William Franklin (“Bud”)
Cross was born in 1882 (we always thought in Falls County, Marlin, Texas although we can’t find a birth certificate).
He married Mary Ada Ellison and lived in Robertson County. (Mary’s parents were Charles Ellison
and Addie Melton). William was a deputy sheriff and he and family were living in Bremond, Texas at the
time of his death on December 6, 1936. Their children: Charlie Carlton (B: 1908 –
D: 1969, Wheelock, TX); Katherine Estelle (B: 1912 – D: 2000, Wheelock); William Curry (B: 1914 – D: 1984, Wheelock);
George Wade (B: 1916 – D: 1991, Wheelock); Margaret Maurine (B: 1920 – D: 1991, Wheelock); Hiram Melton (B: 1922
– D: 2006, Wheelock); F.E. (born in Crockett, TX) and J.L. (born in Rossa, TX) are both still living.
According to a 1920 Federal Census, William’s sister, Sallie
Cross (B: 1879) was married to Thomas L. (“Tate”) Marlin (B: 1876). They were living in Rains
County and had the following children: Reba (B: 1901); Richie M. (B: 1903); Bessie (B: 1906); Julia Belle
(B: 1909); Curry T. (B: 1910); Fred E. (B: 1912); and Lou Estelle (B: 1914).
The
stories goes that William and Sallie’s father was also a sheriff (or deputy sheriff) and left the children with family
while going in search of a fugitive. He never returned and no one knew what happened to him.
Years later the family learned that William had younger half siblings by his father. The half brother
was Gene (probably Eugene) and his half sisters were Cassie and Lizzie. Gene had a son also named Gene
(or Eugene) and was called ‘little Gene’; and a daughter named Estelle. My mother remembers
meeting them when she was about 11-12 years old. Unfortunately neither she nor my Aunt Jerry remembers
much else.
Also, in an 1880 Federal census: "Willie" Cross, 29, born Georgia (b. abt. 1851), married
to Cassie, 34, born Texas (b. bt 1846). Daughter Sallie, 1 yr, (b. abt. 1879). The reason this interesting is
that supposedly one of Gene's sisters was named Cassie (maybe for her grandmother?).
Generation No.
1
1. UNKN1 CROSS
Children of UNKN CROSS are:
2.
i. WILLIAM FRANKLIN2 CROSS, b. 1882.
3. ii.
SALLIE CROSS, b. 1879.
Generation No. 2
2. WILLIAM FRANKLIN2 CROSS (UNKN1) was born 1882. He married MARY ADA ELLISON.
Children of WILLIAM CROSS and MARY ELLISON are:
i. CHARLIE CARLTON3 CROSS, b. 1908; d. 1969, Wheelock, TX.
ii. KATHERINE
ESTELLE CROSS, b. 1912; d. 2000, Wheelock, TX.
iii.
WILLIAM CURRY CROSS, b. 1914; d. 1984, Wheelock,
TX.
iv. GEORGE WADE CROSS, b. 1916; d. 1991, Wheelock, TX.
v. MARGARET
MAURINE CROSS, b. 1920; d. 1991, Wheelock, TX.
vi.
HIRAM MELTON CROSS, b. 1922; d. 2007, Wheelock,
TX.
vii. FRANCES
EVELYN CROSS, b. Crockett, TX.
viii.
JERRY LYN CROSS, b. Rossa, TX.
3. SALLIE2 CROSS (UNKN1) was born
1879. She married THOMAS L. MARLIN. He was born 1876.
Children
of SALLIE CROSS and THOMAS MARLIN are:
i. REBA3 MARLIN, b. 1901.
ii. RICHIE M. MARLIN, b. 1903.
iii. BESSIE
MARLIN, b. 1906.
iv. JULIA BELLE MARLIN, b. 1909.
v. CURRY T. MARLIN, b. 1910.
vi. FRED E. MARLIN, b. 1912.
vii. LOU ESTELLE MARLIN, b. 1914.
