Walter Augustus CROSS, son of Eugene Bonaparte CROSS and Carrie Myra CROSS, was born in Shasbury, Vermont, in 1875. At an early age, he and his parents moved to Coffeyville, Kansas. In 1888, the family moved to a farm near Stuart, Iowa. He grew to manhood, helping his father on the farm, an occupation he followed for the rest of his life, except for ten years (1900-1910) during which time he worked as a fireman on the Great Western Railroad.

On November 20, 1906, Walter was united in marriage to Etta Mae HALL, daughter of Samuel Stewart HALL and Sarah Jane HUTCHISON HALL of Benton, Iowa.

Walter and Etta met when the train stopped in Blockton for meals prepared by the Blockton Hotel. Etta, an employee of the hotel, often delivered the meals to the train crew.

They established a home in Des Moines, where a son, Walter Ivan, was born [December 21, 1907].

In the spring of 1910, they moved to the farm home north of Benton where Walter farmed until his death, February 10, 1951 [interment at Benton Cemetery]. Three more children were born to Walter and Etta: Hazel Jane, Ames Russell, and Samuel Eugene.

Walter and Etta were friends of all they met. Etta enjoyed her role as wife and mother, and later as grandmother. She also enjoyed her church, clubs, and the Rebekah Lodge. Walter was held in high esteem by the community and county, as shown by the many offices and responsibilities to which he was elected. He was a member of the board of education of Benton for fifteen years; also, he was an active member of the Odd Fellow's Lodge. He was a great lover of music; he played with several musical groups and was leader of the Benton band. He, too, enjoyed his grandchildren.

Etta made her home in Diagonal after Walter's death; then she lived with her daughter and husband. She passed away on February 18, 1973 while living at the Clearview Nursing Home. [Interment was made at Benton Cemetery.]

Walter Ivan CROSS lived in Lenox, Iowa; Hazel and her husband, Leroy SCHLAPIA, live in Diagonal, Iowa; Ames CROSS and his wife, Elberta, live in Mount Ayr; Samuel Eugene CROSS and his wife, Martha, live in _________.

NOTE: Hazel Jane (CROSS) SCHLAPIA was born November 29, 1910, and died on November 27, 1986. Owen LeRoy SCHLAPIA was born November 10, 1910 and died in January of 2005. They were interred at Diagonal Cemetery.

Walter Ivan CROSS was born in 1907 and died in 1988, with interment at Bedford Cemetery, Bedford, Taylor Co. IA. He served during World War II in the U.S. Army as a Tec3.

Elberta Ruth (McKINSTRY) CROSS was born December 9, 1912 and died February 26, 2000, with interment at Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr.

SOURCE: 1887 - Benton, Iowa Centennial - 1987. p. 163. Courtesy of Mount Ayr Public Library, Mount Ayr IA

Transcriptions and notes by Sharon R. Becker, October of 2012

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