The following excerpt was taken from: "Publications of the Historical Society of Washington Co. VA"
p. 181 - Jacob Gross I was of German descent and is believed to have come to Sullivan Co. TN with the Rev. Joseph Rhea a Presbyterian minister from Taneytown [Tarreytown], Maryland. Rev. Joseph Rhea was pastor of Piney Creek Presbyterian Church, in Taneytown/Tarreytown and he came to Sullivan Co. , went back to Maryland to get his family and died 1777. His family came to Sullivan Co. in 1778. Rev. Rhea was so much impressed with the Holston Country that he influenced many of his Piney Creek Church members to follow him here, including the families of Alisons, Gross, McKinleys, Hodges, Scotts, Halls, and others - and many of their descendants may be found here today, especially in the Fork Country.
