Cross, Jesse

CROSS, SILLS, DAWSON, BOMBERGER, LONESS, ISKE

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/28/2009 at 10:04:42

Cross, Jesse

Of the honored pioneers of Jasper County none is worthier of conspicuous mention in a volume of this nature than Jesse Cross, of Independence Township, for he has done his full share in the up building of this section of the County, which he has ever had at heart, and his standing among his fellow men has been such as to inspire their confidence and respect. Success has attended his efforts to a larger degree than comes to the average man, but this fact is not the result of the caprices of fortune, but due to his earnest, persistent efforts along honorable lines.

Mr. Cross, like many of our best citizens, hails from the old Buckeye State, his birth having occurred in Muskingum County, Ohio, February 20, 1846, the son of Benjamin Duncan Cross and Lydia (Sills) Cross. The father, born in Muskingum County, Ohio, in 1816, died in Jasper County, Iowa, October 13, 1907, the mother's birth occurred in Monroe County, Ohio, in 1816, and she died in Jasper County, Iowa, on February 27, 1908. Their family consisted of eight children, the older of whom was born in Ohio, the younger in Iowa. They are, Emma, who died when a year old; Mary died at the age of thirteen; Jesse, of this review; Samuel lives in Baxter, this County; George is a resident of Woonsocket, South Dakota; Benjamin, of Banner County, Nebraska; Philip lives in this County; John W. also lives in Banner County, Nebraska.

Jesse Cross was eleven years old when he accompanied his parents to this County, in the fall of 1857. The family came by boat on the Ohio River, thence up the Mississippi river to Keokuk, and from there overland by ox team to Jasper County, there being no railroads in the state at that time, and the country was unimproved and sparsely settled, the principal trading posts for the central part being Keokuk, later Iowa City, so the Crosses began life here as typical pioneers, undergoing the hardships ordinarily met with by those who pushed the frontier of civilization farther west. But they found here a rich soil and a climate suitable to general agricultural purposes and they knew that in time they would be comfortably situated, which proved to be the case, for they worked hard and managed well and became influential in the affairs of this part of the County.

Jesse Cross grew up on the home farm and did much hard work on the same getting it into shape for the family home. On October 13, 1877, he was united in marriage with Mary M. Dawson, who was born in Story County, Iowa, August 27, 1856, and there she grew to womanhood. She is the daughter of Cyrus P. and Frances (Bomberger) Dawson, both natives of Hancock County, Ohio, the father born on August 26, 1834, and his death occurred in Des Moines thirty-five years ago; the mother was born on March 31, 1831, and she is living with her son in Independence Township, this County. This family consisted of one son and five daughters, namely: Isaac D. Dawson, born March 21, 1867, lives in this Township; Mary M., wife of Mr. Cross; Mrs. Martha Loness, born February 27, 1859, is deceased; Mrs. Jemima Cross, born June 28, 1861, lives in Woonsocket, South Dakota; Mrs. Rebecca E. Cross, born November 9, 1863, lives in Madison County, Iowa. Two daughters of the Dawson family married two of the Cross brothers, and one married a cousin.

Eight children have been born to Jesse Cross and wife, all living, the eldest born in Hamilton County, Iowa, the younger ones in Independence Township, this County, namely: Dwight B., born July 7, 1878, lives in this Township; Mrs. Abbie R. lske, born April 8, 1880, lives in Sherman Township, this County; Charles M., born March 29, 1882, lives in South Dakota; Samuel 0., born May 18, 1884, also lives in South Dakota; Almond R., born June 1, 1886, is living at home; Inez May, born September 3, 1888, lives in Independence Township, Ruth, born November 7, 1890, and Joseph, born July 14, are both at home.

Mr. Cross has been very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser and he is the owner of one of the choicest farms of Independence Township, consisting of four hundred and eighty acres, which he has brought up to a high state of development, and on which there are two substantial sets of buildings, in fact, everything to make a desirable farm. He is also the owner of seven hundred and sixty acres of valuable and desirably located land in South Dakota. Mr. Cross has a modern, well furnished and attractive home, and he is deserving of a great deal of credit for what he has accomplished in view of the fact that he started with nothing and has made what he has unaided. He has laid by a comfortable competency and is regarded as one of the representative citizens of Jasper County. In politics he is independent, and has long taken an abiding interest in local affairs. He has been trustee of his Township, road supervisor, assessor, treasurer of the board of education and a member of the same, filling these offices in a most faithful manner. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 1086.