Charles W. Cross (California politician)

Not to be confused with the Canadian politician, Charles Wilson Cross.
Charles W. Cross
Cross c. 1893
Member of the California Senate
from the 24th district
In office
January 8, 1883 – January 3, 1887
Preceded byWilliam George
Succeeded byP. J. Murphy
Delegate to the Second Constitutional Convention of California
In office
September 28, 1878 – March 3, 1879
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byOffice abolished
ConstituencyNevada County
Personal details
Born(1848-05-28)May 28, 1848
Syracuse, New York, U.S.
DiedMay 22, 1924(1924-05-22) (aged 75)
Alameda, California, U.S.
PartyWorkingmen's (1878–1881)
Democratic (after 1881)
Spouse
Helen A. Allen
​
(m. 1870)​
Children
  • Charles
  • Ernest
  • Clyde
EducationNorthwestern University
OccupationSchoolteacher, attorney, politician

Charles Wesley Cross[1] (May 28, 1848 – May 22, 1924)[2][3] was an American schoolteacher, attorney and politician who served as a delegate to California's Second Constitutional Convention from 1878 to 1879 and in the California State Senate from 1883 to 1887. He was the Workingmen's Party candidate for California Attorney General in 1879, coming in second place with 25% of the vote.[4]

In the Senate, Cross served as chairman of the judiciary committee.[5] According to one story, when a rival senator left a copy of a speech in his desk by accident, Cross carefully studied it and wrote a speech refuting it point-by-point. The next day, he delivered his speech first and humiliated his opponent.[6]

Outside of politics, Cross was considered one of the state's leading attorneys,[7] specializing in mining and corporate law.[8][9] He managed and held interests in several mines himself,[10][11][12] and supported the expansion of hydraulic mining.[8] He was active in the California Miners' Association as early as 1892[13] and as late as 1909.[14]

Works

  • "A Lawyer's Views". The Wave. VIII (4). San Francisco: 12–13. January 23, 1892.

References

  1. ^ "Charles Wesley Cross, Retired Attorney, Passes Away". Alameda Times-Star. Alameda. May 23, 1924. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
  2. ^ Vivian, T. J.; Waldron, D. G. (1878). Biographical sketches of the delegates to the convention to frame a new constitution for the State of California, 1878. San Francisco: Francis & Valentine. p. 73. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
  3. ^ "NOTED ATTORNEY OF MID-PERIOD CALLED AT 75". The Morning Union. Grass Valley. May 24, 1924. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
  4. ^ "Charles W. Cross". JoinCalifornia. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
  5. ^ "Chas. W. Cross Dies After Long Illness". The Recorder. San Francisco. May 24, 1924. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
  6. ^ "The Looker On". San Francisco News Letter. LIV (19). San Francisco: 18. May 8, 1897. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
  7. ^ "Mr. and Mrs. Jas. A. Hall". The Pajaronian. Watsonville. September 24, 1891. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
  8. ^ a b Cross, C. W. (January 23, 1892). "A Lawyer's Views". The Wave. VIII (4). San Francisco: 12–13.
  9. ^ "Business Blocks of San Francisco". San Francisco News Letter. XI (29). San Francisco: 11. January 11, 1890. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
  10. ^ "The Black Jack Mine". Mining and Scientific Press. XLIX (1). San Francisco: 8. July 5, 1884. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
  11. ^ "A Paying Quartz Mine". Mining and Scientific Press. XLIX (17). San Francisco: 264. October 25, 1884. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
  12. ^ "Sierra County Mines". Mining and Scientific Press. XLXX (12). San Francisco: 189. March 21, 1885. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
  13. ^ "The California Miners' Association". Mining and Scientific Press. LXIV (5). San Francisco: 77. January 30, 1892. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
  14. ^ "TROUBLE IN MINES OVER 15 MINUTES". The San Francisco Call. San Francisco. May 14, 1909. Retrieved November 16, 2025.

Sources

  • Media related to Charles W. Cross (California politician) at Wikimedia Commons
  • JoinCalifornia - Charles W. Cross
  • The Workingmen’s Party & The Denis Kearney Agitation


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