Weld County, History of Colorado, BIOS: GROSS, Joseph D. (published 1918) *********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Maggie Stewart-Zimmerman http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00015.html#0003643 September 9, 1999 *********************************************************************** "History of Colorado", edited by Wilbur Fisk Stone, published by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. (1918) Vol. II p. 151-152 JOSEPH D. GROSS. Agricultural and stock raising interests find a progressive, live and successful representative in Joseph D. Gross, who is prominently engaged along that line of business in Greeley, Colorado. He was born in La Crosse county, Wisconsin, August 17, 1856, his parents being Dwight D. and Emily (Remington) Gross, natives of New York state. They were married in Waukesha, Wisconsin, to which city the father had removed when he was a young man, the mother having come to this place with her parents. Dwight D. Gross was a farmer by occupation, following that pursuit in Waukesha, Wisconsin, and later in Nebraska, where both he and his wife passed away. The removal to the more western state was made in the spring of 1879. Joseph D. Gross received his education in the public schools of Genesee, Wisconsin, and in 1879 removed with the family to Nebraska. In 1882 he was united in marriage to a Wisconsin girl. Miss Mary Elizabeth Jolliff, the ceremony being performed in that state. After the wedding the young couple came to Nebraska, taking up their residence in Friend, where they remained until 1890, when they decided to move westward, coming to eastern Colorado and taking up their home in Logan county. In that locality they made their home for two and a half years and subsequently again removed to Friend, Nebraska, which they made their abode for five more years. After that period Mr. Gross came to Greeley and in this city he has since been engaged in the cattle and sheep industry, being very successful along this line. While in former years his principal activity consisted in farming, he has in more recent years largely turned his attention to the feeding of both cattle and sheep, being engaged in that enterprise in partnership with his son, John M. Gross. Mr. and Mrs. Gross became the parents of four children, of whom three survive: John M., who is engaged in business with his father; Nita, at home; and Libby, who is also under the parental., roof. Mr. Gross is a republican in politics and has always loyally supported the party in national issues. He is deeply interested in community welfare, having served as township assessor in Saline county, Nebraska, and also as a member of the school board, being deeply interested in the cause of education. Since coming to Greeley, however, he has devoted his entire attention to his private interests. Among the stock feeders of Weld county he takes a foremost rank and has earned a high reputation for honesty and fair dealing, his transactions always being above board. He therefore has built up a large trade and those who deal with him have absolute confidence in his business methods and that anything which they buy from him is as he represents it to be. Socially Mr. Gross is popular and fraternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, being interested in church and charitable work. They have made many friends since coming to Greeley and the hospitality of the best homes of the countryside is extended to them, while at their fireside their friends often gather, partaking of the good cheer which Mr. and Mrs. Gross are ever ready to extend to all their callers.