Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Gross, Jacob 
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Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 February 6, 2008, 4:26 am

Author: Past and Present of Will County, IL; 1907

Jacob Gross, engaged in the boot and shoe business at Peotone, Will county, is 
the oldest merchant in this place, having since 1888 continued his enterprise 
in the building which was at that time erected by him. Mr. Gross is a native 
of Germany, born in Medard, August 5, 1851, a son of Jacob and Mary (Gluck) 
Gross, both of whom were natives of the fatherland, and there spent their 
entire lives. The father was a shoemaker by trade and died at the 
comparatively early age of forty-three years, while his wife passed away at 
the age of thirty-eight. Jacob Gross is the eldest of three children and is 
the only one who emigrated to America, the other members of the family 
continuing their home in Germany. At the age of fourteen years Mr. Gross 
became apprenticed to the shoemaker's trade for a period of three years. 
Believing that he might enjoy better business advantages in the new world, he 
then crossed the Atlantic to the United States, making his way direct to 
Peotone, where lived an uncle, Peter Conrad, who was engaged in the boot and 
shoe business at this place. For several years Mr. Gross worked at the bench 
in his uncle's establishment, during which time he carefully husbanded his 
resources, so that in 1888 he was enabled to erect a store building and put in 
a stock of boots, shoes and rubbers, and he has continued at this same stand 
since that time. Through his reliable and straightforward business methods he 
has built up a large and lucrative trade and is now the oldest merchant in the 
city in point of continuous connection with its business interests. In 1876 
occurred the marriage of Mr. Gross and Miss Lizzie Lauman, who was born near 
Frankfort, Will county, a daughter of Conrad Lauman, one of the early settlers 
of Will county. Soon after the birth of the daughter, the father went to 
California, where his death occurred. Unto our subject and his wife have been 
born nine children: Ida, the wife of George Rehkopf, proprietor of the Peotone 
Steam Laundry; Emma, the wife of George Cann, a resident farmer of Will 
township; Frank, employed in the office of the Poultry Publishing Company, of 
Peotone; George, who is editor of the Peotone Vedette and is also acting as 
assistant postmaster; Alfred, a bookkeeper for the Poultry Publishing Company; 
Carrie, a young lady at home; Herman, who is working at the butcher's trade in 
Peotone; and Ottie and Alfreda, who are in school. When a young man of twenty 
years, Mr. Gross became identified with the United Evangelical church and has 
ever taken an active interest in its work, while he is now acting as a teacher 
in the Sunday school. In politics he is a republican where national issues are 
involved, but at local elections votes for the men whom he deems best 
qualified for office regardless of party ties or affiliations. Since 1882 he 
has acted as justice of the peace and for sixteen years has been police 
magistrate. He is a charter member of the Modern Woodmen camp, No. 1405, of 
Peotone, and for twenty years has been identified with the Masonic order, 
while he is also a member of the Eastern Star. In manner Mr. Gross is quiet 
and unassuming and in business, social and fraternal circles commands the 
respect and confidence of all with whom he is associated. 

Additional Comments:
PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS By W. W. Stevens President of the 
Will County Pioneers Association; Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1907

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