This is the story of Henry Gross, who was born on 19 Sept 1829 in Landkreis Heilbronn, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Henry, like most other young men in Germany at this time, saw no future in farming or other industrious occupations decided to participate in traveling to a new world. This land of prosperity and freedom that we know of as the United States. Before he started his journey in he decided to leave a living legacy of himself that would stand for a great length of time and could be enjoyed by all people. Henry had uprooted a Linden tree from the woods close by and along with shovels of rich soil, planted this tree. This is where the bad luck started for Henry. The dirt that was dug up, to which was to give this tree a solid base and strong roots was taken without permission and the land owner went to the burgermeister(mayor) and complained. Well Henry was fined 2 guilden (84 cents). The fine was paid and Henry was off on his life changing journey. In 1853 he traveled by land and sea and reached New York, Chicago, and finally Piatt County, Illinois.
Mr. Gross was a very thriving individual while he lived in Mackville and then moving to Atwood. He farmed and did carpentry work in the area. The school district purchased land from him in 1913 for the construction of the new High School.
As time went on and Henry grew older, he started to miss his homeland and place where he grew up. He wrote a letter to relatives that still lived in the area and wondered about the tree and how it was doing. Henry requested to them with the possibility of having a photo and small branch sent to him.
Henry had one last request at time of his death. This twig was to be placed in his casket so that he can spent eternity with a little part of his legacy. So, if you go Mackville Cemetery and find his grave, please place a Linden tree twig on his headstone in remembrance of his longing for his roots.
information and pictures provied by Thomas Gross,Great grandson of Henry Gross.
Mr. Gross was a very thriving individual while he lived in Mackville and then moving to Atwood. He farmed and did carpentry work in the area. The school district purchased land from him in 1913 for the construction of the new High School.
As time went on and Henry grew older, he started to miss his homeland and place where he grew up. He wrote a letter to relatives that still lived in the area and wondered about the tree and how it was doing. Henry requested to them with the possibility of having a photo and small branch sent to him.
Henry had one last request at time of his death. This twig was to be placed in his casket so that he can spent eternity with a little part of his legacy. So, if you go Mackville Cemetery and find his grave, please place a Linden tree twig on his headstone in remembrance of his longing for his roots.
information and pictures provied by Thomas Gross,Great grandson of Henry Gross.
This is the story of Henry Gross, who was born on 19 Sept 1829 in Landkreis Heilbronn, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Henry, like most other young men in Germany at this time, saw no future in farming or other industrious occupations decided to participate in traveling to a new world. This land of prosperity and freedom that we know of as the United States. Before he started his journey in he decided to leave a living legacy of himself that would stand for a great length of time and could be enjoyed by all people. Henry had uprooted a Linden tree from the woods close by and along with shovels of rich soil, planted this tree. This is where the bad luck started for Henry. The dirt that was dug up, to which was to give this tree a solid base and strong roots was taken without permission and the land owner went to the burgermeister(mayor) and complained. Well Henry was fined 2 guilden (84 cents). The fine was paid and Henry was off on his life changing journey. In 1853 he traveled by land and sea and reached New York, Chicago, and finally Piatt County, Illinois.
Mr. Gross was a very thriving individual while he lived in Mackville and then moving to Atwood. He farmed and did carpentry work in the area. The school district purchased land from him in 1913 for the construction of the new High School.
As time went on and Henry grew older, he started to miss his homeland and place where he grew up. He wrote a letter to relatives that still lived in the area and wondered about the tree and how it was doing. Henry requested to them with the possibility of having a photo and small branch sent to him.
Henry had one last request at time of his death. This twig was to be placed in his casket so that he can spent eternity with a little part of his legacy. So, if you go Mackville Cemetery and find his grave, please place a Linden tree twig on his headstone in remembrance of his longing for his roots.
information and pictures provied by Thomas Gross,Great grandson of Henry Gross.
Mr. Gross was a very thriving individual while he lived in Mackville and then moving to Atwood. He farmed and did carpentry work in the area. The school district purchased land from him in 1913 for the construction of the new High School.
As time went on and Henry grew older, he started to miss his homeland and place where he grew up. He wrote a letter to relatives that still lived in the area and wondered about the tree and how it was doing. Henry requested to them with the possibility of having a photo and small branch sent to him.
Henry had one last request at time of his death. This twig was to be placed in his casket so that he can spent eternity with a little part of his legacy. So, if you go Mackville Cemetery and find his grave, please place a Linden tree twig on his headstone in remembrance of his longing for his roots.
information and pictures provied by Thomas Gross,Great grandson of Henry Gross.
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