Wilbur Lucius Cross (1862 - 1948)

Born 10 Apr 1862 in Mansfield, Tolland, Connecticut, USA

Ancestors

Husband of Helen Baldwin (Avery) Cross — married 17 Jul 1889 in Willimantic, Windham, Connecticut, USA

Died 5 Oct 1948 at age 86 in New Haven, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America

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Preceded by 70th Governor John H. Trumbull

Wilbur Lucius Cross 71st Governor of Connecticut 1931—1939

Succeeded by 72nd Governor Raymond E. Baldwin

Biography

Wilbur Cross is Notable.

Fenton River, Gurleyville, CT

Wilbur Lucius Cross was the son of Samuel Cross and Harriet Maria Gurley. At the time of his birth, 10 April 1862,^[1][2] the village of Gurleyville on the Fenton River, in Connecticut, was a thriving river village. It had farmers and silk mills. The farmers, of course provided food, the mills provided jobs, in the mills, and as salesman etc., for those who weren't inclined to be farmers. Wilbur's father and grandfather, Lucius Gurley, owned and ran the saw and grist mill on the river.^[3] The self sufficient village of Cross' youth passed out of existence as manufacturing in general moved to larger rivers and the auto made going to "town" an easy trip.

Wilbur attended the little red schoolhouse in Gurleyville, and by his own wits made good use of the school and the local community inhabitants in furthering his formal and informal education. He successfully started his own business at a young age raising exotic chickens. In 1876, the year of the country's centennial celebration Wilbur's father died. Emory B. Smith became guardian of his estate.^[4] The following year he entered the Natchaug High School, in Willimantic, with the purpose of preparing for a college education. The school was eight miles from home, but his brother, George, lived in Willimantic so he was able to board with him during the week. He graduated valedictorian of his class in June 1880. During the time before his entrance to Yale, he taught school, in Gurleyville, during a winter term.

Cross entered Yale College in September, 1881; took the standard Yale curriculum of classical studies and graduated in 1885. He had in mind that he would like to become a writer. He was given sage advice that writers also needed jobs that would keep a roof over their heads. His first job out of college was as the principal of Staples High School in Westport, Connecticut. He was the principal for only a year but made several improvements, such as seeing the beginnings of a small library of reference books and acquiring some scientific equipment. At the end of the year, Wilbur returned to Yale as a graduate student in English Studies and received a Ph.D. in 1889.^[5]

It was recommended that he take a position, teaching English, at the Shady Side Academy in the suburbs of Pittsburgh. Thinking that some time spent elsewhere than New England would be an adventure, he accepted the position.

But first, he married Helen Baldwin Avery on July 17, 1889. She was the daughter of Wiiliam Burrill Avery, Civil War Veteran, and Helen Mar Baldwin of Mansfield. She was born in Groton, Connecticut, 3 Sept 1864. The ceremony took place at her parents home in Willimantic. The Rev. S. R. Free officiated. He and Helen spent five years in Pittsburgh, he teaching classes, giving lectures and speeches.

From there he came back to Connecticut to teach English at Sheffield Scientific School of Yale University. His teaching career advanced as did his years. He began as an instructor (1894), then an Assistant Professor (1897), Professor (1902), Dean of the Graduate School (1916), Provost (1922). He was also editor of the Yale Review. Wilbur Cross retired in 1930. During these years he did not neglect his childhood desire of being a writer and among many shorter articles, etc., he wrote:

• The Development of the English Novel (1899)
• The Life and Times of Laurence Sterne (1909)
• The History of Henry Fielding (1918)
• Connecticut Yankee; An Autobiography (1943)

Cross had always been interested in politics. As a child, he believed that the Governor was an exalted person. As an adult, he was part of a regular group who debated the issues and took a keen interest in political affairs. The Democratic Party in Connecticut was at a low point and friend, Ned Osborn, decided on the spur of the moment, in a rather playful manner, that the salvation of the Party involved himself, running for the United States Senate and Cross running for the Governor. This quip was, unbeknownst to Cross at the time, the beginning of a successful political career, that would see many improvements in the State of Connecticut.

