Stanton was drafted into the Confederate States Army in the American Civil War in 1864, and John went along.

Stanton was assigned duty as a guard of a prison for Federal soldiers in Florence, South Carolina, near Columbia.

Crosby's proximity to headquarters gave him the chance to occasionally act as drummer.

[1] In 1874 he was ordained and became the minister for the first Colored Baptist church of Warrenton, North Carolina.

In 1880 he moved to the Dixonville Baptist church in Salisbury, North Carolina[1] and became principal of the State Colored Normal School,[1][2] a college for training teachers, in that city.

He played numerous prominent secular and church roles in North Carolina and became editor of the Golddust, the State Baptist journal.

In 1896, amid internal as well as external criticisms, Crosby terminated his office as president and returned to Salisbury, NC where he resumed his position as principal of the L. C. State Normal School.