Jane T. H. Cross facts for kids

Jane T. H. Cross (born Jane Tandy Chinn; 1817 – October 1870) was an American author. She wrote many stories and poems for religious magazines in the South.

She created a series of children's stories. These were collected and published in four small books. Their titles were Wayside Flowerets, Heart Blossoms for My Little Daughters, Bible Gleanings, and Driftwood. Jane Cross also translated a Spanish story called Gonzalo de Cordova. She wrote a novel named Duncan Adair and a story called Azile. This last story was partly about her experiences during the American Civil War. After she returned from Europe, her travel letters were also published.

Early Life and Education

Jane Tandy Chinn was born in Harrodsburg, Kentucky, in 1817. She was the oldest daughter of Judge Christopher Chinn. Her mother was Sarah W.S. (Hardin) Chinn. Jane Cross went to school at Mrs. Tevis's boarding-school in Shelbyville, Kentucky.

From a young age, Jane loved books and reading. She enjoyed listening to classic stories like "Cinderella" and "Little Red Ridinghood." Later, she read books by famous authors such as Sir Walter Scott, Lord Byron, and Charles Dickens. As a child, she liked to write rhymes. She even wrote short notes for her family about local elections. The idea of writing a novel sometimes crossed her mind. She used all the great learning chances available to her. It is likely she started writing for newspapers and magazines when she was still young.

Career

Jane was almost 18 when she married James Pendleton Hardin. He was from her home state. After they married, she went with him to Cuba. He had to go there for his health. He lived only seven years after they married. Jane was left with three young children to care for. Her children included Elizabeth Pendleton Hardin and Jamesetta Pendleton Hardin.

Six years later, she married Rev. Dr. Joseph Cross. He was an important Methodist minister. He also taught literature at Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky. Jane Cross was very dedicated to her church. She was a great support to her husband. They lived in Kentucky for two years, then Tennessee for two years. They spent five months in Alabama and four years in South Carolina.

After that, they traveled in Europe for a year. When they returned, they settled in Spartanburg, South Carolina. There, they started teaching. For 20 years, Jane successfully taught young women. In 1859, they moved to Texas. She stayed there until she moved to Georgia during the American Civil War.

Jane Cross did not write much for publication until about 1851. At that time, she started writing for a Sunday-school newspaper. This paper was edited by Dr. Summers in Charleston, South Carolina. For that newspaper, she wrote Wayside Flowerets and Heart Blossoms for My Little Daughters. She also wrote Bible Gleanings and Driftwood. These stories were later published as four books for Sunday schools.

During the American Civil War, Jane Cross had strong feelings for the Confederacy. She and her daughters were held for a time because of these strong feelings. After they were released, she wrote Six Months under a Cloud. This book was a series of letters about her experiences while detained. Readers really enjoyed it. She was already known as a writer before this. While in Europe, she published letters called "Reflected Fragments." These appeared in newspapers like the Christian Advocate and the Charleston Courier. She also wrote for the Home Circle in Nashville, Tennessee. While living in Georgia, she published From the Calm Center.

Jane Cross could speak French, Italian, and Spanish very well. Her translation of a Spanish story shows how good she was at that language. Her poems were often quite sad. One poem, "To Mariana Cross," was called "touchingly beautiful." She wrote it to remember her only child from her second marriage, Mariana Julia Cross. Mariana died at age 14.

Personal Life

Jane Cross became a Christian early in life. As she grew older, her faith became even stronger. She passed away in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, in October 1870. One of her former students, Mrs. E. B. Smith, wrote a special message about her. She said that Mrs. Cross was a remarkable woman. She was a delightful friend and an amazing talker. Mrs. Cross taught for over 20 years. She was very good at teaching. She seemed to know what her students needed. She helped them feel excited to learn. Her kindness and interest in their studies made her a very successful teacher. She inspired many students to become good and helpful members of society.