Printed in the September 23, 1925 - The Pilot, Blair, Nebraska
John H. Bross died at his home on east South street at about 5:25 last Sunday afternoon of old age. He had no pain and was in bed but just a week before the end came, being unconscious for some three days. He was 83 years old August 22nd, having been born in Newton township, Sussex county, New Jersey, in 1842. In the year of 1845 he moved to Davenport, Ia. with his parents. His father, Rev. G. D. Bross, was a Baptist minister, who passed away in this county at the home of his son in his seventieth year. Later the family moved to Poweshiek county, where Brookly, Ia. was located, he helping to build the first house in the town where most his relatives lie sleeping in the cemetery. On April 19, 1860 he came west and crossed the Missouri river at Omaha on a small ferry boat belonging to Captains Downs and Marsh. He was then bound for Pike’s Peak and had paid his fare to the place, including three weeks board after he landed. This took all the money he had, but a cousin, P. A. Demurest, who had started a small bakery in Omaha, induced him to stop there and learn the baking business. Later he was induced to go out to near Galesburg, Col., on the Platte river and start a bakery. This didn’t last long, but he got some interesting experiences of western life out of it that he had written in an autobiography. He later returned to the bakery in Omaha, then being conducted by J. W. Newell, Sr., of this city, and P. A. Demorest, later of Casper, Wyo. He caught the gold fever some three years later and made another trip west, finally came to Washington county and settled on a homestead, which he still owned at the time of his death. Also another eighty he has purchased. He sold out and moved to Blair some eighteen years ago. The farm is now being rented by Abe Suterland, Jr. Mr. Bross was married to Mathilda Ann Keys July 4th, 1869. There were eleven children, two of whom died in infancy. The living are Mary, Mrs. Robt. Caldwell, Anna, Mrs. Hosea Wilson, Etta, Mrs. Wm. Ryan, Clyss, Mrs. Roscoe Sylvis, all of and near Blair and Jeannette, Mrs. Eugene Spiker of Ft. Collins. Col; and four sons, J. H., G. F., A. A. and J. L., all of Blair. Mrs. Bross passed away March 9th, 1917. Mr. Bross joined the Christian church four years after his marriage. The funeral service was held at the Methodist church at 2 o’clock this afternoon, Rev. O. U. McProud officiating. Mr. Bross had been a member of the Masonic lodge for many years and burial was under Masonic auspices. there are 19 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. Thus an interesting life has come to an end, but for the influence and example of a long life well lived. Someday someone may work over the material he prepared for a book, which throws many interesting sidelights upon the pioneer days in Nebraska and the west.
~~~Obituary courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. News clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~
Contributor: MrsB (47910340)
Buried: 9/23/1925 ~ Age: 83
John H. Bross and Matilda Rees were married on July 4, 1869 in Washington County, Nebraska ~ Washington Deed Books, Book 2, Page 69.
John H. Bross was a butcher in Blair, Nebraska in 1885. At that time, their children living with them were: Liza (age 15), Jake (age 13), (George) Frank, (age 11), Annie (age 6), and a baby, Arthur. Servant, William Feek age 19, born Holstein, Germany, was also living with the family. All the children except the baby Arthur were in school that year.
On George Frank's draft card for WWI, completed Nov. 12, 1918, his nearest relative was John H. Bross, born in Wisconsin, and John H was living on East South St. in Blair, NE. Even today South street is one of the main East-West streets in Blair. At that time 16th street, where the courthouse is, was called Walker Avenue, and I believe East South street would have been east of the court house. The Congregational Church is just north and west of the courthouse, on 16th St., and actually on the corner of South and 16th.
