PETER GRUSS.

Hard and laborious effort was the lot of Peter Gruss during his youth and early manhood, but his fidelity to duty won him the respect and confidence of those with whom he was thrown in contact and by patient continuance in well doing he gradually arose from an humble station to his present high standing among the leading farmers of Isabella county. Always giving his personal attention to his various industries with the same energy and foresight that have characterized his labors during his busy and honorable career and having every dollar in his possession as the result of honest effort, and that, too, in the face of opposing obstacles and not a few adverse circumstances, he can with- out ostentation lay claim to the proud American title of self-made man, although Mr. Gruss is an American by adoption only, his birth having occurred in Germany on June 29, 1854, in )3rus'se. He grew to maturity in the father land and obtained his education there. Believing that larger opportunities awaited one of his inclination in the United States, he emigrated to our shores when twenty-eight years of age, locating at Grand Rapids, Michigan. Before leaving his native land he had served three years in the army of the empire and had learned the butcher's trade, and, as stated, having received a good education he was well equipped to take up his work in this country and it was not long until he had a good start. I-le was brought up in a village, but he had the opportunity of learning the butcher business in a city, and he worked at the same until he was twenty years of age, then went into the army, which is the custom in Germany. He was a soldier from 1875 to 1878. His sister's husband dying after the subject left the army, he took charge of his business, that of a hotel-keeper, and conducted it very successfully. He stayed at Grand Rapids, Michigan, two years. Not liking the trade of butcher in America, he took to farming. In the fall of 1884 he returned to Germany and came back to America in the spring of 1885, working for his former employer near Grand Rapids. On Januarv 13, 1885, while living in Grand Rapids, he was married to Anna Theisen, who was born December 9, 1863, in Germany, the daughter of Nicholas and Kate Theisen. She was four years old when her parents brought her to Big Rapids, but she met Mr. Gruss in Grand Rapids, whither she had later moved. This union has resulted in the birth of the following children: Elizabeth, born September 20, 1888; Emma ,' born March 9, 1890; Joseph, born April 6, 1891; Frederick, born July 31, 1893; Frank, born January 9, 1895; Margaret, born August 6, 1897; Marie, born July 6, 1900. The oldest child, a son, died, when one year old, in the fall of 1886. The above named children are all single and are living at home, excepting Elizabeth, who was married November 8, 1910.

After his marriage. Mr. Gruss lived in Grand Rapids two weeks, moving to his present place on January 28, 1885. He bought eighty acres, for which he paid twelve hundred and fifty dollars. This was timbered land and he has had plenty to do in clearing and developing it, but he has now one of the best improved places in the township. He has since added to his original purchase as he has prospered, first, forty acres, later ten acres, all adjoining. At present he has about fifteen acres in the woods. He has almost every kind of fruit known in this latitude, but none in large quantities. . He raises a great deal of wheat, which, under his skillful management, averages a yield of twenty-five bushels per acre. He has built a substantial and convenient house, with a good cellar, a large and well arranged barn with a basement, also built tool shed, sheep pen, granary and many other outbuildings and general improvements. He keeps some good stock of various kinds and is a very successful farmer and stock raiser. He uses up-to-date farming implements, has a good wind-mill, and he usually feeds cattle in the winter, selling them, in the spring.

Mr. Gruss is a member of the Catholic church at Beal City, was a member of the church committee three or four years.    He was pathmaster for two terms and has held some of the school offices, though he is not an office seeker, caring but little for public positions. Politically he is a Democrat, but he usually votes for the best man.

The subject's father, Peter Gruss, was born in Germany in 1813. He married Elizabeth Weiber, who was born in the same neighborhood in 1829. The father's death occurred in 1905, having survived his wife twenty years, her death having occurred in 1885. They spent their entire lives in Germany where the rest of the subject's relatives reside.