The following was information was given to me by
Mary Sue (Gross) Martin,
who had several pages of notes on the Alabama Gross family:
VEST FAMILY HISTORY
GROSS FAMILY HISTORY
COOLEY FAMILY HISTORY
BOLTON FAMILY HISTORY
Seemingly, the history of the Vest, Cooley, Gross lineage of Marshall County started when George Gross came to Marshall County in 1844. He settled in what is now known as Gross Hollow Range, Township Six at Diamond or Beech Creek area in Marshall County. The best estimates of census data indicates that all of George's children, except Jacob and William B., were born before George came to Marshall County. One possible exception to this is George W. Gross, who may have been born enroute to Marshall County, or immediately after arriving. It is not known the exact year that George Gross arrived in Marshall County. The 1844-45 date is based on the land purchase records of O. D. Street. George Gross purchased or obtained land in 1845. As the children became of age, Jonathan Gross and Isaac Gross acquired land that adjoined the original George Gross homestead. From best estimates, the original homestead was where the Sam Vest house was. (Gross Hollow, see figure 1.) Records show that George Gross was born in the State of Tennessee. He evidently traveled down the Tennessee River until he reached Marshall County, and settled there. In traveling down the River, records indicate that a brother or brothers and sisters decided to stay in Jackson County. (See map in figure 2.) George Gross was born in __TBD__ County, Tennessee. He left Tennessee in __TBD__. The Cherokee Indian lands were open during this time and they were used to attract settlers by being offered for homesteading and land grants.
George Gross had 10 children. These are shown in the 1850 census record and reproduced in figure 3. The various marriages of these Grosses are show in figure 4. Jonathan Gross, the fifth child of George Gross is the first Gross lineage that ties in with the Vest family. The linkage is shown later.
The next linkage event in the Vest, Cooley, Gross lineage of Marshall County was when john Cooley left Calhoun County, in 1865 and came to Marshall County. It seems odd that Mr. John Cooly decided to travel to Marshall County right in the middle of the Civil War, but he did. John Cooley was the son of James Cooley who lived in Cass County, Georgia in 1850. (Cass County was later changed to Barstow County and was a suburb county of Fulton County, Georgia -- Atlanta.) James Cooley and his wife were born in Virginia according to the 1850-1860 census. The 1850 Census is the first census that gives any data that can be really useful to anyone other than the Bureau of Census. The James Cooley family in Cass County, Georgia is shown in figure 5. At this time, James Cooley is 56 years old and has only two children living in the household along with his wife Rebecca ______ Cooley, who is 55 years old. Obviously, John Cooley is not married at this time as he is still in the household, along with his brother Elizah (Elijah?). Another obvious fact is that John Cooley was born in Tennessee, evidently, while James Cooley was enroute (in his lifetime) from Virginia to Georgia. Elizah was born in Georgia. This data is from the census of 1850 and 1860. The 1860 census data shows both John Cooley and James Cooley in Calhoun County, Alabama. John Cooley has married Lidia Kirkpatrick? (or Kirk?) in the meantime and has five children, which is pretty quick work in a ten year period. John Cooley has also traveled to Calhoun County and has living with them, along with Elizah, a female, Caroline Wright (age 25), and two children, William and Lucy A. Wright. At the time of this writing, there is some question as to who these people are. Figure 6 gives the 1860 census for both James and John Cooley in Calhoun County.
The date 1865, used for the travel of John Cooley family to Marshall County, come from the information of Henry Cooley, a grandson of John Cooley through Robert Cooley. Henry Cooley said that Robert Cooley was five years old when he came to Marshall County. If Robert was 4 months old in 1860 census, then the trip to Marshall County had to be in 1865. Some questions have been asked by myself as to how long this trip would have taken. The best estimate for this 60 to 90 mile trek would take a week or so. I have no idea as to the facts on the trip time during this time. The trips made at this time were made by wagon and oxen or horses.
