Biography of Henry Capers Cross, Bowie County, Texas *********************************************************** Submitted by: Edith Smith genbug2k@yahoo.com Date: Mar 2001 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/tx/bowie/bowitoc.htm *********************************************************** HENRY CAPERS CROSS 1830-1904 Henry Capers Cross was born 18 Mar 1830 in South Carolina. His parents were John Cross and Jane (formerly widow of William Platt of SC) whose maiden name is not known at this time. Both John and Jane brought children to their marriage of 13 April 1826. John, whose wife Margaret Elizabeth (Joiner) Cross had died about 1826, had four daughters between five and fourteen years of age and a son aged twelve. Jane had five sons between the ages of eight and eighteen. The couple soon had a daughter, Aletha Jane, born in May of 1829 followed closely by Henry Capers "Cape". The family was situated on a plantation on Four-hole Swamp in St. James Goose Creek Parish of Charleston District South Carolina. John's father had purchased the property before his death in 1785 when John was just an infant. The father, Samuel Cross, had been an Innkeeper for many years near the docks of Charleston city. The inventory of his estate cited barrels of spirits, and named his wife Susannah as executrix. Susanna, a daughter of James Presbury, and Samuel had married in Harford Co. Maryland in 1765. He left at least three sons, John, George and Samuel, and possibly a fourth son James. The will is badly deteriorated and dificult to read. As the Indian lands in Mississippi were opened, John took his substantial family and moved to Lowndes County Mississippi by 1834. John's daughters were all married in Lowndes County within the next few years. Jane died in 1842, leaving John as guardian of her two youngest sons. One son, Robert B. Platt married his step-sister Eliza Matilda Cross. John himself died in 1856, leaving his estate to his children. The will and inventory are in the care of the Historical and Genealogical Society of Lowndes County in Columbus, Mississippi. The Platt boys migrated to Bossier Parish Louisiana where they purchased property near Bellevue. In 1852, Henry married there to Minerva Lucinda Inabinet. Her parents are believed to be Jacob and Rebecca (Riggs) Inabinet, but this is not documented. Henry and Minerva owned property there and began to raise a substantial family: John Sidney born 16 Nov 1854; Aletha Jane born 1856 died before 1860; Henry Capers Jr. born 30 Mar 1857; James Norton born 12 Dec 1858; Cornelia Ada born 11 Oct 1860; Cara Louella born 25 Nov 1862; William Francis born 1 Jan 1865; Eugene Joseph born 21 Dec 1866 and Stocks Quiller born 20 Jul 1869. Another child, Rebecca Elizabeth, was born in Texas 11 Feb 1874. On 11 May 1862, Henry joined Company B of the 28th Louisiana (Gray's Regiment). His pension application papers state that he also served with Co. A of Harrison's Battalion under a Capt. Alford. These companies were active at Mansfield near Shreveport and fought in the battles there. They were also at Vicksburg. Henry was awarded a pension for his service by the State of Texas on the 28th of March 1901. (Record # 7809) In 1872, "Cape" and Minerva moved their family to Fannin County Texas. Land was purchased in the Ivanhoe/Duplex area near the Red River. In 1882 son James Norton died and in 1890 Henry Capers Jr. died. Both are buried in the New Hope Church Cemetery at Ivanhoe. Minerva passed away 4 Feb 1891 and was buried there also. In 1898 Henry and his children sold their land, and "Cape" moved in with his son Stocks and his family. Henry Capers Cross died 7 Aug 1904, and while no tombstone marks his grave, it is believed that he lies next to Minerva and his two sons at New Hope Cemetery. John Sidney "Sid" Cross, oldest son of "Cape" and Minerva, married first in 1883, to Lela Martin, daughter of B.H.Martin. Lela died giving birth to a daughter, Ethel. This daughter was raised by her mother's sister and brother, neither of whom ever married. "Sid" married next to Mattie Skidmore in 1889, and they had three sons: John Ernest, Louey, and Norton who died young. Mattie died in 1900. "Sid" moved his sons to Bowie County Texas where they settled near the community known as "Dan'l's Chapel" about 8 miles NE of New Boston. There, in 1904, "Sid" married a widow, Margrett "Maggie" Thompson, dtr of Henry David and Mary E. (Johnson) Raney. "Maggie" had a grown daughter by her first husband a Mr. Martin, possibly related to "Sid"s first wife Lela. By her second husband, Joseph Newton Thompson, Maggie had three sons and three daughters ranging in age from 6 to 14. Sid and Maggie had three daughters, Susie Minerva who married Clifton Johnson; my mother Josie, and Maudie May who married Floyd Dillard. Cornelia Ada Cross married James A. Fields in 1879 in Fannin County. Their children were; Zoe md. William M. Gist; Mary md Joe P. Byrne; Cape md Bailey B. Sanford; Mabel; Lilliam; and Luther. Cornelia married second to S.C.Dunlap and had a son Eugene. Cara Louella Cross married Henry M. Raney, brother to Sid's 3rd wife Maggie. They had two sons; Orren and Joseph. William Francis "Frank" Cross married Ida Josephine McKinzey and had a son who died at birth and four daughters: Emma who md. 1st Roy Ford, and 2nd Robert H. Traylor; Maudie; Laura Louise who md. Lawrence G. Gibbs; and Alline Josephine who md. 1st C.C.Kennedy, 2nd Ray Moon, 3rd Jinx Grady. Joseph Eugene Cross, also listed as Eugene Joseph, married Malissa A. Darnall. Their children were: Barbara Louise md. James B. Richie; Norton Lee md Jarvis Marie Mills; Euna Mae, died young; Quilla Eugene md Ruby Fae Sadler; and Ervin Franklin who md. Ruby Smith. The last child of "Cape" and Minerva was Stocks Quiller. In 1896 he married Minta "Sammie" Darnell. Their children were Esther who md. Troy Baldwin; James F. who md. Ester Baldwin; Laura who md. Raymond Duncan; Beatrice who md. Dick Newburn; Edward F. who md Leo Rorex; Ernest N. who md. Louise last name unknown. For those seeking more information, source citations, documents, etc. on this family, contact Edith G. Smith, 13215 Twinoaks Drive, Balch Springs,TX 75180. Her book "Some Descendants of Samuel Cross, Innkeeper/Planter" which has more details, is available.