Charles Ellsworth Gross (1874-1961)

BORN, GROSS, HANSON, MUSSELMAN, ORUM, PICKERING, STARE, WIGGINS

Posted By: Eileen Reed (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:48

The Eagle Grove Eagle
Eagle Grove, Iowa
Thursday, December 07, 1961
Page 13, Column 8

Chas. E. Gross Funeral Here At Methodist Church

Funeral services for Charles E. Gross, 87, were held Monday afternoon at the Methodist Church.

The pastor Rev. Lyle Lieder officiated and burial followed in Rose Hill Cemetery.

Mr. Gross, who had been ill for many years, died Thursday night at the Houston Nursing Home in Humboldt. He is survived by two sons in Eagle Grove, William and Edward E. Gross, also three daughters, Mrs. Arthur Wiggins of Clarion. Mrs. A. M. Orum of Carthage, Ill., Mrs. H. L. Hanson of Needham. Mass., one brother, George Gross of Eagle Grove, 12 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.

Mr. Gross was a long time resident of Eagle Grove; both in the farming community and in town. He retired from the position of County Engineer for Wright County in 1932.

Mr. Gross and his wife, moved to Ames while their daughters were in college, but in later years returned here to make their home. Mrs. Gross died in 1958.

The Eagle Grove Eagle
Eagle Grove, Iowa
Thursday, December 07, 1961
Page 17, Columns 1-4

Charles Ellsworth Gross was born Sept. 19, 1874 in Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania. He died Dec. 7.

His parents were William Henry Gross and Mary Ann Stare Gross. As a small child he moved with his parents to LaSalle County, Ill., and later to Piatt County, Ill.

As a young man he attended Normal State Teachers College at Normal, Ill., and graduated in 1901. He taught school in Illinois and came to Iowa where he continued his teaching.

On March 1, 1905, he was united in marriage with Verna Belle Pickering in Eagle Grove. To this union were born four children William K., Edward E., Mary H., and Verna B.

His wife Verna B. died Oct. 28, 1910.

On Aug. 15, 1915 he was united in marriage with Mary E. Born at Cerro Gordo, Ill. To this union were born two daughters, Margaret E. and Dorothy R.

After farming for several years he moved to Eagle Grove and entered the engineering profession. He supervised the first paving put in on West Broadway. Later he turned to drainage work, which was his contribution to reclaiming the large areas of swampland to productive farm land. For a number of years he was Wright County engineer. It was in 1932 he retired from this position.

Mr. Gross had a love and devotion to his church and always took an active part and interest in it. He was on the building committee when the present Methodist Church was built. He enjoyed singing, and Sunday mornings found him in his place singing in the choir. For years he taught a junior high Sunday School class. In 1938 he moved to Ames where he taught a Sunday School class of lively golden agers.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Ellen, Dec. 25, 1958; his parents, a sister, Mrs. Luther Musselman, a brother and sister in infancy, a daughter, Verna Belle in infancy, a grandchild and a great-grandchild.

Mr. Gross is survived by two sons, William K. and Edward E. of Eagle Grove; three daughters, Mrs. A. L. Wiggins, Clarion, Mrs. A. M. Orum, Carthage, Ill., and Mrs. H. L. Hanson, Needham, Mass., a brother, George Gross of Eagle Grove, 12 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.

September 19, 1874 – December 7, 1961