William H. Cross
From Black Hawk Slept Here
William Hanna Cross was 3rd Sergeant in Bolton's Company of the Michigan militia during the Black Hawk war. He served from June 14 to June 21, 1832. Another person identified as William Cross also served earlier, as 3rd Corporal in Hixson's company, from May 21 through June 7.[1][1]
Most likely the two are the same person. Hixson's company was from the Tecumseh area. Bolton's was from Coldwater. Cross and his brother, Robert had settled near Tecumseh in the fall of 1826. In 1830 they moved to land on the east side of Coldwater. William said that for the first two winters they got provisions and feed for their stock from Tecumseh, which was 60 miles away. Perhaps the outbreak of the Black Hawk war caught him on one of his trip's to Tecumseh.
William Cross was the president of the St. Joseph County Pioneer Society in 1882 when its annual meeting honored the Black Hawk veterans of 50 years earlier.[1]
