Some time in 1996, I was doing research on my family history. While looking up some death certificates at the Marion County Health Department, I happened across the following, which took me away from my family history research for awhile, and instead sent me on a mission to learn more about these complete strangers to me:
Mary Cross died March 26, 1917 of Suicidal Drowning in Chicago KY (Now St. Francis). Informant - T. C. Cross, Loretto, KY; Occupation listed as housewife; informant did not know her date of birth; age estimated at "about 35"; she was born in Iowa; father listed as Karl Jusherson, born in Denmark; mother unknown by informant; Burial at Hillsdale, Illinois.
I turned the page, and the next death certificate on file listed the following:
Virginia Cross died March 26, 1917 of Accidental Drowning in Chicago, KY; Date of Birth - February 5, 1916; Birthplace - Illinois; Father - T. C. Cross (Kentucky); Mother - Mary Jusherson (Iowa); Informant - T. C. Cross; Burial - HIllsdale, Illinois.
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I wanted to learn what had happen to this mother and child. My initial thought was that perhaps the mother had committed suicide in her distress upon finding her little child accidentally drowned. That was not the case. At the Marion County Library, I found the following article on microfilm from The Lebanon Enterprise:
FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 1917
WOMAN AND CHILD DIE IN CREEK NEAR RAYWICK
Tying her fourteen-months old baby daughter, Virginia, securely to her waist, Mrs. Mary Cross, wife of Tom Cross, who lives a few miles from Raywick, jumped into the waters of Prathers Creek Sunday night and the next morning their lifeless bodies were recovered by the husband and the nine year old son who had institued a search for them. Worry over family affairs is said to have been responsible for the tragedy, which has caused much sorrow where the family lived and was well known.
Coroner T. C. McElroy, who was summoned, held an inquest, the verdict of the jury being that the woman had committed suicide, first having tied the child to her own body with her apron that it might die with her.
The water where the woman took her life is said to have been only 18 inches deep.
Early Sunday night, according to the testimony given at the inquest, Mrs. Cross, with her baby daughter, left home. When she learned that her nine year old son was following her she returned to the house. Later during the night she again left the house with the baby, but at just what time is not known. When it was learned that she was missing, her husband and son began a search which led to the discovery of the bodies in the creek, about 300 yards from the house.
Later in the day, a note was found at the house, which evidently had been written by Mrs. Cross a short time before taking her life. It was read to the Coroner's jury. In it she gave instructions about the care of her children and expressed the hope that her husband would quit drinking.
"I am going to take my own life, Tom dear, in order to save you from doing anything rash and to show you how much I love you", the note said in part. "You will find me by the water gate. I can't leave my baby. It is hard to leave the other children, bless their dear hearts, but they won't forget Mamma. Don't drink another drop of liquor of any kind, dear, and do all you can to help the children become good, honest useful citizens."
Mrs. Cross was about 4o years old and formerly lived in Hilldale, Illinois. With her husband and children, she moved to this county some two or three years ago, purchasing a farm from Tom Thompson. Her marriage to Mr. Cross took place about 16 years ago. Other than her husband, she is survived by four children.
The body was taken to her old home at Hilldale, Illinois Tuesday for burial.
Tuesday, April 4, 2006 at 05:24PM 
