Leidy---George W. Cross, 50, fish warden and owner of large tracts of land in Leidy Township, was instantly killed yesterday by a tree while clearing a road with a large bulldozer.
He was building the road to improve access through the 1,000 acres of land he owned in Spicewood Hollow, in Leidy Township below the Kettle Creek Bridge.
Mr. Cross, wearing his steel helmet from World War II, was using the bulldozer to knock down trees in a densely wooded and mountainous area. James Summerson, 15, and his brother Robert, 4, sons of Mr. Cross's half-brother, Chauncey Summerson, were the only person with him. According to statements by James and County Coroner Roy L. Bryerton, Mr. Cross was driving the bulldozer's blade against a 40 foot oak in order to rip it out by the roots when he apparently thought the tree had been uprooted. But it had not.
When he eased the pressure against the tree, it slashed back and the top portion of the branches struck him across the forehead. The force threw him off the bulldozer's seat and he landed on the back of his head. Coroner Bryerton said either blow could have killed Mr. Cross instantly.
James immediately took his brother and drove Mr. Cross's Jeep about two miles down the mountain to their father's house. Mr. Cross's brother, Charles, a Forest Warden, happened to be at Mr. Summerson's house when the boys arrived. The two men drove to the scene of the accident and found Mr. Cross dead.
After the arrival of the Coroner, the body was removed to the C.F. Maxwell Funeral Home in Renovo. The body was carried down the mountain on a ladder litter. The men carrying it had to ford Kettle Creek in order to reach the Maxwell Funeral Home Hearse on the road which runs from Westport to Hammersley Fork.
Mr. Cross had been in the Pennsylvania Fish Commission for 22 years and served in Clinton, Union, Cameron, and a year ago he was transferred from Carbon County back to Cameron County. He was home for several days on vacation when the accident occurred. He had been transferred from the Cameron-Clinton District to Carbon County several years ago.
He bought the bulldozer about a year ago and rented it to gas companies in the area.
An Army veteran of World War II, Mr. Cross was known throughout the eastern United States as an excellent marksman. He completed both with the Fish Commission team and as an individual. He was a member of the Remembrance Post, American Legion, in Renovo, the Elks, and the Clinton County 40 et 8.
William Britton, chief enforcement officer of the Pennsylvania Fish Commission, is coming from Harrisburg to offer the Commission's condolences to Mrs. Cross.
Mr. Cross was survived by his wife, the former Isola Kelley, his mother, Mrs. Myrtle Summerson; a brother, Charles W., all of Hammersley Fork; a half-brother, Chancie Summerson, and a half-sister, Mrs. Lawrence Logue, both of Leidy Township.
Funeral services were held at the Gospel Tabernacle, Road Hollow, Hammersley Fork, with the Reverend Jack Bremigen Officiating. Arrangements were made by the C.F. Maxwell Funeral Home, Renovo.
Interment was in Gospel Cemetery, Road Hollow.
~The Express--Lock Haven, PA--Tuesday, July 22, 1958~
From His 1958 Pennsylvania Certificate of Death:
Name: George Washington Cross
Age: 49
Birth Date: 9 Aug 1908
Birth Place: Tamarack, Pennsylvania
Death Date: 21 Jul 1958
Death Place: Leidy Township, Clinton County, Pennsylvania, USA
Father: John Cross
Mother: Myrtle Swank
Spouse: Isola Kelley Cross
Marital Status: Married
Occupation: Pennsylvania Fish Warden
Informant: Charles Cross, Hammersley Fork, PA
Burial: July 24, 1958 Gospel Tabernacle Road Hollow, Hammersley Fork
Certificate Number: 63627
He was building the road to improve access through the 1,000 acres of land he owned in Spicewood Hollow, in Leidy Township below the Kettle Creek Bridge.
Mr. Cross, wearing his steel helmet from World War II, was using the bulldozer to knock down trees in a densely wooded and mountainous area. James Summerson, 15, and his brother Robert, 4, sons of Mr. Cross's half-brother, Chauncey Summerson, were the only person with him. According to statements by James and County Coroner Roy L. Bryerton, Mr. Cross was driving the bulldozer's blade against a 40 foot oak in order to rip it out by the roots when he apparently thought the tree had been uprooted. But it had not.
When he eased the pressure against the tree, it slashed back and the top portion of the branches struck him across the forehead. The force threw him off the bulldozer's seat and he landed on the back of his head. Coroner Bryerton said either blow could have killed Mr. Cross instantly.
James immediately took his brother and drove Mr. Cross's Jeep about two miles down the mountain to their father's house. Mr. Cross's brother, Charles, a Forest Warden, happened to be at Mr. Summerson's house when the boys arrived. The two men drove to the scene of the accident and found Mr. Cross dead.
