His education was obtained in the public schools of Kennerdell, PA, and in those at Grove City. After com­pleting his educational training he entered his father's store at Kennerdell and also became interested in lumber, oil and gas projects in that section of the state. He was unfortunate enough to drill eighteen dry holes, but in later years met with more success as an oil man. He was general manager of a plant organized for the purpose of manufacturing gasoline out of natural gas. At one time he was engaged in the glass sand business and was general manager of the Kennerdell De­veloping Company. The old Cross store at Kennerdell, begun by Wilson Cross, was burn­ed to the ground in 1910. Mrs. Wilson Cross still owned the business and it was conducted by her two sons, John Floyd and Walter. After the fire the stock was removed to an elegant, two story, cement building, thirty by seventy-five feet, and with a two-story wing of thirty feet square. Although the oil excitement in that region had died down and while business conditions were not as good as formerly, a good trade was controlled by the store and it was recognized as one of the finest of its kind in Venango County. John Floyd Cross was a Republican in his political convictions, and for more than sixteen years he was postmaster at Kennerdell. He was interested in the betterment of educational conditions in that section and for six years served as school director. [GPHAV, 939]