The trip to Marshall County (figure 7) ended in the vicinity of Thrasher Bluff and Mt. Carmel community. Both of these communities were near the towns of Manchester and Warrenton. Manchester is under waters of ??? Lake. Warrenton has shrunk in importance to Guntersville.
The first connecting link from the Cooley family is Eliza Cooley, the third child of John Cooley.
While the Cooley's and the Gross' were making their way to Marshall County from Georgia and Tennessee, Mr. James J. Vest was evidently moving around all over the state of Alabama.
It is thought at this time, that James J. Vest was born in Morgan County, Alabama in 1829. From there, he went (when he left the Vest household) to Coosa County the best that can be determined. A James J. Vest was found living with the Glasscock family in Coosa County in the 1850 census, figure 8. Sometime soon after this, James J. Vest married Eliza Bullock of Talladega County and started his family. J. W. Vest was born in Talladega County in 1856. This information is from bible records of Ethyl Gross Vest. But in the 1860 census, James J. Vest & family does not show up in Talladega County. Further information indicates that James J. Vest was in Jefferson County somewhere around Elyton, Alabama. But, the 1860 census has not turned him up there either. Where James J. Vest resided during this period is not known. He was in the Civil War, a Confederate soldier in the 24 ALA INF CO H. Investigations show this CO to have been formed mostly from Pickens County, Alabama, but surveys of the 1860 census for Pickens County do not turn up Mr. Vest.
Mr. James J. Vest does manage to turn up in Marshall County in the 1880 census, in Big Spring Valley. Don't know when or how Mr. James got there.
STORY:
Mr. James Vest, when in the War was over, was a POW that was released somewhere in the Carolinas. He walked all the way back to Manchester, Alabama (Marshall County). How he knew to come to Manchester, Alabama is questioned. Where James' wife Eliza Bullock is at this time is not known either. But, whatever, they both showed up at Big Spring Valley in the 1880 census.
FURTHER STORY/QUESTIONS ABOUT ILL KIDS DURING CIVIL WAR
J. W. Vest, first child of James J. Vest, married Eliza Cooley, daughter of John Cooley. The Cooley's living in Manchester area while J. W. Vest was in Big Spring Valley. Need stories about the various courtships, movements, etc.
QUESTION:
There seems to be some questions as to when George Gross came to Alabama. From census data, looking at the age of Jonathan Gross the eldest (?) and according to the census, he was born in Alabama. Taking this data and the fact that Jonathan was born in 1837 in Alabama. This piece of information indicates that George Gross had to be in Alabama at this time.
This information tends to indicate that George Gross came to Alabama sometime before 1837 even though he did not make land purchase or homestead application until 1845 according to the O. D. Street records of Marshall County.
Isaac Gross, son of George Gross, had 40 acres in the Gross Hollow. He was the Gross that built the grist mill on Beech Creek in Gross Hollow. Isaac ground corn in the grist mil for the early settlers of that region.
George Gross & three brothers came to Marshall County from Tennessee. Some of or all of the brothers went back to Scottsboro.
Dan Jarrott had a government whiskey still on Mink Creek, Buford Folsom's place now is Jarrot Place.
J. W. Vest lived between Warrenton and Manchester. Had two or three more farms (he would buy a farm, clear it and sell and buy another).
Got Shirley Brown's lace in 1924-30 from Will Drake. He cleared it and sold it to Shirley Brown.
Harris owned big farm. Now is Smith Farm. Smith married into Harris family & inherited it.
One Cooley lived at Manchester for sure.
Seeing the announcement in the paper of the death of William (Uncle Billie) Gross, it appears peculiarly fitting to say something of the Gross family's sojourn in Jackson County.
Uncle Billie's grandfather, John Gross with his family was one of the first settlers in the Tennessee Valley, in this county. He floated down the Tenn. River from East Tenn. And lived one year near the Nickajack Cave about the year 1816. He then came down the river and settled just below Larkin's Landing. After three years he moved out nearer the foot of Gunters Mountain. He built the first grist mill on Sauta Creek. He died in 1821, and the appraisers of his property show that he was well-to-do.
