Cross was born in Hawkins County, Tennessee, and he attended public schools during his youth.

From April 30, 1836, to September 1, 1838, he served as United States surveyor general for Arkansas.

[3] During the Twenty-eighth Congress he served as chairman of the Committee on Private Land Claims.

Cross served as a justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court from July 1845 to 1855.

Cross died at his residence, Marlbrook, near Washington, Hempstead County, Arkansas on 6 April 1887 (age 88 years, 146 days).