The following excerpts were taken from: "Families and History of Sullivan County, Tennessee: Volume One 1779-1992" complied by Holston Territory Genealogy Society - 1993:
Sullivan County Tax List 1837
District 8 -- Blountville
Gross, Jacob 255 acres 1020 (value) Gross, Jonathan
Jacob Gross I is the first known ancestor of this family. Tradition says that he died in 1790. His estate was settled in Sullivan County, Tennessee, between 1821 - 1823 and was divided into 11 parts. He received a land grant from the state of North Carolina on 17 November 1790 for 300 acres on south side of the Holston River. Jacob was of German descend and is believed to have come to Sullivan County with the Rev. Joseph Rhea, minister of Piney Creek Presbyterian Church in Taneytown, Maryland. Jacob Gross I was probably buried in the New Bethel Presbyterian Church Cemetery and was supposed to have been one of the first members of the Church. Jacob was the father of a large family of sons and daughters who emigrated westward and dispersed in various directions.
The oldest marked grave in New Bethel Cemetery is called the grave of the "Unknown Traveler." It is marked by a marble slab inset with a stone (3" x 6" x 3") inscribed "I.G. d. 1790." Could the "I" have been a "J"? Could this be the tombstone of Jacob Gross I?
The following are known children of Jacob Gross I: (1) Jacob II (1790/97-1870) m. 1811 Sarah Farrington; (2) Jonathan; (3) Sabrina m. William Engle; (4) David, of Guilford Co., NC; (5) Solomon. William Gross, aged 28 years, and a John Gross aged 31 years, were in the East Tennessee Militia, War of 1812. William Gross died 1827, Hawkins Co., Tennessee. Jacob GROSS II (1790/97 - 1872/70) m. Sarah Farrington (1792/1800 - July 1888). They occupied the old Gross homeplace. It was said about Jacob II, "... after a very irregular life of more that three score and ten years came to a dying bed. On that sick bed he professed penitence, asked to be received into the Presbyterian Church, saying that he had been baptized in his infancy by a Presbyterian minister and desiring that the Lord's Supper might be administered to him. His request was granted and he died 21 May 1872." Jacob was a gunsmith.
Obituary of Mrs. Sallie GROSS: "who died recently in this county, was born in 1792, aged 96 years, 6 months and 6 days. Had 13 children, only 4 living; 40 living grandchildren; 122 great-grandchildren and some great-great-grandchildren. She professed religion about the middle of life. Was born and reared in North Carolina. Married Jacob Gross at the age of 19 years. She died where she settled after marriage, near the post office called GROSS, south side of Sullivan."
Children of Jacob & Sallie were: (1) Jonathan "Than", (1812-1850/60), may have married a Cross [See Smalling-Gross Family]; (2) Jacob; (3) Milton B., (1817- ), m. Pauline Emily Lincoln; (4) Loozenie, (1818-1861), m. Rev. William King Cross; (5) Alfred Farrington, (1822-1902), m. Julia Ann Woods, (1830-1904); (6) Sarah m. ______ Thomas. Alfred Farrington Gross became a gunsmith following in the footsteps of his father and also lived at Piney Flats. Submitted by Patsy Burnette, 2080 Hay. 126, Bristol, TN 37620. Written by: Mrs. Shelby Ireson Edwards, 414 Wagner Street, Bristol, VA 24201
Soldier's Application for Pension, 21 Jan. 1904. J. C. Gross, Piney Flats, Sullivan County, was a member of Co. F, 59th Regiment TN. He was not wounded but contracted the fever while in the siege of Vicksburg and was in the hospital 43 days. He never fully recovered as it coused other complications. He had the loss of his left eye, a weakening of his entire system. He was born in Sullivan County, 1838. He had a wife, age 58 years and 3 children: a boy, 32 years, two daughters, 26 and 22 years of age. He followed the Carpenter's trade. He owned 3 acres of land with a mortgage, with household and kitchen furniture.
He enlisted in the latter part of 1861 and served in Capt. Geisler's Company under Col Akin. Dr. Henly was the name of the surgeon who attended him.
Application was Witnessed by F.T. Masingill, Physician. C.F. Wolfe J.P. Doggett. W.D. Lyon, Notary Public.
Widow's indigent Pension, 27 Jan. 1909. Eliza Gross, Widow of J.C. Gross, dec'd, resided Piney Flats. Was born in Sullivan County. Maiden name, Eliza Hall. Was married to Jacob C GROSS in Sullivan County; the marriage ceremony was performed by William K. Cross, minister of the Gospel. They had 5 boys and 5 girls; all over 21 years old are gone to work for themselves. Daughter Ada. The marriage was performed on 8 March 1860.
