In 1873 Abraham Cross and H. E. Bullock commenced publication of the Rantoul News. The August 10, 1874 copy of The Rantoul Weekly Press finds the obituary for Abram Davis Cross. Last Friday morning at an early hour Mr. and Mrs. Abram D. Cross were taken very ill with what afterward was pronounced poisoning from eating lettuce which reached a stage far more advanced to be useful as a food. It had been prepared by one of the methods in ordinary use, with a dressing of vinegar and hard boiled eggs. Mr. Cross ate heartily of it at dinner. When their illness came on, medical aid was quickly summoned and everything done for relief. But the condition of Mr. Cross steadily grew worse, and it became evident that he could no longer survive the ravages of the poison that had generated in the stomach and carried throughout the system. About 9 o'clock Saturday night he went into a comatose condition and as the clock was stricking eleven he passed away peacefully to rest. But before losing consciousness he knew the end was near, and expressed his willingness to go. Abram was good for Rantoul. He held the financial interests in the Havana, Rantoul and Eastern Railroad. He was the Director and Treasurer when it was incorporated.

In 1851, he married and in 1853 he migrated to Rantoul. His wife and infant son George S., joined him here and bravely endured the hardships of their first winter here. His brother Isaac, who was 5 years younger, migrated to Rantoul in 1855 and bought 80 acres of raw prairie land. For several years Abram and his brother teamed up as building contractors, both reputed to be excellent carpenters. Isaac moved on to Texas in 1874 leaving Abram the business. In fall 1859 the first school house was built in Rantoul Township. Cross was a director on the new school board. In 1860-1861 he was Township Collector. in 1868 he became Justice of the Peace. On Jan 9 1873, Abram and B.J. Gifford and Guy D. Penfield formed the Havana, Rantoul and Eastern Railroad Company. He was an ardent Democrat and actively campaigned for James K. Polk for President. He was a Charter Member of Rantoul Lodge A. F. and A.M. He was father of eight children, four of whom were living at the time of his death on Aug 4, 1906.