San Francisco County
Biographies
HON.
CHARLES W. CROSS
Hon Charles W.
Cross has taken about as active a part in public matters in the last fifteen years
as any of our public men. We can
truthfully say that he was a leader in the Constitutional Convention, and
afterward in the State Senate for four sessions of that body. He was one of the most zealous men in either
body, and aimed to do his whole duty. In
the result of his work, the undoubted benefit to the people arising from it, he
certainly should have satisfaction. On
the conclusion of his last term at Sacramento, Mr. Cross came to this city,
and, resolving to devote himself solely to his profession of the law, he has
since been so engaged. Had he so
desired, we doubt not further and higher political honors were open to him,
but, as in the instance of other good lawyers, political preferment, and the
turmoil of such a life weighed not in comparison with the rewards arising from
his profession. Mr. Cross, of course,
valued the honor conferred upon him by his constituents.
He was born in
Syracuse, New York, of English ancestry, as the name would go to show. On his mother’s side he is of the Clinton
family, famous in Revolutionary times and afterward. De Witt Clinton, twice Governor of New York
and one of the prominent men of the country in the first quarter of the present
century, was a near relation. Mr. Cross
was yet young when his parents moved to Illinois, and there he was raised and
educated. He was graduated at the
Northwestern University at Evanston, in 1869.
Following this he began the study of law, and was admitted to the bar in
1871 by the Supreme Court of Illinois.
In 1872 Mr. Cross
came to California and settled in Nevada county. When the question came up of sending a
delegate to the Constitutional Convention he was chosen for that important
work, and well did he meet the requirements of his constituents. He took active part in the debates, and
wielded considerable influence by reason of his sound logic and his
discernments. In the reports of the
convention we find that Mr. Cross was one of the most diligent workers. As he was favorable to the new Constitution
he aimed to make that instrument as perfect as possible. He was a leader, indeed, and voiced the best
legal talent on such matters as the judiciary, penal enactments, trial by jury,
corporations, libel, etc. In 1882 Mr.
Cross was elected to the State Senate and served for four sessions. His previous experience was of benefit to him
there to some extent. In the Senate he
also wielded great influence, as was natural, and was instrumental in having
passed many wise measures. He also
combated with vigor such schemes of questionable merit as came up. During his time in the Senate there were many
bitter contests in connection with railroad matters and the irrigation question
principally. The debates were often
acrimonious. Mr. Cross naturally took
active part, but, though at times bitter feelings were engendered, he yet all
through preserved very harmonious relations with his colleagues. He was Chairman of the Judiciary Committee
during the entire period that he was a member of the Senate. Since 1886 Mr. Cross has resided in San
Francisco. For a time he had as partner
James K. Byrne. Afterward he was
associated with ex-Judge Denson. He is
now single in his profession, however.
He has been in practice some twenty years, and in that time,
notwithstanding the political interruptions, he has had many important
cases. These have been principally in
connection with mining, water rights, etc.
Mr. Cross has the reputation of being a very capable, painstaking
lawyer, who does the best possible for his clients. He is keen, discerning and an excellent judge
of character. He belongs to the Bar
Association and the Manhattan Club. He
is a consistent and steadfast Democrat.
Transcribed by Donna L. Becker
Source: "The Bay of San Francisco," Vol. 2,
pages 69-70, Lewis Publishing Co, 1892.
© 2005 Donna L. Becker.