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Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott
for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/
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Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott
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History of Buffalo & Pepin Counties, Wisconsin - Vol. 1
pub. H. C. Cooper, Jr. & Co., Winona, MN - 1919

         [page 183]
         
         PETER GROSS, a well known and popular citizen of Alma, where
       he is prosperously engaged in the woodworking business, was
       born in Washington county, Wisconsin, March 15, 1849, son of
       JACOB and MARY ELIZABETH GROSS. The parents, who were born and
       married in Bavaria, came to the United States in 1845, accom-
       panied by their three children, and settled in Milwaukee, which
       was then but a small place. After residing there for a short
       time they took a farm in Washington county, operating it until
       1867, Milwaukee being their nearest market. At the end of that
       time they removed to Iowa. In 1871 PETER GROSS came to Alma
       township, Buffalo county, and bought 80 acres of land, later
       securing 80 more. It was all covered with timber, and for a
       number of years thereafter his life was a busy one, the task
       of clearing a farm requiring hard work during every hour of
       daylight. Like the other pioneer settlers, he used an ox team
       for the work. By the end of 21 years the farm was well cleared
       and in a fair state of cultivation, and MR. GROSS then sold it
       and removed to Alma. He had learned the trade of woodworker
       in Washington county, and he now took it up and has since fol-
       lowed it successfully in Alma, to which place he removed on
       selling his farm. While in the country he served as an officer
       of the school board. He belongs to the fraternal order of Wood-
       men of the World. MR. GROSS was married in 1873 to URSULA WENGER,
       who was born Nov. 12, 1853, in that part of the north end of
       Alma known as WENGER Addition. She was the first white child
       born in Alma, her parents being CHRISTIAN and URSULA (MILLER)
       WENGER, natives of Switzerland, who were married in Fountain
       City, Buffalo county, settling immediately after in a log
       house in that part of Alma above mentioned, that primative
       dwelling being the scene of her birth. MR. WENGER was engaged
       in steamboat work and wood chopping while residing here, but
       later he and his wife moved to a farm in Alma township, where
       they spent the rest of their lives, he dying at the age of 72
       and she at that of 73. MRS. WENGER was the daughter of JOHN
       MILLER, who settled in what is now Cochrane, Buffalo county,
       in 1852, coming from Switzerland, where he and his wife were
       married. He followed farming at Cochrane for the rest of his
       life. Mr. and Mrs. GROSS are the parents of six children now
       living, besides one, named LOUIS, who died. The living are:
       PHILIP, GEORGE, ROBERT, URSULA, ANNA and MARY.
       
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