Edward Cross (politician)

Edward Cross (November 11, 1798 – April 6, 1887) was a judge, surveyor, and Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from the state of Arkansas.

Edward Cross
Associate Justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court
In office
July 1845 – 1855
Preceded byThomas J. Lacy
Succeeded byWilliam Conway
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Arkansas's At-large district
In office
March 4, 1839 (1839-03-04) – March 3, 1845 (1845-03-03)
Preceded byArchibald Yell
Succeeded byArchibald Yell
Personal details
Born(1798-11-11)November 11, 1798
Hawkins County, Tennessee
DiedApril 6, 1887(1887-04-06) (aged 88)
Hempstead County, Arkansas
Citizenship United States
Political partyDemocratic
ChildrenDavid Cross
Mary Frances Witherspoon
ProfessionAttorney
judge
politician
railway president

Biography

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Cross was born in Hawkins County, Tennessee, and he attended public schools during his youth. He studied law and was admitted to the bar. He owned slaves.[1]

Career

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In 1826 Cross moved to Arkansas and was appointed as a Judge of the Superior Court of the Arkansas Territory on May 26, 1830. From April 30, 1836 to September 1, 1838 he served as United States surveyor general for Arkansas.[2]

Cross was elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-sixth, Twenty-seventh, and Twenty-eighth United States Congresses between March 4, 1839 and March 3, 1845.[3] During the Twenty-eighth Congress he served as chairman of the Committee on Private Land Claims.

Cross served as a justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court from July 1845 to 1855. Cross served as president of the Cairo & Fulton Railway (later the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway from 1855 to 1862. In 1874 he was appointed attorney general of Arkansas.

Death

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Cross died at his residence, Marlbrook, near Washington, Hempstead County, Arkansas on 6 April 1887 (age 88 years, 146 days). He was interred at his residence,[4] then his remains were moved and interred at the Marlbrook Cemetery near modern-day Blevins, Arkansas in the 20th century. Cross County, Arkansas is named for his son, David Cross.

References

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  1. ^ "Congress slaveowners", The Washington Post, 2022-01-19, retrieved 2022-07-11
  2. ^ "Edward Cross". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  3. ^ "Edward Cross". Govtrack US Congress. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  4. ^ "Edward Cross". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
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U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Arkansas's at-large congressional district

March 4, 1839 – March 3, 1845
Succeeded by