Children of C. W. Gross (-1881)

GROSS, LANTS, SMILEY, BISHOP

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 12/2/2010 at 20:33:56

From Story County Watchman November 14, 1881

Colo Chips.

Diphtheria is raging so badly that our schools have been closed and almost every family in town is more or less effected with it. The following deaths have occurred from this terrible disease: A child of Mr. A. Lants, a child of J. W. Smiley, a child of Mrs. Bishop, and Mr. Gross' children are very sick with it.

From Story County Watchman November 18, 1881

Died on last Saturday of Diphtheria, Georgie Gross aged 13 years the eldest son of our worthy townsman C. W. Gross.

Once more the sad notes of the funeral bell with its muffled, mournful tones float out from the old church tower and its lonesome voice reverberates along the quiet air and meets the weeping friends at they steadily move on to pay their last tribute of respect to the departed dead. The memory of the surviving friends is stirred to action and every act of this once lovely lively and obedient little boy is revived, and every detailed interview every painful or pleasant consultation and all the innocent youthful sports of merriment of the once lively sporting little being, came crowding upon the reflective memory with joy or increased sorrow for some duty performed or neglected to the departed idol of the household.

From Story County Watchman December 2, 1881

Diphtheria continues at Colo, and quite a number are down with it. Mr. C. Gross has lost another child by it which we believe is the third one, leaving only one child. The sympathies of all are extended to him in this hour of trial. The disease had been a severe scourge to that place and all hope its ravages are about over.