Bio of GROSS, Francis A. (b.1870), Hennepin Co., MN
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EXTRACTED FROM: History of Minneapolis, Gateway to the Northwest; 
Chicago-Minneapolis, The S J Clarke Publishing Co, 1923; Edited by: Rev. 
Marion Daniel Shutter, D.D., LL.D.; Volume I - Shutter (Historical); 
volume II - Biographical; volume III - Biographical

FRANCIS A. GROSS - Vol III, pg 584-585
Francis A. Gross is the vice president of the Northwestern National Bank of
Minneapolis and is prominent in the financial circles of the city, but his
activities have not been directed solely toward the development of his own
fortunes, for he has given valuable public service in support of many projects
which have to do with municipal advancement and the improvement of conditions in
the city. In various ways he has aided the cause of public progress and his
service has been particularly valuable during his ten years connection with the
board of park com­missioners.
Francis A. Gross has spent his entire life in Minnesota, his birth having
occurred in Medina township, Hennepin county, August 10, 1870, his parents being
Mathias and Mary (Lenzen) Gross, who are now residents of Minneapolis, where
they established their home when their son, Francis, was only about a year old.
The father was for some time engaged in the grocery business in this city but
later turned his attention to real estate dealing and gained prominence in that
field. He was born in Germany and when about two years old was brought to the
United States. His youthful days were passed in Wisconsin and in Minnesota, his
residence in this state dating from 1868, while for more than a half century he
has maintained his home in Minneapolis.
Francis A. Gross pursued his education in the public and parochial schools of
this city and in St. John's University in Stearns county. His early business
training came to him through a clerkship in his father's grocery store and when
nineteen years of age he turned his attention to banking by becoming a messenger
in the German-American Bank. He applied himself thoroughly and earnestly to the
task assigned him and his faithfulness and capability soon won him promotion to
the position of collection teller. Steadily he advanced through the positions of
paying teller, receiving teller, assistant cashier and cashier, to the
presidency of the bank. Not by leaps and bounds did he reach this position but
by an orderly progression that marked the faithful performance of every duty and
the thorough mastery of every phase of the business. The title of the bank was
changed from the German-American Bank to the North American Bank and in 1922 the
North American Bank consolidated with the Northwestern National Bank, Mr. Gross
remaining with the latter bank in the capacity of vice president.
On the 9th of October, 1893, Mr. Gross was joined in wedlock to Miss Ida K.
Buerfening, a daughter of Captain Martin Buerfening and a granddaughter of
Frederick Weinard, who was one of the pioneer settlers of St. Anthony, having
located there in 1854. Mr. and Mrs. Gross are parents of four sons and two
daughters: Roman B., Francis J., Marie H., Carl B., Frederick W. and Helen B.
The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church and Mr. Gross
belongs to the Catholic Knights of America, the Knights of Columbus, and the
Benevolent
Protective Order of Elks. He has served as the president of the Twin City
Bankers Club and of the Minneapolis Clearing House Association. He was elected
first president of the North Side Commercial Club, following its organization,
in which work he took active and prominent part, being in hearty sympathy with
its purposes. He has at all times supported every project intended for public
benefit and his labors have been of practical character, productive of
far-reaching and beneficial results. He has served as a member of the city board
of park commissioners for a period of ten years and was president thereof in
1917 and 1918. He was also a member of the charter and water commissions, these
positions coming to him unsought, being a recognition of his ability, on the
part of the public. He has ever held the general welfare above partisanship and
the good of the community at large above personal aggrandizement and his course
in every public office has justified the confidence reposed in him. That he is
appreciative of the social amenities of life is indicated in his connection with
the Interlachen Club and the Minneapolis Athletic Club. He is a man whose
interests are of comprehensive character, whose visioning is broad and who
throughout his life has been a man of action rather than of theory, ofttimes
accomplishing results when others have not passed beyond the stage of pondering
over the matter under consideration. Alert and energetic, he never fails to
reach the goal for which he is striving.