James B. Cross

James B. Cross (December 17, 1819 – February 3, 1876) was an American lawyer and Wisconsin politician. He was a member of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.

Background and public office

Cross was born in Phelps New York, in 1819. In 1841, he moved to Milwaukee to practice law. Cross served as probate judge in 1848. He then served three terms as a member of the Wisconsin Assembly in 1849, 1850 and 1855, representing Milwaukee County's First Assembly district.

Cross served for three terms as mayor of Milwaukee from 1855 to 1857. The Milwaukee Police Department came into being while Cross was mayor. Before this time, the Milwaukee County Sheriff and his deputy maintained law and order. He was a Wisconsin delegate at the Democratic National Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio on June 2, 1856.

Run for governor

Cross ran as the Democratic nominee for Governor of Wisconsin in 1857, but he was accused of financial maladministration during his terms as mayor; and his political association with former Governor (and fellow Democrat) William A. Barstow hindered his gubernatorial campaign. He lost to Republican Alexander Randall in a close vote, 44,239 to 44,693. He