Palmer R. Cross

Parmer R. Cross, an old resident of Lowell died at his home in Hammond, Ind., April 24, 1900*, of inflammation of the stomach, age 67 years, 10 months and 14 days. Mr. Cross moved with his parents from Euclid, Ohio, where he was born to this place in 1835*. The vicinity was thickly populated with Indians then and for some years later. The Kankakee Marsh at the south and Cedar Lake at the north made it the home of every kind of game known to the county; picturesque in forest and plain, it was an ideal Indian paradise before it became the white man's home. Raised from infancy midst these surroundings -- Indian children for playmates, the few families of which his was one of the first -- could give their children practically no educational advantages as compared with now. Feeling an overmastering desire for intellectual advancement and that discontent which only an ambitious spirit who longs to rise to a higher sphere of usefulness, at 37 years of age he left the farm his wife and two children, as it was impossible with limited means for them to accompany him, and studied under Prof. Stailey at Valparaiso, Indiana, for a time. Aside from domestic filicity, many be said to have been saddened more than the average by disappointment, although as with most of us, there were bright years and bright days, sunshine and shadow.

He was the last but one of a family of eleven -- Olive, of San Francisco, California, now 84 years of age remains. The father of four children, the wife -- Sarah Drennen Cross, one son and one daughter survive; of eleven grandchildren born six survive. For thirty-six years he was a member of the Christian Church to the day of his death. He died calmly, painlessly, and triumphly.

* NOTE -- Although this article says Palmer Cross died in 1900, it also says he was 67 (closer to 68) years old and was born in 1835. The math does not work, so either his birth date, death date or age is in error. Chances are that it's the birth date that is in error, since a cemetery index at the Lowell Public Library indicates that Palmer R. Cross died Apr. 24, 1900, at age 67 years, 10 months and 14 days. This information was copied from his gravestone in Cedar Creek Cemetery. If this is the case, his birth year would have been 1832 rather than 1835.