 1824, 1825, and 1827, and served as ex officio militia captain of the San Jacinto area. Jackson was buried at Crosby. Jackson’s Bayou in eastern Harris County is probably named for him.

Near what is now the Southern Pacific Railroad, the town was named for G. J. Crosby, a railroad construction engineer. In 1861, the Sabine and Galveston Bay Railroad & Lumber Company (SGBR&L), installed tracks through this site. The first general store was built in 1865 by Charlie Karcher , and thereafter the town would become a shipping and retail center for lumber and agricultural products. Several years later, the post office was established in 1877.

In 1884 Crosby reported a population of fifty, a school, a Baptist church, and a general store. In 1905 it had one school with four teachers and 122 students. As of 1929, the population was about 600, but the Great Depression reduced this number by half. World War II brought the population to over 900, and the population would continue to grow to the present.

The site South of Hwy 90 is historical Barrett Station. Barrett Settlement was founded by Harrison Barrett (1845-1917) and has been registered in the Texas Family Land Heritage as Texas Century Farm. Born into slavery Harrison Barrett was the son of Simon and Lisa Barrett who came to Texas from Louisiana. He had 2 brothers and 2 sisters. Following the emancipation of Texas slaves in 1865 Harrison Barrett spent several years gathering his family together. He eventually found all of them except one sister, and they settled on land east of the San Jacinto River. He purchased this land in 1889 and began a community which later would be known as Barrett’s Settlement. Beginning with 7 houses, the community grew to include additional homes, farms and businesses. Barrett established a school, church & cemetery. After a post station was opened here in 1947 the area became known as Barrett Station. Harrison Barret’s homestead twice rebuilt by his descendants still stands on its original location.

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Source: Wikipedia.com