Evan Frederick Gross Biography This biography appears on pages 1806-1807 in "History of South Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net. This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. EVAN FREDERICK GROSS, a representative business man of Gettysburg, Potter county, has the distinction of being a native of the metropolis of the nation, having been born in New York city, on the 19th of October, 1853, and being a son of G. F. Gross, born in Hall, Wurtemberg, Germany, and Theresia Gross, born in Niederlies, Lower Austria. Shortly after their marriage, in 1852, they emigrated to America, and the subject, the eldest of their five children, was born soon after their arrival in New York city. They remained there for a short time and then removed to Reading, Pennsylvania, which continued to be their home until about I86I, when they removed to the city of Chicago, Illinois, where they passed the remainder of their lives. The father of our subject was a printer by trade and vocation, having learned the art in his native land, and he followed the same until his death, which occurred in 1884, while for a number of years he owned and conducted a job office in Chicago. In his family were four sons and one daughter, and all are still living. The mother is still living in Chicago. Evan Frederick Gross, the immediate subject of this sketch, was about eight years of age at the time of his parents' removal to Chicago, and there he was reared to maturity, securing his education in the public schools, and entering upon an apprenticeship at the printer's trade under the direction of his father. He became a skilled workman, while he continued to be identified with the work of his trade in Chicago until 1883, when he removed to Potter county, South Dakota, where he filed entry on a pre-emption claim in Lincoln township, Potter county, where he improved a good farm and there devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits until 1887, when he was at first appointed and afterwards elected county auditor, in which capacity he served six consecutive years, having been twice re-elected. He then established himself in the hardware business in Gettysburg, the county seat, beginning operations upon a somewhat modest scale, and in the intervening years he has built up a large and prosperous enterprise in the line, controlling a representative patronage throughout this section and having a large and well-equipped store and also ample warehouse accommodations. He carries a large and comprehensive stock of heavy and shelf hardware, stoves, ranges, etc., has a well-equipped tin and repair shop, and also handles a full line of agricultural implements and machinery, while he is known as a reliable and straightforward business man and commands unequivocal confidence and regard in the county in which he has so long made his home and with whose industrial, business and civic affairs he has been so prominently identified. He has been an active factor in local political affairs ever since coming to the county, is a man of broad intellectual grasp and mature judgment, and thus he has become naturally a leader in thought and action. He is a Democrat in his political faith, and in 1900 was elected to represent his district in the state legislature, where he made a most excellent record, the popular endorsement of which came in his re-election in the fall of 1902, so that he is a member of the general assembly at present. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Woodmen of the World and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. In 1874 Mr. Gross was united in marriage to Miss Marienne Augustine, who was born in Alsace, being of French ancestry, and her death occurred in 1879. She is survived by two children, Robert A., who is successfully engaged in the real-estate business in Gettysburg, and Alma, who is the wife of Frank G. Carpenter, of Sour Lake, Texas. On the 15th of June, 1890, Mr. Gross wedded Miss M. Helen Williams, who was born and reared in Harrison, Illinois, being a direct descendant of Roger Williams, the founder of the state of Rhode Island, and at the time of her marriage she was superintendent two terms of the public schools in Potter, this county. Of this union has been born one son, to whom has most consistently been given the name of Roger Williams, and a daughter, Theresia Marie.