▁took ▁over ▁management ▁of ▁the ▁family ▁farm , ▁sold ▁it ▁and ▁used ▁the ▁profit ▁to ▁start ▁his ▁business ▁vent ures . ▁ ▁Career ▁In ▁ 1 8 2 1 , ▁Cro zer ▁r ented ▁a ▁mill ▁near ▁C rum ▁Creek ▁in ▁R id ley , ▁Pennsylvania . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 8 2 5 , ▁Cro zer ▁purchased ▁the ▁Matt son ▁mill ▁on ▁the ▁west ▁branch ▁of ▁Ch ester ▁Creek ▁in ▁Ch ester , ▁Pennsylvania ▁and ▁alter ed ▁it ▁by ▁removing ▁the ▁cot ton ▁mach in ery . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 8 4 5 , ▁Cro zer ▁purchased ▁the ▁Ch ester ▁M ills ▁from ▁John ▁W . ▁Ash me ad ▁and ▁converted ▁it ▁to ▁a ▁cot ton ▁mill . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 8 4 6 , ▁Cro zer ▁built ▁the ▁mill ▁known ▁as ▁No . ▁ 1 , ▁a ▁five - story ▁stone ▁structure ▁with ▁ 6 , 0 0 0 ▁sp ind les ▁and ▁ 1 5 0 ▁lo oms ▁and ▁a ▁number ▁of ▁stone ▁houses ▁for ▁the ▁workers . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 8 5 2 , ▁Cro zer ▁built ▁No . ▁ 2 , ▁a ▁four - story ▁mill ▁with ▁ 7 , 0 0 0 ▁sp ind les ▁and ▁ 1 5 0 ▁lo oms . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 8 6 3 , ▁Cro zer ▁built ▁mill ▁No . ▁ 3 , ▁a ▁four ▁story ▁mill ▁with ▁ 7 , 1 4 0 ▁th rost le - sp ind les , ▁ 2 , 1 1