Thomas H. Cross

THOMAS H. CROSS, a well-known and extensive farmer of Cherokee County, lives on a farm of 435 acres, located in section 17, township 32, range 22, in Sheridan township. A Southerner by birth, he is a native of old Virginia, having been born in Augusta County, that State, December 22, 1841. He is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth Cross, both natives of Virginia, who spent their entire lives in their native county of Augusta.

Having been reared on the farm, the father naturally became a farmer or planter, and followed that occupation during his life. He was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as was also his wife. Their family consisted of six children, of whom our subject is the only one now living. The mother died and the father married Mrs. Amanda Cox, nee Palmer. To the second marriage were born four children, three of whom are living.

Thomas H. Cross, the subject of this sketch, lived in the South at a time when all the schools were subscription schools. To one of these subscription schools, whose sessions were held in an old log school house, with board seats, our subject was sent, and there he obtained his education. The early years of his youth and manhood were spent on the old farm.

In 1867, at the age of 26 years, he was married to Matilda Burns of Augusta County, Virginia. They have two sons, as follows: Charles Edward, who married Chloe A. Hoy, has three sons,—Harry W., Joseph B. and James E.,—and lives on the old home place in Sheridan township; and Wilber B., who married Emma J. Justice, has one son,—Harold Justice,—and lives at West Mineral, Kansas, where he is employed as a bookkeeper.

After his marriage Thomas H. Cross bought land, made improvements and repairs and accumulated some property, living still in his home county until 1881, when he removed to Crawford County, Kansas, where he remained only two years, then sold his property and bought land in Ross township. After three years' work in improving this place, he again sold and in the spring of 1887 purchased land in Sheridan township, the land being a small farm of 80 acres with a small house, known as the Hendrickson farm. With the assistance of his, sons, many additions and improvements have been made until it is now one of the finest farms in the county. It contains 435 acres, 200 of which are under cultivation. The farm products are wheat, corn, oats and hay. Mr. Cross is also engaged in stock-raising, making a specialty of Shorthorn and Hereford cattle, while a few horses and mules are raised. He also raises hogs of the Poland-China and red Duroc varieties. The experience of many years, for our subject has always been a farmer, adds greatly to his success, and being of the progressive type of farmer he is always ready to advance with the times.

Though not an active politician, he takes an interest in public affairs, voting for Democratic principles on election day. His two sons, who have been associated with him in the farm work for several years, helping to carry on the work and bringing into the farm life the spirit of youth so evident in the present generation and so necessary to the successful conduct of any kind of business. Edward, the older of these sons, is affiliated with the A. H. T. A., and is a member of the Friends' Church. Wilber the younger, is a member of the A. O. U, W. and belongs to the Baptist Church.

History of Cherokee County Kansas and its representative citizens, ed. & comp. by Nathaniel Thompson Allison, 1904, transcribed by Rusty Tanner, student from USD 508, Baxter Springs Middle School, Baxter Springs, Kansas, 2/28/97.