After the arrival of the Coroner, the body was removed to the C.F. Maxwell Funeral Home in Renovo. The body was carried down the mountain on a ladder litter. The men carrying it had to ford Kettle Creek in order to reach the Maxwell Funeral Home Hearse on the road which runs from Westport to Hammersley Fork.
Mr. Cross had been in the Pennsylvania Fish Commission for 22 years and served in Clinton, Union, Cameron, and a year ago he was transferred from Carbon County back to Cameron County. He was home for several days on vacation when the accident occurred. He had been transferred from the Cameron-Clinton District to Carbon County several years ago.
He bought the bulldozer about a year ago and rented it to gas companies in the area.
An Army veteran of World War II, Mr. Cross was known throughout the eastern United States as an excellent marksman. He completed both with the Fish Commission team and as an individual. He was a member of the Remembrance Post, American Legion, in Renovo, the Elks, and the Clinton County 40 et 8.
William Britton, chief enforcement officer of the Pennsylvania Fish Commission, is coming from Harrisburg to offer the Commission's condolences to Mrs. Cross.
Mr. Cross was survived by his wife, the former Isola Kelley, his mother, Mrs. Myrtle Summerson; a brother, Charles W., all of Hammersley Fork; a half-brother, Chancie Summerson, and a half-sister, Mrs. Lawrence Logue, both of Leidy Township.
Funeral services were held at the Gospel Tabernacle, Road Hollow, Hammersley Fork, with the Reverend Jack Bremigen Officiating. Arrangements were made by the C.F. Maxwell Funeral Home, Renovo.
Interment was in Gospel Cemetery, Road Hollow.
~The Express--Lock Haven, PA--Tuesday, July 22, 1958~
From His 1958 Pennsylvania Certificate of Death:
Name: George Washington Cross
Age: 49
Birth Date: 9 Aug 1908
Birth Place: Tamarack, Pennsylvania
Death Date: 21 Jul 1958
Death Place: Leidy Township, Clinton County, Pennsylvania, USA
Father: John Cross
Mother: Myrtle Swank
Spouse: Isola Kelley Cross
Marital Status: Married
Occupation: Pennsylvania Fish Warden
Informant: Charles Cross, Hammersley Fork, PA
Burial: July 24, 1958 Gospel Tabernacle Road Hollow, Hammersley Fork
Certificate Number: 63627
Leidy---George W. Cross, 50, fish warden and owner of large tracts of land in Leidy Township, was instantly killed yesterday by a tree while clearing a road with a large bulldozer.
He was building the road to improve access through the 1,000 acres of land he owned in Spicewood Hollow, in Leidy Township below the Kettle Creek Bridge.
Mr. Cross, wearing his steel helmet from World War II, was using the bulldozer to knock down trees in a densely wooded and mountainous area. James Summerson, 15, and his brother Robert, 4, sons of Mr. Cross's half-brother, Chauncey Summerson, were the only person with him. According to statements by James and County Coroner Roy L. Bryerton, Mr. Cross was driving the bulldozer's blade against a 40 foot oak in order to rip it out by the roots when he apparently thought the tree had been uprooted. But it had not.
When he eased the pressure against the tree, it slashed back and the top portion of the branches struck him across the forehead. The force threw him off the bulldozer's seat and he landed on the back of his head. Coroner Bryerton said either blow could have killed Mr. Cross instantly.
James immediately took his brother and drove Mr. Cross's Jeep about two miles down the mountain to their father's house. Mr. Cross's brother, Charles, a Forest Warden, happened to be at Mr. Summerson's house when the boys arrived. The two men drove to the scene of the accident and found Mr. Cross dead.
After the arrival of the Coroner, the body was removed to the C.F. Maxwell Funeral Home in Renovo. The body was carried down the mountain on a ladder litter. The men carrying it had to ford Kettle Creek in order to reach the Maxwell Funeral Home Hearse on the road which runs from Westport to Hammersley Fork.
Mr. Cross had been in the Pennsylvania Fish Commission for 22 years and served in Clinton, Union, Cameron, and a year ago he was transferred from Carbon County back to Cameron County. He was home for several days on vacation when the accident occurred. He had been transferred from the Cameron-Clinton District to Carbon County several years ago.
He bought the bulldozer about a year ago and rented it to gas companies in the area.
An Army veteran of World War II, Mr. Cross was known throughout the eastern United States as an excellent marksman. He completed both with the Fish Commission team and as an individual. He was a member of the Remembrance Post, American Legion, in Renovo, the Elks, and the Clinton County 40 et 8.
William Britton, chief enforcement officer of the Pennsylvania Fish Commission, is coming from Harrisburg to offer the Commission's condolences to Mrs. Cross.
