Christina Kohlgraff Gross (1852-1935)

GROSS, KOHLGRAF, KOLEGRAFF

Posted By: Jane Kolegraff Wendell (email)
Date: 4/6/2011 at 11:12:06

Christina Kohlgraf Gross
(1852-1935)

Source: “The Kohlgraf Family History” by Jane Kolegraff Wendell, 2008.

Christina Kohlgraf was born on September 28, 1852, in Sinsteden (Germany) and came to America with her family when she was five years old. She grew up on the family’s homestead near St. Mary’s Ridge, Wisconsin. The 1870 Federal Census of Monroe County shows Christina working as a domestique for a family in Sparta.

On 07 May 1872, Christina married Joseph Gross at St. Mary’s Ridge. Joseph was born 24 Apr 1850 and had come to America with his family when he was seven years old. They settled in Wisconsin, and joined the community at St. Mary’s Ridge. Joseph’s parents were Peter and Anna Maria (Schmitz) Gross. Mrs. Gross died on July 4, 1857, and was the first person buried in the cemetery at St. Mary’s Ridge.

Following their marriage, Joseph and Christina lived near St. Mary’s Ridge. Joseph was employed by the railroad. Their first child was a son, Joseph Hubert, born 24 Dec 1875. He was baptized on 28 Dec 1875; his sponsors were Hubert Kohlgraf and Katherine Radamacher.

Around 1878, the C. M. and St. Paul railroad transferred Joseph and his family to the small town of Theilman (Theilmanton) in Wabasha County, Minnesota, as the railroad expanded. Theilman was platted in 1877; it is located on a terrace in the valley, and about forty feet above the Zumbro river in West Albany Township. A general merchandise store was opened in Theilman in January of 1878. Christina’s brother Philip came to Theilman in the fall of 1878 and established a saloon; a post office was established in December.
The 1880 Federal Census of West Albany township lists Philip and his family, in addition to Joseph and Christina Gross and their family:

Gross, Joseph Age 28 Laborer Birthplace: Bavaria

Christina Age 27 Keeping House Birthplace: Bavaria

Joseph Age 4 Birthplace: Wis.

Mary Age 2 Birthplace: Minn.

Peter Age 2 mo. Birthplace: Minn.

Another son was born to Joseph and Christina while they were in Minnesota. George H. was born 13 Feb 1883 at Theilman.

In 1884, Joseph was again transferred by the railroad. The family relocated to Durand, Wisconsin, just across the river from Wabasha County. In Durand, a son, John, was born to Joseph and Christina on 23 Aug 1886. John and two other children died while the family lived in Durand: Mary died 05 Jan 1887, Joseph died 11 Jun 1887. No death record has yet been found for John. Three more children were born: Mary E. in 1888, Joseph Peter in 1890, and Susanna in 1892.

Christina’s mother, Anna Maria Kohlgraf, died in Zell on 24 Oct 1886. In the months following her death, Hubert Kohlgraf came to live with Christina and her family in Durand. The Gross family lived in Durand for about 8 years.
In 1892, Joseph was transferred to Cascade, Iowa, to work on the Cascade section of Narrow Gauge railroad. Hubert Kohlgraf also came to Cascade, and they all became members of St. Mary’s Parish in Cascade. Joseph became a member of the R. O. M. P. society and the Knights of Columbus.

The 1895 Iowa State Census includes:
Joseph Gross Age 43 Birthplace: Germany
Christina Gross Age 42 Birthplace: Germany
Peter H. Gross Age 14 Birthplace: Minnesota
Catherine Gross Age 12 Birthplace: Minnesota
George H. Gross Age 10 Birthplace: Minnesota
Mary E. Gross Age 6 Birthplace: Wisconsin
Joseph H. Gross Age 4 Birthplace: Wisconsin
Susanna Gross Age 2 Birthplace: Wisconsin
Christina Gross Age 0 Birthplace: Dubuque Co IA (B D)
Hubbard Calcraft Age 81 Birthplace: Germany

A baby daughter, Christina, was born and died on 21 Sep 1894. She was buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery. In 1896, a son, Cornelius, was born.

Joseph died on 07 Jan 1909, following an extended illness. He was 59 years old. His funeral was held at St. Mary’s church, and Requiem High Mass was celebrated by Rev. J. B. Albers.

Christina died on 11 Feb 1935. She had been in poor health for some time, and was staying with her daughter Mary. Her obituary in the Cascade Pioneer noted that she was in the restaurant business in Cascade, and became well known to everyone in the community. “She was familiarly addressed as ‘Ma Gross’ and her kindness and charity was widespread.” Her funeral was held at St. Mary’s church, with the Rt. Rev. Msgr. J. B. Albers officiating. She was buried beside her husband at St. Mary’s Cemetery.

Their children include:

Joseph Hubert b. 24 Dec 1875, d. 11 Jun 1887

Mary b. 27 Nov 1878, d. 06 Jan 1887

Peter H. b. 03 Apr 1880, d. 03 Oct 1910

Catherine b. 01 Mar 1882, d. 13 May 1973

George H. b. 13 Feb 1884, d. 08 Jan 1965

John P. b. 23 Aug 1886, d. bef. 1892

Mary E. b. 17 Jun 1888, d. 12 Nov 1971

Joseph Peter b. 18 Apr 1890, d. 20 Dec 1965

Susanna b. 12 Feb 1892, d. 13 Jan 1989

Cornelius F. b. 29 Jan 1896, d. 11 Mar 1955