Volume 7, Number 3 - Spring 1980
The Tragic Story of Grandma Cross
As Related by Sara Brazeal to Lucille A. Brown
April 25, 1974
"The Story of Grandma Cross’ first Marriage Was Tragic-- Sept. 4, 1974.
Hard to write but I’ll tell the little I heard of Grandma Cross’ first marriage. It seems to me she was in California (?) . She was married to a mean man as I was told there were scars on her head that he made. They had a 7 year old little girl, the man was away from home, but she seemed to be afraid of her life when he come home. She sent the little girl out to dig potatoes, then grandma ran away. She lived with Indians for some time. It must have been serious or she wouldn’t have deserted the girl. I thought she must have been afraid her husband would follow if she took the little girl. What a sad time for a 7 year old child. One time when I was about 11 or 12 years old Grandma Cross got a picture made on glass from that daughter who lived, I believe in Texas. I don’t remember hearing her name.
Grandma Cross had a brother whose name was Mr. Riley who lived at Bradleyville a while. I think he was a missionary Baptist preacher.
Note by Mrs. Brown:
The marriage records of Randolph County Arkansas show that James D. Cross was married to Marinda Gordon 7 Apr. 1946.
James D. Cross, who was Treasurer of Randolph County, Arkansas, died in the year 1857, leaving a great number of heirs, several older children of his first wife, and his second wife Marinda and 3 sons, James Polk Cross, West Cross, and John Cross, ranging from 6 to 15 years of age.
John Cross married Frona C. Buliner (Bollinger) (?) and they both died at a very early age, leaving Birdie Elfleetah Cross, a small child to be raised by her grandmother, the "Grandma Cross" referred to in Mrs. Brazeal’s letters. Any information available about the Cross family will be appreciated.
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