Altmayer-Gross Stories

John G. Gross (Susanna's brother) was born in the Providence of Bavaria, Germany in 1829. John received his education in Bavaria and at the age of 21 migrated to New York where he lived for three years before moving to Germantown and then to Morrison, Wisconsin, where he purchased a 320 acre farm. Just prior to the Morrison move, he married Margaretha Moeshel in 1853. In 1867 John went into the lumbering business and with his earnings bought a sawmill eight years later. Also in 1875 he became a stock holder in the first cheese factory in that area. He was also instrumental in bringing a variety of community business to the county. During the same period he held town and county offices including the position of county supervisor for eight years. Perhaps his greatest efforts were directed toward improving the schools and educational standards for the community. John was an outstanding citizen and his strong effort and accomplishments left a bright blaze for his nine children to follow in the early development of Wisconsin. Internment for John and his wife is in the Woodlawn Cemetery. Services were conducted by the Masonic Lodge of De Pere, Wisconsin.

(Susanna's father) - In the old farm house cemetery that was donated from the Gross farm near Wayside, WI, is a weatherworn headstone that reads "(Johann) Gottfried Gross - 5 May 1801 - 4 Mar 1877. This would be seven generations ago and the first record of a death of a Gross in America. Although this history dates back through eight generations.  (Farm was located just north of Hill and Bocks Roads instersection - unsure of cemetery location)

(Not sure who Grandpa is yet) - Excerpts from Harry Gross' autobiography: "My Grandpa Gross was a smaller man (than Grandpa Christensen) - fairly tall and slender - and a loving person. He would stay with us in our little brick home. He just adored my mother. We had an old dead plum tree in our yard and Grandpa Gross would have Grace and me shake the heck out of the tree, and while we were doing that he would loosen the fruit in the bags and let them fall to the ground as Grace and I squealed to recover them. There would be peaches, crab apples, and others. Grandpa Gross had a long gray beard and he would tie a napkin around the beard when he had his meals. He always had a raw egg in his beer. We dearly loved him, and when he died I noticed a white apron on him in the casket. I was only ten, and not knowing what that was, I asked. It was the apron of a Mason, to be worn at all meetings and in death, if so wished. I made up my mind than and there that when I could, I would become a Mason. Which I did in Wheeling, West Virginia, in 1925."

??  August Gross 1854-1930. Married Mary Gross 1860-1929