His son, Jacob Gross, was one of the most prominent and influential men in the early history of the county. He served as Justice of Peace for 25 years. His service as Postmaster was even longer.
"Uncle Billie," grandson of John Gross lived a great part of his life in Marshall County two miles from Warrenton. When just a lad, he and his brother found a panther on Beach Creek. When it was killed, it was nine feet long.
The Gross family has always been a friend of the Kennamer family in the more than a century that has just passed.
My sympathy goes out to the widow of Uncle Billie. She is the honored grand-daughter of Joseph Barclay, who was another pioneer that lived near Aspel.
Jacob Gross Sr. came from Germany to Pennsylvania. His son John came to Claiborne Co. East Tenn. When he was old, he with two other families floated down the Tenn. River to just below Larkin's Landing in the year 1816 or 17, two or three years before Jackson County was organized. They had to cut their way thru canebrakes. It is thought the Shells and the Chadicks came with the Grosses. John Gross lived two years near the Landing before moving to the place that was nearer Gunters Mountain and that was to bear his name in after years. He built the first grist mill in North Sauta Creek for the Chadicks. This mill was run many years later by his sons, Jacob and John V. Gross.
The Shells settled what is now Kelleys Cove. These families were the first white families to settle in this part of the Tenn. Valley. Mink Creek got its name from the Indian Chief living there. Later the Shells moved to Arkansas and Missouri.
John Gross died in 1821. His sons Jacob and George were his administrators. A. W. Dulaney, Wm. Haney and John Shell appraised his property and Mr. Gross was well-to-do. John was the father of six sons and three daughters: Jacob, George, Jonathan, David, Abraham, and Isaac (Abe and Isaac were twins); Catherine, Mary Ann, and Elizabeth. Jacob married a Pendergrass; George married Lucinda Anderson; Jonathan married a Carter; David married Malinda Busby; Abraham married a French; Isaac never married. Catherine married Thomas Evans; Mary Ann married Adam Shell; Elizabeth married R. L. (Dick) Kirby. None of these fought in the Civil War; some had died before the war.
The children of George Gross and Lucinda Anderson are William B., John, Andrew, Jonathan, Isaac, George, and David. Elizabeth married Peter Renfroe; Sarah married Taylor French; Eva married a Ridgeway; William B. (Uncle Billie) married Martha J. Barclay, daughter of Pickens Barclay; John B. Evans was a grandson of Catherine Gross and Thomas Evans.
Isaac Gross was in the Confederate Army under General Bragg; was wounded at Port Gibson. Jonathan Gross was wounded at Chicamauge. He was with George and saw service under Lee in Virginia.
When Gen. Blair marched thru Jackson County to reinforce Gen. Sherman's army in Georgia seven of his soldiers came upon the Gross brothers at home. Isaac told the Yankee soldiers that they had been paroled and got with it, though it was not so.
When the Memphis and Charleston Railroad was built through the County in 1853-4, Abraham and his brothers bought eight shares each of stock. ($200).
Sent to me, Mrs. J. A. Proctor on August 2nd, 1959, by Mrs. John Beull Owen, 1600 Avenue K, Lipscomb, Alabama.
1. JACOB GROSS SR, who with two or three brothers (Johann Andreas & Johann Sebastian?) came over from Germany in Colonial times, settled in Penn. - joined the Colonial Armies - was with Washington at Valley Forge and on until the surrender of Corwallis at Yorktown.
2. JOHN GROSS, son of Jacob Gross Sr., was born in Penn. Moved to East Tennessee, when a small boy, reared in Claiborne County, Tennessee, moved to Alabama, Jackson County in the year 1815 - died 1821 (Claybourne County) old records.
3. ELIZABETH GROSS, 3rd daughter of John Gross & Eva Marie Little Gross, was born Oct. 25, 1810; died July 15, 1890 - came to Alabama with her parents in 1815, married R. L. Kirby - July 8th, 1830, was the mother of (1st child of Elizabeth Gross & R. L. Kirby) Eva Jane Kirby - R. L. (Sauta Dick).
