In the early years of this century, housewives admonished newcomers, "If you want superior meats and high quality groceries, shop at Gruber's Market, facing Meramec between Washington Street and the railroad track." The store, established in 1898, continued under family management until 1952.
As Swiss soldiers mobilized to defend their country during the Franco-Prussian War in 1871, Fred E. Gruber was born in the shadow of Nidau Castle, near Bienne (Biel), Switzerland, where his father had a watch manufacturing business. At the age of four, he accompanied his widowed mother to Saint Louis to join relatives.
While visiting in Saint James in 1897 with his bride, the former Josephine Peter, a native of Germany, he found the Ozark hills and streams were reminiscent of his childhood home. In 1898, he opened a market in Saint James in partnership with Charles Peter. Purchasing in 1903 a tract of land known as the Gorge he build a brick residence and a slaughter house at the west end of Hardy Street.
Slight of stature, immaculate in appearance, quiet but genial, Fred Gruber was a popular Saint James merchant.
He was a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge and had a 60 year pin. He was also a member of the school board in Saint James for 25 years.
His family of daughters include Flora Rasmussen, Portland, Oregon; Viola Pinson, Clarkdale, Arizona; Ida Hall, Union, Missouri; Grace Kirgan, Saint Louis, Missouri; Betty Ruth Cassatt and Josephine Smith, Saint James, Missouri.
As Swiss soldiers mobilized to defend their country during the Franco-Prussian War in 1871, Fred E. Gruber was born in the shadow of Nidau Castle, near Bienne (Biel), Switzerland, where his father had a watch manufacturing business. At the age of four, he accompanied his widowed mother to Saint Louis to join relatives.
While visiting in Saint James in 1897 with his bride, the former Josephine Peter, a native of Germany, he found the Ozark hills and streams were reminiscent of his childhood home. In 1898, he opened a market in Saint James in partnership with Charles Peter. Purchasing in 1903 a tract of land known as the Gorge he build a brick residence and a slaughter house at the west end of Hardy Street.
Slight of stature, immaculate in appearance, quiet but genial, Fred Gruber was a popular Saint James merchant.
He was a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge and had a 60 year pin. He was also a member of the school board in Saint James for 25 years.
His family of daughters include Flora Rasmussen, Portland, Oregon; Viola Pinson, Clarkdale, Arizona; Ida Hall, Union, Missouri; Grace Kirgan, Saint Louis, Missouri; Betty Ruth Cassatt and Josephine Smith, Saint James, Missouri.
In the early years of this century, housewives admonished newcomers, "If you want superior meats and high quality groceries, shop at Gruber's Market, facing Meramec between Washington Street and the railroad track." The store, established in 1898, continued under family management until 1952.
As Swiss soldiers mobilized to defend their country during the Franco-Prussian War in 1871, Fred E. Gruber was born in the shadow of Nidau Castle, near Bienne (Biel), Switzerland, where his father had a watch manufacturing business. At the age of four, he accompanied his widowed mother to Saint Louis to join relatives.
While visiting in Saint James in 1897 with his bride, the former Josephine Peter, a native of Germany, he found the Ozark hills and streams were reminiscent of his childhood home. In 1898, he opened a market in Saint James in partnership with Charles Peter. Purchasing in 1903 a tract of land known as the Gorge he build a brick residence and a slaughter house at the west end of Hardy Street.
Slight of stature, immaculate in appearance, quiet but genial, Fred Gruber was a popular Saint James merchant.
He was a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge and had a 60 year pin. He was also a member of the school board in Saint James for 25 years.
His family of daughters include Flora Rasmussen, Portland, Oregon; Viola Pinson, Clarkdale, Arizona; Ida Hall, Union, Missouri; Grace Kirgan, Saint Louis, Missouri; Betty Ruth Cassatt and Josephine Smith, Saint James, Missouri.
As Swiss soldiers mobilized to defend their country during the Franco-Prussian War in 1871, Fred E. Gruber was born in the shadow of Nidau Castle, near Bienne (Biel), Switzerland, where his father had a watch manufacturing business. At the age of four, he accompanied his widowed mother to Saint Louis to join relatives.
While visiting in Saint James in 1897 with his bride, the former Josephine Peter, a native of Germany, he found the Ozark hills and streams were reminiscent of his childhood home. In 1898, he opened a market in Saint James in partnership with Charles Peter. Purchasing in 1903 a tract of land known as the Gorge he build a brick residence and a slaughter house at the west end of Hardy Street.
Slight of stature, immaculate in appearance, quiet but genial, Fred Gruber was a popular Saint James merchant.
He was a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge and had a 60 year pin. He was also a member of the school board in Saint James for 25 years.
His family of daughters include Flora Rasmussen, Portland, Oregon; Viola Pinson, Clarkdale, Arizona; Ida Hall, Union, Missouri; Grace Kirgan, Saint Louis, Missouri; Betty Ruth Cassatt and Josephine Smith, Saint James, Missouri.
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