Judge H. G. Cross died very suddenly last night of hardening of the arteries from which he has suffered for several months. He had been away from the office only about a week, but was up beside his bed two minutes before the end came at 4 o’clock this morning. The undertaker said his arteries were so hard they would break like a stick of wood, whereas in youth they are as tough as rawhide.

The funeral will be held at the Methodist church at 2:30 Friday afternoon, Rev. J. A. Johnson officiating. He having been police judge for so many years, six lawyers of this city will act as pallbearers. The body will be laid to rest in the Blair cemetery by the side of his wife whose death occurred in December, 1903 at Petersburg, Neb. The body was brought here five years ago.

Horace Gordon Cross was born in Michigan City, Mich. March 4th, 1849, and was therefore almost 73 years of age. He attended Valparaiso college in Indiana for a time after he had completed the common schools, being one of the first students in the school.

He was married to Eleanor Mary Schanner on October 13th, 1873 at Plainview, Ill. From there they moved to Shipman, Ill. where he was first elected police judge. He later moved to this state and published the Inman News for a time, then the Petersburg Press. He was appointed postmaster at Petersburg, and served one term under President Harrison. He moved to Blair in 1909, and has served as police magistrate much of the time since. During the years he had served in this capacity he had tried over 1,000 cases, and but ten of them had been appealed to a higher court.

He is survived by three children: Mrs. Robert Carmichael, at whose home in this city death found him; Mrs. Lucy Taylor of Omaha; and H. Gordon Cross of Wichita Falls, Tex., who was formerly editor of Newman Grove Reporter, this state. There are eleven grandchildren. He leaves also two sisters, Mrs. Andrew Jones of this city and Mrs. Etta Stambaugh of Richfield, Neb. The public will be greatly shocked at the sudden passing of this sturdy citizen who has lived such an exemplary life among us, and all join in extending heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved children and other relatives.

#2-26 Jan., 1922 - The Tribune - Horace Gordon Cross JUDGE HORACE G. CROSS IS CALLED TO THE LIFE BEYOND

Horace G. Cross, police judge, passed away on Wednesday morning, January 25, 1922 at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Robert Carmichael, on east South street.

Judge Cross had been ill about five months, but kept up his work at his office until within a few days of his death. He retired on Tuesday night and seemed to sleep well until about 4 o’clock Wednesday morning when a light was noticed in his room and Mr. Carmichael went in to see how he was resting, and found him lying on the bed dead. The family thinks he arose and being unable to speak thought the light would awaken them.

Horace G. Cross was born in Michigan City, Michigan March 4, (rest of obituary is missing)

#3-2 Feb., 1922 - The Tribune - Horace Gordon Cross

FUNERAL OF H. G. CROSS FRIDAY LARGELY ATTENDED

The funeral of Judge H. G. Cross was held Friday afternoon at the Methodist church, Rev. J. A. Johnson, the pastor, preaching an excellent discourse.

Mr. Haggard, the undertaker, had decorated the chancel rail with a bank of beautiful cut flowers and palms, and the casket was covered with a wealth of flowers sent by friends of the deceased, which was borne into the church by Judge A. C. Debel, Judge I. C. Eller, Attorneys Henry Mencke, Reed O’Hanlon, Norman Lathrop and Wm. Maher.

A male quartette composed of Asa Dixon, Dr. C. R. Mead, Nels Lindberg and Gifford Dixon sang several appropriate selections with Miss Gertrude Mead at the organ.

Rev. Johnson spoke briefly on the life of the deceased and emphasized the Christian spirit that he had always manifested in all his dealings with mankind, in all his court decisions; in the latter, he said, that Judge Cross believed that even when his decisions went against a man in his court he believed that man had rights that should be respected. In his conversation with men in this city since he has been pastor of this church, Rev. Johnson had learned that Mr. Cross was highly respected by his co-workers in court because they believed him to be sincere in all his judgements.

People from all parts of the county as well as from different towns outside the county were present to pay their last respects to a man who stood high in their estimation.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~

Find a Grave Memorial #110827398