The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-02-26

did not interfere with them as there was
still room enough. Hope Mr.. Dolph's load
will come again and finish their visit.
BIRTHDAY PARTY OF I. N. Oaoss.
On the ninth day of February, 1892,
there was large and happy gathering
of the chi ldren and first cousins of Mr..
l. N. Cross of Salisbury, VT, at the
old Cross homestead. This was briefly
referred to in our White Creek notes
last week. This homestead has been in
the family one hundred and thirty three
years. The large gathering of relatives
was there for the purpose of celebrating
the sixty. fifth anniversary of Mr.. Cross
birth. 1t was joyous and happy
thrOng. The genial, smiling faces of the
host and hostess made all the guests
feel at ease. After all had partaken of
the bounteOus repast which the people
of New England, and especially this par
ticular family, know so well how to pre-
pare, which is known throughout the
land from Maine to California, viz: a
New England supper, the guests repaired
to the large and cosy parlOrs to listen to
the interesting history of the Cross
family, from the year 1859 down to the
time when Mr.. |. N. Cross became it's
representative head. as the owner and
occupant Oh Ine llOmcSJedu.
The historian chosen for the occasion
was John l.. Pratt, Esq. The historian
said: 1--WE are here to-day to congraUu-
late our esteemed friend and relative,
upon his having reached the sixty-fifth
mile stone, in his journey of life, and
upon the success he has achieved IL
nanCially by strict attention to his own
affairs, and that he has kept in tact the
oil hp, n,,I l,,, col
and beautified it, making it more COM
modious and far moro imposing in APP
pearanee, and because he can in his turn
hand it down to his descendants.
1--WE are sure it is the unanimous wish
of all present at this happy gathering,
that while wood grows and water runs
this, the starting place of the Cross
family, shall be owned and occupied by
one of the name, possessing the charac-
teristic traits of his ancestors.
Long years before the birth of
America as Nation, the name of Icha-
bod Cross was inscribed upon the re-
cords as the occupant. and owner of
lands north of the provice of Massa-
chusetts Bay; and those were the very
lands surrounding this mansion. Among
the heir looms left by this early and in
trepld pioneer, to his descendants was a
diary, which is now in the possession of
Siberia Cross, of HOOsicl. great grand
son of IchabOd Cross, the founder of the
family.
at appears from the diary that the
prOgenitor of the family was devOut,
GOd-fearing man, for it says: Il went on
my way nOrthward holding prayer meet
ings whenever l found opportunity
And thus holding prayer meetings he
journeyed along on foot up the valley of
the Connecticut. until he came into the
New Hampshire Grants, thence going
westerly across the Green Mountains,
until he came to what is now the west
line of those grants, which is the bound
any, line between the State of New York
and the State of Vermont. At that time
these lands were claimed by New York,
and also by New Hampshire. Serious
trouble arose between the two provinces
which was not settled until the close of
the war of the Revolution. 1t was finally
arranged by forming the Grants into an
lnGependant sovereign State, the State of
Vermont.
''We next hear of Ichabod Cross in the
year 1866, when Samuel Robinson and
the Coles, with many other settlers on
these Grants, through fear of losing
their lands and homes, drew up and
signed y petition to the King of England,
telling his majesty of their great trouble,
and begging his protection. in these
words: We are fearful of being driven
with our families to wander far and wide
to find where to plant ourselves down so
as to be able to live They were not
driven off their lands, for the Colonies
were all at variance with the mother
country, and the long and terrible war
of the Revolution came on. Then the
quarrel for the ownership of the Grants
became of secondary importance. SO that
the settlers were for a time left to them
selves. Here then Ichabod Cross made
for himself a home. He says: 1T was a
goOdly land, with fertile soil and plenty
of fine timber
Here he reared his family, consisting
of three sons and one daughter. The
sons names were Samuel, Ebenezer and
Elihu; the daughters name was Han
nah. She married Thomas Hammond,
who settled at Crown Point, N. Y. From
this union came the Hammonds, so sue
cessful in iron mining in that section,
and who were such staunch Union men
during the Rebellion.
I'VE shall new follow the history of
Samuel Cross, who after the death of
his father, became the owner of the
homestead. He was a General of Yer
monts State troops, and was in active
service in the war of 1872 and 1914. Cen
eral Cross was noted and influential
citizen, proverbial for kindness, for his
hospitality and for his sound judgment
in all business matters. His wife was
Mary Leonard of SALISBURY, a noble
woman, whose memory is blessed. To
them were born two SONS and six
daughters. OF these daughters it is
enough to say that they were all an hon
or to their ancestors. The eldest, Lydia,
became the much esteemed wife of
James Lake of White Creek, N. Y, and
was the mother of a large family.
Clarissa was married to Asa Loomis of
North Bennington, VT. Nathan Cross,
the father of our host, married Lavina
Galusha of Bennington. Julia was maj
ried to Sylvester Bowen, then of White
Creek, N. Y. Mary married Benjamin
Russell of Moreau, N. Y. Emeline was
married to Erastus Bowen of White
Creek. Hannah was married to Israel
Slade of EastOn, n. Y. Germond, who
was the youngest child, married Charity
Cross, daughter of David Cross of White
Creek.
Nathan Cross. upon the death of his
father, General Samuel Cross, came into
possession of the homestead. He was
man of good business habits with large
circle of acquaintance. very genial and
kind to all, and was universally respect
Il halo I 4 4.