History of Lee County, Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

148 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
On the 1st of July, 1873, Mr. Dodge was united in marriage to
Miss Hattie E. Davis, of Dixon. She is a member of the Methodist
church, while Mr. Dodge's membership relations are with the
Masonic fraternity and the Grand Army of the Eepublic. He has
attained high rank in the former and has been honored with many
offices in different branches of the order, being past high priest of
the chapter and past eminent coumiander of the commandery. He
also attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite in the
Freeport consistory and crossed the sands of the desert with the
Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. His political indorsement is given to
the republican party. He has lived to see the fulfillment of the
hopes of his youth and early manhood. Tlaere have been no spectacular
phases in his life history but there are various elements
worthy of emulation. To know one's duty and do it, to deal faithfidly
and honorably with one's fellowmen, this is the life of an
honorable man. Moreover, his record proves conclusively that
success and an untarnished name may be won simultaneously.
CHRISTIAN GROSS.
Christian Gross, one of the extensive landowners of China
township living retired in Franklin Grove, is numbered among the
representative and progressive citizens of that community. He is
interested in everything that pertains to the general advancement
and growth and his influence is a tangible force for good along
many lines. He was born in China township, this county, March
22, 1851, and is a son of Reinhart and Martha (Reinhart) Gross,
natives of Germany. The mother came to America in 1816 and the
father one year later. Their marriage occurred in Lee county in
1852 and afterward the father purchased land, buying eightj^ acres
in China t()wnship and paying for this property a dollar and a
quarter per acre. He afterwai'd added to his holdings and became
in time one of the repirsentative farmers of the locality. He and
his wife became the parents of six children, of whom four are yet
living.
Christian Gross remained upon his father's farm until he was
twenty-one years of age and then began his independent career,
farming upon rented land for one .year. At the end of that time
lie liciught one hundred and sixty acres in China township and for
many years thereafter gave his time and attention to the manage-