The Cross Family

From the Gibson Family Wiki, previously posted September, 2007:

David Eugene Cross was born in North Bloomfield, Ohio in 1849. His parents were Abisha Cross Jr. and Mary Howe Penniman. Granddad already has a great synopsis of David's life but little is known about beyond that.

Abisha Sr. (also Abysha or Abishai) was born about 1776 in Poultney, Rutland county, Vermont. At some point he married Susan Grant who was born in 1777, in New York, New York. The earliest census to pick them up is the 1800 census where they are located in Poultney, VT. In 1800, Abisha's family consisted of just him, his wife, a daughter (under age 10) and an unnamed female between the ages of 25-45. We don't know who the other woman was although it was probably either Abisha's mother or, even more likely, Susan's mother.

It was here in Poultney that Abisha jr. was born on November 13, 1807. But they did not stay in Poultney long. The 1810 census places the family in Rutland, New York. By this time there were 3 sons under age 10, one daughter under the age of 10, plus Abisha and Susan. The family was still in Rutland in 1820 where by that time there was Abisha (now over the age of 45), Susan (still under the age of 45), 3 boys under the age of 10, 4 boys aged 10-16, 2 girls under the age of 10, 1 girl aged 16-26, and 5 people in the household engaged in the trade of agriculture.

From here the journey of the family is unclear. I haven't been able to search the U.S. censuses from 1820-1860.

In 1860, Abisha Jr.'s family is located in Bloomfield, Trumbull county, Ohio. Abisha Jr. married Mary Howe Penniman in 1835. By 1860 Abisha has only two children left at home: Mary and David ages 15 & 11 respectively. He is listed as a cooper (barrel maker) with 700$ of real estate value. Also living with the family is a Mary Penniman, age 72 (born in New Hampshire as was her husband). But living in the same town with a different family is Mary Cross, age 16, born in Ohio.

In 1870, only Abisha and Mary were left at home, although Lydia (age 23) was in Warren (a nearby town) going to nurse's school.

In 1880 Abisha and Mary lived with their daughter, Gertrude Cross Pond and her family. Abisha died on May 26, 1896 in Warren, OH. He was buried in North Bloomfield. Mary Howe Penniman Cross died on June 18, 1913 in Marion, Iowa.

I've tried to locate Abisha's grave. His obituary states But his tombstone is not on any of the records in North Bloomfield. It could be that his marker has just deteriorated or that he was buried some other place. Ahhh, the mysteries...Kinda gets you excited to figure it all out!

Family Pictures

I got this photo from Jessie Cheek.

This one is one of the earliest pictures of the James Alexander Cheek Family. The mystery is why there were only 2 boys, we're not sure, but it appears that Hill was missing from this picture, and that the two boys are James Blaine and Charles Edward.

So as far as I can figure out, that puts the people in the picture, from left to right: Charles Edward Cheek, James Alexander Cheek, Laura B Cheek, James Blaine Cheek, Rosalee Elizabeth Rich, Mittie Lemma Cheek (on lap), Clarrisy Ethel Cheek, Ida L Cheek.

This picture was most likely taken in Belle Plains, Callahan County, TX.

A Few Notes

We have two Great Grandfathers burried in Woodruff. John Reidhead Jr. and Hans Gulbransen. We put a historical plaque on each of their headstones so I know where they are.located. We also placed a historic plaque on Grandma Cross's stone in Snowflake.

Love you, Grandad

Cemetery Map

One of the things I've been working on is a map for each branch of our family tree. All those names, dates and places get swirling around in my head and mass confusion results. So to organize them, I put all of the pertinent places (or any place I can find) on a google map. Let me tell you, pretty cool! The one that is most complete lists all of the places that our ancestors are buried. I included the Larsen side too but that only applies to my immediate family. Now if you want to help out or need a day trip or just like to meander around cemeteries, well take your pick!

I've listed all of the cemeteries on the map. Click on one to see who is buried there and their DEATH date (not their burial date).

Ancestor Cemeteries

New Family Search

I hope you're all as excited about the new family search as I am! Basically, it's a very easy way to make sure that temple work has been done for everyone. It's other main objective is to get people to communicate so everyone doesn't do the same thing over and over...and over again.

Here's the link: https://new.familysearch.org

You can register using your membership number (check your temple recommend or see your ward clerk) and your confirmation date (see your ward clerk). There's an option to see an overview and, if you're in trouble already, a manual that you can download at the end of that 10 minute overview.

Any questions? Just ask! I'm not an expert, but I will be!

Our Family

I've been thinking lately that the wiki I started has just not been catching on. Shocking, I know. We recently got our fifth member (Thanks to all you who signed up!) but I was hoping to unite a larger audience. Well, blogs are easy right? And we can all contribute if we want to. Or comment. Or you could just read it. So let's try again. I'll post the information already on the wiki and then some and invite all of you to do the same. And if this doesn't work, we'll try something else. :)

Thanks guys!

Love,
Katie