The People and History Behind Crosby & Henry Insurance
For more than 165 years, Crosby & Henry Insurance has remained family-owned, locally operated, and committed to helping Michigan families and businesses make confident insurance decisions.
Built in Grand Rapids, Serving Since 1858
Crosby & Henry, Inc. was established in 1858, built around the real needs of individuals, families, and businesses in Grand Rapids and across West Michigan. What began as a small downtown agency has grown alongside the community, adapting to new risks, industries, and coverage needs over time. Through every change, the focus has remained the same—providing clear guidance and dependable support rooted in long-term relationships. Today, that legacy continues from the agency’s Grand Rapids office, helping clients make decisions that hold up over time.
Seven Generations of Local Insurance Guidance Since 1858
Crosby & Henry Insurance was founded in 1858 and has remained under the same family ownership through seven generations without acquisition, merger, or corporate rebranding. Over decades of serving Michigan families, the agency built its reputation by maintaining long-term relationships instead of treating insurance as a transactional purchase. Clients often stay with Crosby & Henry Insurance through multiple life stages, with parents, children, and grandchildren continuing to work with the same trusted local agency across generations. That continuity allows the team to provide guidance shaped by years of institutional knowledge, direct relationships, and a deep understanding of the people and communities they serve.
A Local History You Can Trace Through Generations
Crosby & Henry’s story begins in 1857, when James Sears Crosby arrived in Grand Rapids from New York and established J.S. Crosby & Co. in 1858. His son, Moreau S. Crosby, joined the agency in 1863, continuing the family’s involvement while also serving the state of Michigan as senator and later Lieutenant Governor.
The next generation, James M. Crosby, joined the agency in 1893, expanding its work with national insurance carriers and focusing on property and casualty coverage. His sons, including James M. Crosby Jr., carried the business forward, marking four generations of continuous family leadership tied directly to the Grand Rapids community.
By 1958, the agency celebrated its 100th anniversary with James M. Crosby III helping lead the firm. His background in accounting and return to Grand Rapids reflected a consistent theme in the agency’s history—bringing experience back to serve the local community.
In 1970, the Crosby agency merged with TenBroek-Henry, a firm originally founded in 1868, forming Crosby & Henry, Inc. The agency moved to its current Cascade-area location in 1974, where it continues to operate today. Leadership evolved over time, with Bill Henry serving as president until 1989, followed by James M. Crosby III, and later James S. Crosby alongside key leadership including John Karle.
Crosby & Henry also expanded its reach in 1998 by forming the West Michigan Agency Network (WMAN), supporting independent agencies across the region while continuing its role as a retail agency serving clients directly. The agency marked its 150th anniversary in 2008, reflecting more than a century of continuous service in Michigan.
Our mission is to help Michigan families and businesses feel more confident about insurance decisions through steady guidance, long-term relationships, and dependable local support.
What Clients Experience When They Work With Us
Long-Term Relationships
Many clients have worked with Crosby & Henry Insurance for decades because consistency matters when protecting homes, businesses, and families. Instead of re-explaining your history every time you call, you work with people who already understand your household, coverage preferences, and long-term goals.
Independent Guidance
As an independent insurance agency, Crosby & Henry Insurance works with multiple respected carriers instead of being tied to a single company’s products. That flexibility helps clients compare meaningful coverage options based on protection and long-term value rather than defaulting to the lowest-priced policy.
Local Accountability
The agency has remained rooted in Grand Rapids for generations, serving local families and businesses through changing markets, economic shifts, and evolving insurance needs. Clients appreciate knowing their agency is still local, still independent, and still accountable to the community it serves.
Consultative Support
Insurance decisions often become stressful during claims or major life changes, especially when policies are unclear. Crosby & Henry Insurance helps clients understand coverage before problems escalate, offering practical guidance that supports smarter long-term decisions.
Industry Relationships
Strong referral relationships with real estate professionals, mortgage lenders, financial advisors, HOAs, and condo associations reflect the trust the agency has built throughout Michigan. Those partnerships also help clients navigate interconnected decisions involving homes, investments, property management, and liability exposure.
Leadership Guiding a Longstanding Agency
Jamie Crosby
President
Leading Crosby & Henry’s continued commitment to local, relationship-based insurance guidance rooted in generations of Grand Rapids history.
Rooted in Grand Rapids and Trusted Across Michigan
Crosby & Henry Insurance proudly serves clients throughout West Michigan and communities across the state from its office at 590 Cascade West Parkway SE in Grand Rapids, MI. Families and business owners in Grand Rapids, Grand Haven, Kalamazoo, Traverse City, and Lansing rely on the agency for personalized insurance guidance backed by local familiarity and long-standing relationships. The agency also maintains strong connections with professionals and organizations throughout Michigan, including lenders, real estate professionals, financial advisors, HOAs, and condo associations that value responsive communication and continuity. Whether someone is purchasing a first home, protecting a family business, or reviewing long-term coverage needs, the goal remains the same: provide guidance that feels personal, reliable, and easy to trust.
Make Your Insurance Decisions With a Team That Knows You
People throughout Michigan choose Crosby & Henry Insurance because they want guidance from a local agency that values relationships as much as coverage itself. Whether you are reviewing policies for a growing family, protecting rental properties, or planning for long-term financial security, the next step starts with a conversation grounded in continuity, clarity, and real local experience.
