Henry Cross and Alice Benson House, West Worthington

2021-137

Henry Cross and Alice Benson House, West Worthington

Houses and Barns

Black and white photograph of the home of Henry Cross (b. January 9th, 1841, Lee) and Alice Benson (b. May 12th, 1852, Becket). The couple married on May 28th, 1873 and the couple moved to West Worthington in the Fall of 1873. Henry was one of nine children and after living in Lee for five years he moved to Washington and then to Illinois in 1863. He moved to Worthington in 1864, then Cheshire in 1871, then Windsor in 1873. The Cross' had five children - four boys and one girl. As of 1905, two of the boys lived in Vermont and another, Eugene Cross (b. April 21st, 1874), also lived in West Worthington in the house that had been known as the Lindsey Tavern. Rev. Moody mentions the birth dates for two of the Cross children, presumably because they still lived in the household (Gilbert Warren, b. April 23rd, 1887 and Alma Bell, b. December 28th, 1894). The Cross' purchased the home from Asa Sherman, who acquired it from Thomas Young's heirs, who acquired of Merritt Sampson, who acquired it of Alfred Brown. Rev. Moody writes, 'Near this place, on the flat, was a tannery ad a house. Clark and Bardwell owned the tannery.' Also pictured are two young girls standing in the yard in front of the house, one holding a book and one holding a doll.

In his book on South Worthington, Rev. Moody includes a story about Henry's grandfather. He writes, 'Mr. Cross' grandfather, David Cross, was in the Burgoyne Army, having enlisted from Scotland, and was made a prisoner when Burgoyne surrendered. When the prisoners were marching to Boston they spent a night in the Chester meeting-house, and were fed by the townspeople. Among those who visited them was Nannie Holland, whose father guarded the prisoners. David fell in love with her. The second night afterwards they stopped in Worcester, when it was found that several prisoners were missing, and among them David. After a few years he returned to Chester and married Nannie.' Featured in The South Worthington Parish by Rev. George Reed Moody (1905), page 88, #3.

Still Image

5 x 7 in

Howes Brothers

1900/1933

Marion Sweeney, South Worthington

2021-04-14

Box 17

Glass

Worthington - West Worthington

Featured with other historical homes in The South Worthington Parish by Rev. George Reed Moody (1905).

NS (2021-04-14)

Bates/'The Heritage'

Still Image - Black and White Glass Plate (negative)

12.7 x 17.8 cm