Wilbur L. Cross, 1933

Elected Governor of the State of Connecticut, in Nov. 1930, he was reelected four more times, and served as Governor from January 7, 1931, to January 4, 1939. The early thirties were not an easy time in America, the Great Depression filled the country with unemployed men. In addition, during the first years of his term, he faced a legislature that was largely Republican. He was able to find the common ground between the parties and early on succeeded in requesting an appropriation to defray expenses of the already existing commission investigating employment, and $100,000 to clear some state forests of brush and dead wood and improve state parks. The money was to be used to hire the unemployed who knew how to swing an axe. Connecticut would also adopt the New Deal programs of President Franklin Roosevelt, during Cross' tenure.

Sweatshops had sprung up all over the state, as an extension of the New York garment industry. Cross saw that legislation was passed to eliminate the sweatshops, and child labor, and instituted a minimum wage rate.

He was also able to reorganize the state government, and fund the rebuilding of the Connecticut State College. After a flood in 1936 and a hurricane in 1938, Cross set up emergency relief efforts and encouraged people with his personal visits to afflicted areas.

On June 29, 1938, Cross presided over the opening ceremonies for the the first 17.5 miles of the Merritt Parkway, a massive public works program, that created what is probably one of the loveliest highways in the country.^[3] Parts of Connecticut Route 15 and Interstate 84 are named the Wilbur Cross Parkway and Wilbur Cross Highway after the Governor Cross who was in office during their early planning and construction.

Wilbur Lucius Cross died October 5, 1948,^[2] at his home in New Haven. His funeral service was held at Battell Hall, Yale University, New Haven, followed by burial at Evergreen Cemetery in New Haven.^[6]

His will left the bulk of his estate to his two surviving sons Wilbur and Avery. Other bequests were made to Sanderson Cross and Wilbur L. Cross 3d, his grandsons, a nephew, Leon Edwin Dimock, and a niece, Cora Agnes Tucker. Yale University was to have it's choice of his books, manuscripts, letters and pamphlets, with his sons reserving the publication rights.^[7]

Children:

1. Wilbur Lucius, Jr. married Alice^[3]
2. Samuel Avery married Ella^[3]
3. Elizabeth died in 1903, age 3^[3]
4. Arthur died in 1912, age 7^[3]

See and hear Wilbur L Cross present his 1936 Thanksgiving Proclamation.^[8]

Pedigree from his SAR application.

• Wilbur Lucius Cross, age 70, born Mansfield, Tolland, Connecticut, 10 April 1862; married Helen Baldwin Avery, 17 July 1889, Willimantic, Connecticut. He didn't list his children and grandchildren. He was the son of:
• Samuel Cross (1823-16 Nov 1876) and Harriet M. Gurley (4 Mar 1828-19 Aug 1898) married 1 Feb 1848; son of:
• Eleazer Cross (4 Sept 1783-Apr/May 1836) and Hannah Williams (bpt. 20 June 1784 died 1865); son of:
• Peter Cross (5 Aug 1740-Apr 1808) and Alice Warner of Ashford, Connecticut; married 20 Nov 1766; son of:
• Wade Cross (15 Dec 1699-22 April 1773) and Rebecca Hall, b. 26 Jan 1714, daughter of Isaac Hall, Gent; son of:
• Peter Cross (1653-9 Apr 1737) and Mary Wade died 8 Jan 1739/40, daughter of Robert Wade (a founder of Norwich); m. in Norwich, Connecticut.