4. EVA JANE KIRBY, was born September 8th, 1831, married Wm. J. Skelton - January 8th, 1852; died July 30, 1892. Was the mother of JOHN WILLIAM SKELTON
5. JOHN WILLIAM SKELTON, was born …
LITTLE LINE
**************
Eva Marie Little - German Descent - Ofa Marie in German
Married John Gross in Claybourne County, (Claiborne) Tennessee.
?? "A return of the eighth company of the sixth battalion of Lancaster county showing each man's respective class also a return of those who served in their class in the year A.D. 1778 and 1779, we find the name of JACOB GROSS, 7th class, (see Pennsylvania Archives, 5th Ser., V. 7, p. 561)
The name of JACOB GROSS, 7th class, appears on "A True and exact list of the names of each and every male white person, inhabiting or residing with my district, in the fourth company of the ninth battalion of Lancaster county within, between the age of eighteen and fifty-three years. Taken for the year 1782." (Pennsylvania Archives, 5th Ser., V. 7, page 1073)
We also find the name of JACOB GROSS, 3rd class, on a "General muster roll of the first battalion of Northampton county militia." (Pennsylvania Archives, 5th Ser., V. 8, p. 86)
In the Pennsylvania magazine of history and biography, July 1921, V. 45, p. 260, we find the muster of the "Light Dragoons for the County of Philadelphia, with the Battalion they belonged to annexed to their names," on which appears the name of JACOB GROSS. In the same publication, p. 279, is this statemant: "JACOB GROSS died about June 20, 1809, letters of administration being granted to Dorothy Gross, and security being given by George Gross and John Gross, cordwainers. "Shoe Maker"
"THE GROSS FAMILY" by John R. Kennamer, Historian, Jackson County, Alabama. "From My Notebook" - Note by C. Sumner -- these articles appeared in the Sentinel or Progressive age about 1943 and 1947.
JACOB GROSS, Sr. came from Germany to Pennsylvania. His son JOHN came to Claiborne county, East Tennessee. When he was old, he with two other families, floated down the Tennessee River to just below Larkin's Landing in the year 1816 or 1817, two or three years before Jackson county was organized (1819). They moved to part or cut their way through the canebrakes. It is thought that the Shells and Chadicks came with the Grosses. JOHN GROSS lived two or three years near Larkin's Landing before moving to the place that was nearer Gunter's Mountain and that was to bear his name in after years. He built the first grist mill on North Sauta Creek for the Chadicks. This mill was run many years later by his son Jacob and Jacob's son, John Vernon Gross.
The children of John Gross and his wife Eva (Little) Gross were six sons and three daughters. They were:
2. Jacob Gross married Jincy Pendergrass
3. George Gross married Lucinda Anderson
4. Jonathan Gross married a Carter
8. David Gross married Malinda Busby
6. Abraham Gross married Rebecca French
7. Isaac Gross never married
1. Catherine Gross married Thomas J. Evans
9. Mary Ann Gross married Adam Shell
5. Elizabeth Gross married Richard Lawrence Kirby (called Sauta Dick)
(note by C. Sumner - the private burial ground of this Richard Kirby is …)
….???? Down for enough to find it.
JOHN GROSS died in 1821 and is buried in an unmarked grave in NEAL FIELD near Mink Creek. ["NEAL FIELD" is just beyond MONEY STORE at Mink Creek. Go to second house in Pines just beyond Money property on left of Highway and NEAL FIELD is directly behind second house. This is where John and Eve Gross were buried in unmarked graves. (Sec. 32 - Ts 5S - R 5E) Location by Wallace Gross - Laught? & Delbert Thomas - part of Skelton Farm.]
