James Cross, Civil War Veteran

James Cornelius Cross was born March 14, 1843 to Charles Cross and Patience Manning Cross. His father was born in England, while Patience was a native of Kentucky. James Cross was a carpenter by trade, and was very active in the Catholic Church. He married Elizabeth Marshall, a German immigrant, who converted to Catholicism when she married James.

During the Civil War, James Cross served in Company G of the 123rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was a member of the McMeens Post of the G.A.R. in Sandusky. James Cross died on December 14, 1913, and is buried in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery in Sandusky, Ohio.

The son of James and Elizabeth, Nicholas Charles Cross, became a brother in the Catholic Church. He taught school in Bardstown, Kentucky, and Peabody, Massachusetts.

Catholic Cemeteries of Sandusky

The office of the Catholic Cemeteries of Sandusky maintains three cemeteries. Early German Catholics in Sandusky were usually buried in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, located on the west side of Mills Street in Sandusky.

The earliest members of the parishes of Holy Angels Church and Saints Peter and Paul Church in Sandusky were usually buried at St. Joseph's Cemetery, located on the east side of Mills Street in Sandusky. Many surnames of Irish and Italian descent are found in this cemetery.























Rev. Patrick J. Shea, who was born in Kilkenny, Ireland,in 1838, and died on July 13, 1908, is honored with this monument at St. Joseph's Cemetery.


















As the population of Sandusky kept growing, a new Catholic Cemetery was created in the late 1920's. Calvary Cemetery is located at the intersection of Tiffin Avenue, Sanford Street, and Venice Road in Sandusky, adjacent to the Mills Street Golf Course.

























Several records for persons buried at Calvary Cemetery are available at FindaGrave.

















The three photographs pictured above were taken at Calvary Cemetery. On the grounds of Calvary Cemetery is the office for Catholic Cemeteries of Sandusky. During the winter months, children are often seen sledding on the hill that is located between Calvary Cemetery and Mills Creek, while in the spring and summer, golfers enjoy the Mills Creek Golf Course. The contrast between the peaceful serenity of the Catholic cemeteries, and the active participants of sporting activities causes us to reflect that both life and death are part of the natural course of human life.

Charles Cross, First Catholic Mayor of Sandusky

Charles Cross was born in London about 1812 and came to the United States as a young man. The Sandusky Daily Register of December 3, 1889 carried an article entitled “An English Colony” in which the writer, Hudson C. Ward, describes the trip. In June 1830 the New York packet ship the Hudson sailed from Portsmouth, England to New York. Many other families from England were on the ship, including Dr. I. B. Ward, who settled in Zanesville, Ohio.
(Hudson C. Ward was actually born aboard ship during the ocean passage to America. He was too young to recall the trip, but his parents told him the story of their journey to America.)

Charles Cross, Mr. Ward wrote, “was very devoted member of the Roman Catholic religion all his long life.” Mr. Cross was the Mayor of Sandusky from 1853 through 1856. He also held other positions in the community, including Justice of the Peace and secretary of the board of trustees of the Water Works.

On November 18, 1889, Charles Cross passed away. (His wife Patience Matilda Manning Cross had died many years before her husband.) Charles Cross is buried in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery in Sandusky, Ohio.