Witnesses - James M. Hodge & Robert Alison. A.J. Hall, Notary Public
John R. Snow, Trustee of Sullivan county J.C. Gross died 22 October 1908. Parson W.K. Cross is dead. J.C. Gross, private, Company F, 59th Tennessee Infantry, Confederate States Army, enlisted 2 April 1862. On October, 1864, he was reported as absent without leave.
Submitted by: Verlin Geisler, 8 Oak Ridge Dr., McLoud, OK 74851
...Four cemeteries are located in the community. Lindamood Cemetery ... Droke Cemetery ... Smith Cemetery ... Gross Cemetery, located on the Warren farm; Jacob Gross, who died 1790, is thought buried there. Gross Store and Post Office was located on the Warren Farm. Lida Post Office, was near R. B. Cross' Home. Woods store was on the Morrell Farm. Howard Phillips Cash Market operated in 1950-60. A Blacksmith shop operated near Charles Houston's home. In 1930-40s, Corrie Phillips manufactured cheese in her home, which she delivered to home and to stores in Bristol.
Homes and farms, of the community were searched and raided by the Yankees, during the Civil War. Gross Store was the Mustering site for Military Units during the War.
Some of the Early families were, Webbs, Hicks, Smith, Gross, Geisler, Emmert, DeVault, McHenry, Malone, Droke, Cross, Akards, Morrell, Phillips, Crussell, Millhorn, Lindamood, Combs, Mottern, Deakins, Warren, Hodges, Houston, St. John, Wright, Willen, Jeter, Stidham.
Submitted by: Mary Catherine Morrell, 336 Fillers Rd., Piney Flats, TN 37686
Another part of the past has died. The old country stores have become virtually extinct in Sullivan County. Before the age of the chain stores and mass transportation, the country store was the commercial heart of rural communities. The stores were vital links in the communications process as they served as clearing houses for information of local happenings, politics, and family information. The stores also often served as postal stations where patrons received their mail since central post offices were not readily accessible.
Country stores were possibly one of the three major social centers in many communities in addition to the local church and school. In some stores, the men gathered to play cards, to discuss current events, and to tell stories of by-gone days.
At the country stores...
Gerald Seneker, Piney Flats, said John Gross' store was a post station and country store. The former store building is located on Enterprise Road on the Clyde Warren property. Seneker said supplies for the store were hauled by wagon from the railroad depot at Piney Flats and by wagon from suppliers in Bristol.
There was no refrigeration and meat sold by the stores was salted and cured. Butter was stored in wooden tubs in the coll basements of the stores, he said. The date the store was established is undetermined, but Virginia Hancher, Piney Flats, said this was the mustering site for local military units during the Civil War.
Mrs. Irma Warren, Piney Flats, said her father, "Judge" Liburn Cartwright, operated the Gross store for a long perios. She said a section of the Gross homeplace located near her home, was built by Joseph (Jacob) Gross in 1852. Mrs. Warren said Joseph (Jacob) Cross [sic] was the first settler in the community.
Seneker said Dalton Crussell also operated the store during the early 1920's. During this period Crussell resided in a small house located a short distance from the store.
Source: SULLIVAN CO. NEWS, 30 Mar 1978, MOUNTAIN MEMORIES by Gene Morrell.
Located near Piney Flats. Turn right to the north at the Piney Flats Crossroads, then turn west on Prickens Bridge Road, go about 3 1/2 miles to new Bethel Road and turn right to the north and the Church and Cemetery are on the right.
The oldest marked grave in New Bethel might be called the grave of the "Unknown Traveler." The story goes that in the year 1790 and unknown stranger passing through was found dead on the morrow. In his saddle bags was found a stone (now about 3" x 6" x 3") with the letters "I.G." cut upon it. He was buried in the church-yard, using the rock as his marker. In later years as it was being lost to sight, Col. Nathan Gregg, a hero of the Confederacy, reset the rock within a marble slab, and erected it above his grave. Today we read, "I.G., d. 1790"
Hiram Hughes
1832-1907
Mary Ann Hughes
Wife of Hiram Hughes
1829-1880
{parents of Victoria Jane Hughes, wife of Robert Farrington Gross}
Jacob Gross I
d. abt. 1790
Jacob Gross II
d. 21 May 1872
Alfred F. Gross
1822-1902
Julia A. Gross
Wife of Alfred F. Gross
1830-1904
David Woods
d. 23 Jan 1872, 66y
Jane Woods
Wife of David Woods
4 Dec 1802
17 Nov 1870
{parents of Julia Ann Woods, wife of Alfred Farrington Gross}
