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			CHARLES AND NANCY (REINSMITH) CROSS

	Among the names of the enterprising, successful farmers and business men of Bloomer 
township we find that of Charles Cross.  His parents, William and Hannah (Merry) Cross, were 
Connecticut people, and owned a farm in that State, on which they lived until their death.  
Charles was born in Windsor Co., Conn., Sept. 21, 1833.  He remained on the old farm until he 
was  sixteen years old, when he started out in life on his own account.  He remained in 
Connecticut a couple of years, when he came West, and in Pulaski, Jackson Co., Mich., remained 
eighteen months, working at whatever he could get to do until 1852, when he set out for El Dorado
of the West, where he hoped to reap the golden harvest.  He went by water, arriving in San 
Francisco in November, after a voyage of twenty-six days.  He went at once to the mines, and for 
four years worked at mining, meeting with varied success, at times being up and then down.  With 
the money saved from his labors in the mines he returned to Syracuse, N. Y., where he thought of 
locating, but land was too dear, and he came West, and in the town of Bloomer bought two hundred 
and thirty-four acres of wild land.  It was unimproved, and was four miles from any road.  During
the winter of 1855 he made his first beginning on the new farm.  The following summer he spent in
Jackson Co., Mich., where he was married, on the 30th day of October, 1856, to Miss Nancy 
Reinsmith.  She was born in Northumberland Co., Pa., April 29, 1835, daughter of Samuel and 
Catherine Reinsmith, who were Pennsylvania people.
	After their marriage the young couple came to the farm in the woods, and in a log house 
commenced housekeeping in the most primitive manner. Around their home the deer, turkey, and
smaller game were found in abundance, while bears and wolves occasionally made them a visit.  
	The clearing and improving went steadily on until 1865, when Mr. Cross went West and 
enlisted, Feb. 28, 1865, in Company C, First Nebraska Veteran Cavalry.  For a time they were 
connected to the Union Pacific Railroad.  The balance of the time they were scouting in the 
Indian service.  On the 19th day of March, 1866, he was discharged from the service and came 
home, and again the work of clearing and improving went on.  The result of his labor and good 
management is a fine farm, one hundred and fifty acres of which are under improvement, with a 
fine orchard, good house and outbuildings, and all that pertains to the home of a wealthy and 
prosperous farmer.
	Mr. Cross is not a politician, but votes, and generally the Democratic ticket.  He is one
of whom his fellow-townsmen speak only words of praise.  To Mr. and Mrs. Cross there have been 
given two daughters,--viz., Ida L., born Dec. 26, 1858, married, Aug. 3, 1879, to Godfrey Crouse, 
born in New York, June 10, 1854 (they reside in New Haven, Gratiot Co., Mich.); Mary F., born
May 21, 1862.



This biography is taken from "HISTORY OF IONIA AND MONTCALM COUNTIES, MICHIGAN" 
by John S. Schenck. Philadelphia:  D. W. Ensign & Co., 1881.  Page 426.  Bloomer.