Mr. Cross was survived by his wife, the former Isola Kelley, his mother, Mrs. Myrtle Summerson; a brother, Charles W., all of Hammersley Fork; a half-brother, Chancie Summerson, and a half-sister, Mrs. Lawrence Logue, both of Leidy Township.
Funeral services were held at the Gospel Tabernacle, Road Hollow, Hammersley Fork, with the Reverend Jack Bremigen Officiating. Arrangements were made by the C.F. Maxwell Funeral Home, Renovo.
Interment was in Gospel Cemetery, Road Hollow.
~The Express--Lock Haven, PA--Tuesday, July 22, 1958~
From His 1958 Pennsylvania Certificate of Death:
Name: George Washington Cross
Age: 49
Birth Date: 9 Aug 1908
Birth Place: Tamarack, Pennsylvania
Death Date: 21 Jul 1958
Death Place: Leidy Township, Clinton County, Pennsylvania, USA
Father: John Cross
Mother: Myrtle Swank
Spouse: Isola Kelley Cross
Marital Status: Married
Occupation: Pennsylvania Fish Warden
Informant: Charles Cross, Hammersley Fork, PA
Burial: July 24, 1958 Gospel Tabernacle Road Hollow, Hammersley Fork
Certificate Number: 63627
He was building the road to improve access through the 1,000 acres of land he owned in Spicewood Hollow, in Leidy Township below the Kettle Creek Bridge.
Mr. Cross, wearing his steel helmet from World War II, was using the bulldozer to knock down trees in a densely wooded and mountainous area. James Summerson, 15, and his brother Robert, 4, sons of Mr. Cross's half-brother, Chauncey Summerson, were the only person with him. According to statements by James and County Coroner Roy L. Bryerton, Mr. Cross was driving the bulldozer's blade against a 40 foot oak in order to rip it out by the roots when he apparently thought the tree had been uprooted. But it had not.
When he eased the pressure against the tree, it slashed back and the top portion of the branches struck him across the forehead. The force threw him off the bulldozer's seat and he landed on the back of his head. Coroner Bryerton said either blow could have killed Mr. Cross instantly.
James immediately took his brother and drove Mr. Cross's Jeep about two miles down the mountain to their father's house. Mr. Cross's brother, Charles, a Forest Warden, happened to be at Mr. Summerson's house when the boys arrived. The two men drove to the scene of the accident and found Mr. Cross dead.
After the arrival of the Coroner, the body was removed to the C.F. Maxwell Funeral Home in Renovo. The body was carried down the mountain on a ladder litter. The men carrying it had to ford Kettle Creek in order to reach the Maxwell Funeral Home Hearse on the road which runs from Westport to Hammersley Fork.
Mr. Cross had been in the Pennsylvania Fish Commission for 22 years and served in Clinton, Union, Cameron, and a year ago he was transferred from Carbon County back to Cameron County. He was home for several days on vacation when the accident occurred. He had been transferred from the Cameron-Clinton District to Carbon County several years ago.
He bought the bulldozer about a year ago and rented it to gas companies in the area.
An Army veteran of World War II, Mr. Cross was known throughout the eastern United States as an excellent marksman. He completed both with the Fish Commission team and as an individual. He was a member of the Remembrance Post, American Legion, in Renovo, the Elks, and the Clinton County 40 et 8.
William Britton, chief enforcement officer of the Pennsylvania Fish Commission, is coming from Harrisburg to offer the Commission's condolences to Mrs. Cross.
Mr. Cross was survived by his wife, the former Isola Kelley, his mother, Mrs. Myrtle Summerson; a brother, Charles W., all of Hammersley Fork; a half-brother, Chancie Summerson, and a half-sister, Mrs. Lawrence Logue, both of Leidy Township.
Funeral services were held at the Gospel Tabernacle, Road Hollow, Hammersley Fork, with the Reverend Jack Bremigen Officiating. Arrangements were made by the C.F. Maxwell Funeral Home, Renovo.
Interment was in Gospel Cemetery, Road Hollow.
~The Express--Lock Haven, PA--Tuesday, July 22, 1958~
From His 1958 Pennsylvania Certificate of Death:
Name: George Washington Cross
Age: 49
Birth Date: 9 Aug 1908
Birth Place: Tamarack, Pennsylvania
Death Date: 21 Jul 1958
Death Place: Leidy Township, Clinton County, Pennsylvania, USA
Father: John Cross
Mother: Myrtle Swank
Spouse: Isola Kelley Cross
Marital Status: Married
Occupation: Pennsylvania Fish Warden
Informant: Charles Cross, Hammersley Fork, PA
Burial: July 24, 1958 Gospel Tabernacle Road Hollow, Hammersley Fork
Certificate Number: 63627
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