His sons JACOB and GEORGE were his administrators. A. W. Dulaney, William Haney, and John Shell appraised his property in December 1821. This paper was attested by William Dodson, J.P. (note by C.S. There is no reference for this information. It is possible someone had the original papers as they knew who the Justice of the Peace was. This William Dodson is the one for whom Dodsonville, on the Guntersville Hwy, was named. It is the same Wm. Dodson who is buried in the old Dodson cemetery at Limrock. He was born about 1793 and died 1853.)
NOTES FROM THE GROSS FAMILY OG JACKSON COUNTY, SCOTTSBORO, ALA
(No reference for this either)
JACOB GROSS SR, who with two or three brothers came over from Germany in Colonial times, settled in Pennsylvania, joined the Colonial armies, was with Washington at Valley Forge and on until the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown.
JOHN GROSS, son of JACOB GROSS, was born in Pennsylvania, moved to East Tennessee when a small boy, was reared in Claybourne county, Tennessee (Claiborne), was married to Eva Marie Little (who was of German descent - Ofa Marie in German). This records says they were married in Claiborne county, Tennessee. John Gross moved with his family to Jackson County, Alabama in the year 1815 died in 1821. (This may have also been from John R. Kennamer in the Jackson County paper.)
Vol. 36. Ala Records. Jones and Gandrud
Alabama Herald, Feb. 29, 1872 --- Cyruss Gross, Dec'd. Z. K. GROSS Adm. Cyrus Gross was adm. in his lifetime, Guardian of Elizabeth Gross (now Elizabeth Smith) Note: Cyrus Gross was "Sirenus" in census.
Jacob Gross and two or three brothers came from Germany to Pennsylvania in the latter part of 1752 on Ship NEPTUNE that sailed from Rotterdam and Cowes. There was a Johann Sebastin and Johann Andreas Gross that came over on the same ship, the could have been brothers of Jacob. There was an ANDREW GROSS in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, born there in 1750 and died there in 1829? Same county as Jacob.
In 1789, Jacob with his wife Dorothy (Sabina?) and son John came to Sullivan County, NC which is now Claiborne county, Tennessee where he purchased 300 acres of land at 50 shillings per 100 acres of land.
Jacob Gross was in the Pennsylvania Militia during the Revolution and was with Washington at Valley Forge and on until Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown.
Jacob Gross died about June 20, 1809. His wife "Dorothy" was administrator and surety was given by GEORGE and JOHN GROSS, CORDWAINERS, (Shoemakers). I suppose GEORGE was a son of Jacob and a brother of JOHN, but I do not know.
In 1815 or 16 John and his wife Ofa (Eva) Marie Little (also German) with their children came down the river to near Nickajack Cave where they stayed about a year.
In 1817, they came on down the river to near Larkins Landing where they stayed two or three years, then moved to the old Gross homeplace near the foot of Gunters Mountain. They were supposed to have been accompanied by the CHADDICKS and SHELLS. A Gross married a Shell later.
John Gross built the first grist mill on Sauta Creek for the CHADDICKS and several years later his son JACOB and Jacob's son John Vernon Gross operated the mill.
There was supposed to have been an ISAAC GROSS that fought in Civil War and was wounded and carried to near Woodville or Paint Rock to a Medical Station where he died. Two men were supposed to have put him on a horse and started across Gunters Mountain to carry him home to be buried. The men became lost and ended up in Dry Cove or Guffey Hollow where he was buried in MAPLES cemetery. (No Marker) - by W.W.G. & Uncle Billie
The first and oldest ISAAC who was JOHN's son was born in 1813 so he would have been 58 (?) years old at start of war. (not in census after 1860.)
One statement says none of JOHN's sons fought in the Civil War, the same statement says that Isaac, Jonathan, and George who were grandsons of JOHN and sons of GEORGE did fight in the war. Isaac was under Gen. Bragg and was wounded at Port Gibson. Jonathan was wounded at Chicamauga. He was with George and saw service under General Lee in Virginia. George's son ISAAC was STILL LIVING in 1870 & 1880 census.
At start of war, Jonathan was 24, Isaac 22, and George 17.
