Gaston, Joseph.  "The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912."  Vol. 3. 
Chicago, Clarke Publishing Co., 1912. p. 828.
 
GEORGE W. GROSS

     the popular and efficient mayor of Athena and one of its most valued and
progressive men, has been, a resident of that place since 1901. He was born in
Dallas county, Iowa, March 10, 1857, a son of Andrew and Sarah (Shafer) Gross,
the former a native of Baden, Germany, and the latter of Pennsylvania. The
father emigrated to America with his parents in 1837 and the family settled in
Ohio, where they resided until 1850, when they removed to Dallas county, Iowa.
In that state the mother passed away in 1858 and in 1863 the father removed with
his family to California, crossing the plains with horse teams. They resided in
the Golden state, however, for only a year and then removed to Linn county,
Oregon, where they resided until 1871, when they came to Umatilla county, there
remaining until 1878. In that year the father returned to Linn county, where his
death occurred January 28, 1910, at the age of eighty-three years. He was twice
married. By his first union six children were born and by his second marriage he
became the father of eight children.
     George W. Gross remained at home until he attained his majority and then
began farming in 1878, choosing Umatilla county as the field of his operations.
He continued in that vocation until 1901, when he came to Athena and here he has
since resided. He, however, retains his farm of six hundred and forty acres,
which is an extremely valuable property.
     In 1880 Mr. Gross was married to Miss Jennie Morgan, a native of Lane
county, Oregon, and a daughter of John and Sarah (Stanley) Morgan, who emigrated
to Oregon in 1852.  Her parents are both deceased, the mother passing away in
1878 and the father's death occurring in 1882.  They were the parents of nine
children.  Mr. and Mrs. Gross have become the parents of four children:  James
F., who is married and resides in Umatilla county; Eva M., the wife of Arthur
Douglas, of the same county; Lulu B., who married L. H. Reed, of Umatilla
county; and George W., who was born on December 14, 1892, and died February 12,
1893.
     In his political views Mr. Gross is a democrat and is at present serving as
mayor of Athena. Fraternally he holds membership in Lodge No. 73, I. O. O. F.,
at Athena, having filled all of the chairs in that order. He also belongs to the
Woodmen of the World, while Mrs. Gross is a member of the Rebekahs. Since his
identification with Athena he has been one of the progressive and optimistic
citizens of that place. Possessing great faith in its future, he has always been
prominently identified with and a supporter of all movements calculated to
promote the interests of Athena and community. He has formed an extremely large
circle of acquaintances whose respect and esteem for him are very marked. He is
of a genial and companionable nature and in his social, fraternal and business
relations instantly commands the respect and confidence of those with whom he
comes in contact. Few men if any in the city are more popular and he is one of
whom any community may be justly proud.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in April 2008 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.