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Passport Applications, 1795-1925," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9DZ-SCMJ?cc=2185145&wc=3XCT-K66%3A1056306501%2C1056428601 : 22 December 2014), (M1490) Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925 > image 259 of 761; citing NARA microfilm publications M1490 and M1372 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.) Birth: 10 April 1862, Mansfield, Conn. 1906 Resided in New Haven May 18, 1906, teacher. Physical description: Blue eyes 5'10" brown hair with gray, mustache
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Photo of gravestone Wilbur Lucius Cross. Evergreen Cemetery, New Haven, New Haven County, Connecticut, USA, Plot: Section: Spruce Avenue, Plot: 1350, Grave: 3
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5} Cross, Wilbur L. Connecticut Yankee An Autobiography. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1943. Primary source used for this Biography. Some facts have been confirmed and supplemented with other sources listed below.
4. ↑ Mansfield District, Probate Packets, Abbe-Dimmick, E, 1831-1880 Connecticut County, District and Probate Courts. accessed at Ancestry.com. Connecticut, Wills and Probate Records, 1609-1999
5. ↑ "Yale Bestows Degrees." New Haven Register (New Haven, Connecticut) Wednesday, June 26, 1889 Volume: XLVII Issue: 139 Page: 1
6. ↑ "Wilbur Cross, 86, Ex-Governor and Connecticut Educator, Dies." Evening Star (Washington (DC), District of Columbia). Tuesday, October 5, 1948. Page: 8
7. ↑ "Sons Get Bulk of Cross Estate.": Springfield Union (Springfield, Massachusetts) Sunday, October 10, 1948
8. ↑ "Gov. Wilbur Cross' Thanksgiving Proclamation of 1936 still moves" Hartford Courant online. 15 Dec 2016

See Also:

• Wilbur Lucius Cross on Wikipedia
• connecticuthistory.org Hard Times: Governor Wilbur Cross and the Great Depression in Connecticut
• Wilbur Lucius Cross, Governor of Connecticut, 1931-1939. Originally prepared by David O. White, Museum of Connecticut History, Connecticut State Library. Edited and revised by CSL Staff, April 2008
• "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MN7P-3G2 : 17 October 2014), Samuel Cross, Connecticut, United States; citing p. 16, family 142, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 545,614.
• "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFZ3-N77 : 14 July 2016), Wilbur L Cross in household of Harriet M Cross, Mansfield, Tolland, Connecticut, United States; citing enumeration district ED 161, sheet 221A, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0109; FHL microfilm 1,254,109.
• "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M974-DFS : accessed 15 December 2016), Wilbur Cross, New Haven city Ward 9, New Haven, Connecticut, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 378, sheet 10B, family 226, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,146.
• "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MK22-BG1 : accessed 15 December 2016), Wilbur L Cross, New Haven Ward 9, New Haven, Connecticut, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 416, sheet 5A, family 82, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 140; FHL microfilm 1,374,153.
• "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCN6-1WV : accessed 15 December 2016), Wilbur S Cross, New Haven Ward 9, New Haven, Connecticut, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 365, sheet 8B, line 91, family 175, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 191; FHL microfilm 1,820,191.
• "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XM5D-YW4 : accessed 15 December 2016), Wilbur Cross in household of Samuel A Cross, New Haven, New Haven, Connecticut, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 61, sheet 12A, line 31, family 180, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 276; FHL microfilm 2,340,011.
• "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KW9M-KVQ : accessed 15 December 2016), Wilbur L Cross, Ward 18, New Haven, New Haven Town, New Haven, Connecticut, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 11-113A, sheet 2A, line 14, family 28, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 541
• Papers, 1895-1947 by Sherman, Maurice Sinclair, 1873-1947 The Scrapbooks of Maurice Sherman, Editor of the Hartford Courant. Contained two letter by Cross, Wilbur L. 1862-1948, to Sherman thanking him for the nice editorials he wrote about Cross.
• Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Connecticut . Register of pedigrees and services of ancestors the Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Connecticut. (Hartford, Connecticut : Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Connecticut, 1941) #463 p. 1007 Pedigree of Wilbur Cross.