Founded in 1868 by Damon Greenleaf (1834 – 1895), the firm of Greenleaf & Crosby was one of the best known in the jewelry industry. Damon Greenleaf started very modestly, with watch repair counter and a small showcase containing articles of jewelry.

In 1868, Greenleaf opened his store on Bay Street, which became one of the most beautiful of its kind in the South and was a success from the start. In 1880, he took J W Pomeroy and J H Crosby, Jr, as partners, and the firm became D Greenleaf & Co. Pomeroy retired in 1883, and the firm changed its name to Greenleaf & Crosby.

In 1896, after the death of Damon Greenleaf, the company was incorporated as Greenleaf & Crosby Co and consisted of Joseph Haydn Crosby, James F Lane, C M Fuller, and J H Douglas. Joseph Haydn Crosby led the firm as president until his retirement in 1918.

Following his retirement, Charles M Fuller took over the business. Other members of the firm included Ralph Payne, A L Schultz, Milton Fuller, Sterling Smith, Drummond Paul, Bertha B Davis, and Carrie A Tracy.

Charles M Fuller (1863 – 1948) led the firm Greenleaf & Crosby Co as president for ten years. In 1929, he relinquished his interests and started a new business with his son Milton A Fuller (1895 – 1965) as the head of the jewelry firm Milton A Fuller, Inc in Palm Beach.

New York Jeweler Damon Greenleaf (1834 – 1895)

Born in Brockport, New York, Damon Greenleaf entered the jewelry business in 1851, working there for three years. He then moved to Rochester and worked for C H Burr & Co. Under the guidance of their foreman, S. A. Allen, he acquired a thorough knowledge of all aspects of the business.

In 1855, he opened his own business in Rockport, Illinois, in partnership with Blakeman. Three years later, the firm moved to St. Anthony, Minnesota, and dissolved in 1859. Greenleaf went to Memphis and worked for two years for J H Clark & ​​Co. He then went into business for himself again, opening stores in Washington, Arkansas, and Clarksville, Texas.

In 1861, with the outbreak of the Civil War, he temporarily interrupted his commercial career. He commanded a volunteer regiment, which he himself had formed. In 1864, he returned to the jewelry business, opening a store in St. Paul. Two years later, he married, and in 1867, due to declining health, he went to Florida.

In 1868, Greenleaf opened his store on Bay Street, which became one of the most beautiful of its kind in the South and was a success from the start.

Jewelry and Zoo

In addition to traditional jewelry and souvenirs, Greenleaf produced bizarre jewelry made from alligator teeth, sea beans, and fish scales. He also traded in Florida birds, including white egrets, roseate curlews, flamingos, and many other magnificently plumaged birds. His collection became known as the “Greenleaf Museum.”

A small zoo was located in the back of the store, where visitors could see live bears, wildcats, panthers, rattlesnakes, eagles, Canadian rock snakes, and a variety of Florida birds. The collection was a great draw for winter tourists, especially since admission was free. At the time, Jacksonville was a renowned tourist destination.

Remarkably, Greenleaf had one of the finest orange groves in Florida and contributed greatly to the development of horticulture in the state. He died in Jacksonville, Florida, on December 16, 1895, at the age of 61.

Partner of Greenleaf Joseph Haydn Crosby

Former president of the Greenleaf & Crosby Co, Joseph Haydn Crosby died in 1921. He had lived in Jacksonville, Florida since 1873. Crosby joined Damon Greenleaf as a watch repairer. In 1880, he became a partner of Damon Greenleaf, and the firm changed name to D Greenleaf & Co. Three years later the firm name changed to Greenleaf & Crosby.

He succeeded his senior partner Damon Greenleaf in 1895, and incorporated the concern under the name of the Greenleaf & Crosby Co. Joseph Crosby had been president of the firm until his retirement in 1918.

V. E. Jacobs Co., successors to Greenleaf & Crosby Co

In June 1930 the Jacobs Co purchased the Greenleaf & Crosby Co. The Jacobs Co continued under the same officers and with the same personnel, with V E Jacobs, president, and Nathan Weil, secretary and manager.

V E Jacobs Co, successors to Greenleaf&Crosby Co, celebrated their 50th anniversary in the retail jewelry field in December 1940. The firm was established in 1880 by Lional Jacobs and his two sons, Victor and Joseph. In 1934 the Crosby Jewelry Co became known as Jacobs Jewelers.

According to the Jewelers’ Circular Keystone, Drummond Paul (1884 – 1956), a native of Jacksonville, was president of Greenleaf and Crosby, known as Jacobs Jewelers, Inc, 204 Laura St.

Greenleaf & Crosby changed hands several times, but the brand name became iconic, even historic, and never abandoned. Advertisements for the brand continued to appear in fashion magazines throughout the second half of the 20th century.

Nationally advertised Greenleaf & Crosby Jewelry