Eugene E. Cross

Clark Co., Wisconsin Homesteader

Eugene E. Cross of Garretson, president of the Minnehaha State Bank, was born in Juneau county, Wisconsin, August 13, 1859, and at the early age of nine years was left practically an orphan by the death of his father, Daniel that a farmer and stock raiser of that state and an estimable citizen of the community in which he resided. Shortly after the death of his father, young Cross was taken by relatives to St. Charles, Minnesota, but after spending a short time at that place, he went to live with his grandfather, near Iowa Falls, Iowa, in which state he grew to maturity and received his educational training. Reared on a farm, he early became accustomed to the varied duties of agriculture and, reaching manhood's estate, found himself well qualified by this training to face the future and to enter upon a career which from the beginning gave every promise of ultimate success.

In December, 1881, Mr. Cross came to South Dakota and engaged in the grain trade at Lake Preston, Kingsbury county, where he remained for a period of six years, during which time he built up a large and flourishing business, realizing from the same handsome financial profits. Later he took up a homestead in Clark county, but after living on his land about two years, removed to Palisades, where for a period of one year he operated the first hardware store in the town. From Palisades he came to Garretson, where he also engaged in the hardware business, being the first to bring a special line of that kind of merchandise to the city, and it was not long until he forged to the front as one of the most enterprising and public-spirited merchants of the place. He devoted his attention exclusively to hardware for a period of eleven years, at the expiration of which time, in March, 1901, he disposed of his stock and the summer following erected the handsome stone building now occupied by the Minnehaha State Bank, which institution he organized and in the management of which he has since been a leading and influential factor.

Mr. Cross has been president of the bank ever since its organization and under his able management and judicious control it has become one of the popular and reliable monetary establishments in the eastern part of the state, doing an extensive business in all lines of banking, and by its presence adding greatly to the high reputation Garretson enjoys among her sister cities of South Dakota. Mr. Cross is not only an accomplished business man as the term is generally implied but having made a close and comprehensive study of monetary questions, he is especially well informed concerning the same and may be considered an authority on all matters relating to finance and banking. He has been prominent in the public affairs of Garretson ever since becoming a resident of the same, has served with great acceptance as mayor of the city, and for some time past has been a member of the common council. Fraternally, he is identified with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, being a charter member of Lodge No. 74, at Garretson, and at different times an honored official of the organization.

Mr. Cross has been remarkably fortunate in promoting his various business interests, being the possessor of a fortune of no small magnitude, including in addition to a number of valuable city properties and private capital a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres, admirably situated in one of the richest agricultural districts of Clark county.

Mr. Cross was married at St. Charles, Minnesota in the year 1890, to Miss Florence E. Blair, of that state, the union being without issue.

"History of South Dakota"   by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904)  pp. 963-64

Contributed by the Cross Family.