William Raymond Cross and Mary Belle Eakin

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Husband William Raymond Cross ^{1 2 3 4}

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           Born: 31 Oct 1876 - near Kennerdell, Clinton Twp, Venango Co, PA 2 3 4
     Christened: 
           Died: 1 Jun 1953 4
         Buried:  - Clintonville U. M. Cemetery, Clinton Twp, Venango Co, PA 5

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         Father: William Carlisle Cross (1845-1936) 6 7 8
         Mother: Nancy McKinley "Nannie" Phipps (1848-1939) 2 9

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       Marriage: 22 May 1906 - Venango Co, PA 4

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Wife Mary Belle Eakin ^{2 4}

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           Born: 20 Aug 1876 4
     Christened: 
           Died: 1967 4
         Buried:  - Clintonville U. M. Cemetery, Clinton Twp, Venango Co, PA 5

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         Father: Joseph Eakin (1832-1913) 10 11
         Mother: Sarah Emily Mershon Hovis (1843-1923) 12 13

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Children

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1 M Dr. Robert Black Cross ⁴

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           Born: 4 Sep 1916 4
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 
         Status: Adopted

         Spouse: Dr. Gertrude Elizabeth "Trudy" Erhard (1916-1991) 4

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General Notes: Husband - William Raymond Cross

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He was born on his father's farm near Kennerdell, Clinton township, Venango County, PA, and there spent his early life. After acquiring such education as the local schools afforded he attended Grove City College, for four terms, and during his young manhood taught three terms of school in Clinton Township. Later he took a course in the famous Eastman business college at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and upon his return to Pennsylvania obtained a position as bookkeeper with the People's Natural Gas Company of Pittsburgh, entering their employ in 1900 and remaining in that city until 1908. In the latter year he was transferred to Oil City, becoming assistant to Mr. J. B. Crawford, general manager of the United Natural Gas Company there. His duties were important from the first, and with the growth of the business and consequent increase in the demands upon the company for service he assumed additional responsibilities, which he handled so capably that in May, 1916, he was made vice president and general manager of the company. A few months later, in January, 1917, he succeeded Mr. Crawford in the presidency. After his removal to Oil City, Mr. Cross also became interested in other gas companies in this part of Pennsylvania, and was president of both the Pennsylvania Gas Company of Warren and the Clarion Gas Company, whose business headquarters were at Oil City. In his early connection with this business as accountant, Mr. Cross acquired a thorough knowledge of its financial details which has guided him to practical efforts in the exercise of his executive duties, his familiarity with both ends of the work enabled him to comprehend the possibilities of each and combine them to the best advantage.
Like the members of his family generally, Mr. Cross was always counted upon for help in promoting the social betterment of his community, and he was not lacking in either the spirit or performance of his duties. He was one of the directors of the Oil City Y. M. C. A., and responded readily to all calls upon his support for similar enterprises. Fraternally he was a Mason, holding membership in Petrolia Lodge No. 363, F. & A. M., Oil City Chapter No. 236, R. A. M., Talbot Commandery No. 43, K. T., Venango Lodge of Perfection, Pittsburgh Consistory, and Syria Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Pittsburgh. [CAB, 519]

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General Notes: Wife - Mary Belle Eakin

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from Eau Claire, Butler Co, PA

1 —, History of Venango County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Brown, Runk, & Co., Publishers, 1890), Pg 996.

2 Charles A. Babcock, Venango County, Pennsylvania, Her Pioneers and People (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1919), Pg 519.

3 George P. Donehoo, Pennsylvania - A History (NW) (New York, NY; Chicago, IL: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., 1926), Pg 46.

4 Nancy Byers Romig, Descendants of Rev. Johan Theodor Hofius (Export, PA: Self-published, July, 1997), Pg 58.

5 Venango County Historical Society, Venango County Pennsylvania Cemetery Records and Early Church Histories, Vol. 2, Clinton Township (Franklin, PA: Venango County Historical Society, 1994), Pg 62.

6 —, History of Venango County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Brown, Runk, & Co., Publishers, 1890), Pg 981, 995, 996.

7 Charles A. Babcock, Venango County, Pennsylvania, Her Pioneers and People (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1919), Pg 517, 604.

8 Ruby Jane (Bailey) McCord, Genealogy of the Phipps Family (Self-published), Pg 15.

9 —, History of Venango County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Brown, Runk, & Co., Publishers, 1890), Pg 981, 996.

10 Charles A. Babcock, Venango County, Pennsylvania, Her Pioneers and People (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1919), Pg 643, 910, 987.

11 Nancy Byers Romig, Descendants of Rev. Johan Theodor Hofius (Export, PA: Self-published, July, 1997), Pg 53.

12 Charles A. Babcock, Venango County, Pennsylvania, Her Pioneers and People (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1919), Pg 643, 987.

13 Nancy Byers Romig, Descendants of Rev. Johan Theodor Hofius (Export, PA: Self-published, July, 1997), Pg 52.