Source: National Archives, Nebraska Census, June 1885 ~ research by MrsB (#47910340) ~ Thank you
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NOTES FROM GABE:
"United States Census, 1860"
Name: Meriba Bross
Minor Civil Division: Bear Creek Township
Age (Expanded): 20 years
(IF this is his daughter, then the birth inf for Samuel or for her is incorrect because they were born too close together)
(John is here too)
John H Bross, "United States Census, 1860"
Name: John H Bross
Minor Civil Division: Bear Creek Township
Age (Expanded): 18 years
John H. Bross died at his home on east South street at about 5:25 last Sunday afternoon of old age. He had no pain and was in bed but just a week before the end came, being unconscious for some three days. He was 83 years old August 22nd, having been born in Newton township, Sussex county, New Jersey, in 1842. In the year of 1845 he moved to Davenport, Ia. with his parents. His father, Rev. G. D. Bross, was a Baptist minister, who passed away in this county at the home of his son in his seventieth year. Later the family moved to Poweshiek county, where Brookly, Ia. was located, he helping to build the first house in the town where most his relatives lie sleeping in the cemetery. On April 19, 1860 he came west and crossed the Missouri river at Omaha on a small ferry boat belonging to Captains Downs and Marsh. He was then bound for Pike’s Peak and had paid his fare to the place, including three weeks board after he landed. This took all the money he had, but a cousin, P. A. Demurest, who had started a small bakery in Omaha, induced him to stop there and learn the baking business. Later he was induced to go out to near Galesburg, Col., on the Platte river and start a bakery. This didn’t last long, but he got some interesting experiences of western life out of it that he had written in an autobiography. He later returned to the bakery in Omaha, then being conducted by J. W. Newell, Sr., of this city, and P. A. Demorest, later of Casper, Wyo. He caught the gold fever some three years later and made another trip west, finally came to Washington county and settled on a homestead, which he still owned at the time of his death. Also another eighty he has purchased. He sold out and moved to Blair some eighteen years ago. The farm is now being rented by Abe Suterland, Jr. Mr. Bross was married to Mathilda Ann Keys July 4th, 1869. There were eleven children, two of whom died in infancy. The living are Mary, Mrs. Robt. Caldwell, Anna, Mrs. Hosea Wilson, Etta, Mrs. Wm. Ryan, Clyss, Mrs. Roscoe Sylvis, all of and near Blair and Jeannette, Mrs. Eugene Spiker of Ft. Collins. Col; and four sons, J. H., G. F., A. A. and J. L., all of Blair. Mrs. Bross passed away March 9th, 1917. Mr. Bross joined the Christian church four years after his marriage. The funeral service was held at the Methodist church at 2 o’clock this afternoon, Rev. O. U. McProud officiating. Mr. Bross had been a member of the Masonic lodge for many years and burial was under Masonic auspices. there are 19 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. Thus an interesting life has come to an end, but for the influence and example of a long life well lived. Someday someone may work over the material he prepared for a book, which throws many interesting sidelights upon the pioneer days in Nebraska and the west.
~~~Obituary courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. News clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~
Contributor: MrsB (47910340)
Buried: 9/23/1925 ~ Age: 83
John H. Bross and Matilda Rees were married on July 4, 1869 in Washington County, Nebraska ~ Washington Deed Books, Book 2, Page 69.
John H. Bross was a butcher in Blair, Nebraska in 1885. At that time, their children living with them were: Liza (age 15), Jake (age 13), (George) Frank, (age 11), Annie (age 6), and a baby, Arthur. Servant, William Feek age 19, born Holstein, Germany, was also living with the family. All the children except the baby Arthur were in school that year.
On George Frank's draft card for WWI, completed Nov. 12, 1918, his nearest relative was John H. Bross, born in Wisconsin, and John H was living on East South St. in Blair, NE. Even today South street is one of the main East-West streets in Blair. At that time 16th street, where the courthouse is, was called Walker Avenue, and I believe East South street would have been east of the court house. The Congregational Church is just north and west of the courthouse, on 16th St., and actually on the corner of South and 16th.
Source: National Archives, Nebraska Census, June 1885 ~ research by MrsB (#47910340) ~ Thank you
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NOTES FROM GABE:
"United States Census, 1860"
Name: Meriba Bross
Minor Civil Division: Bear Creek Township
Age (Expanded): 20 years
(IF this is his daughter, then the birth inf for Samuel or for her is incorrect because they were born too close together)
(John is here too)
John H Bross, "United States Census, 1860"
Name: John H Bross
Minor Civil Division: Bear Creek Township
Age (Expanded): 18 years
Printed in the September 23, 1925 - The Pilot, Blair, Nebraska
John H. Bross died at his home on east South street at about 5:25 last Sunday afternoon of old age. He had no pain and was in bed but just a week before the end came, being unconscious for some three days. He was 83 years old August 22nd, having been born in Newton township, Sussex county, New Jersey, in 1842. In the year of 1845 he moved to Davenport, Ia. with his parents. His father, Rev. G. D. Bross, was a Baptist minister, who passed away in this county at the home of his son in his seventieth year. Later the family moved to Poweshiek county, where Brookly, Ia. was located, he helping to build the first house in the town where most his relatives lie sleeping in the cemetery. On April 19, 1860 he came west and crossed the Missouri river at Omaha on a small ferry boat belonging to Captains Downs and Marsh. He was then bound for Pike’s Peak and had paid his fare to the place, including three weeks board after he landed. This took all the money he had, but a cousin, P. A. Demurest, who had started a small bakery in Omaha, induced him to stop there and learn the baking business. Later he was induced to go out to near Galesburg, Col., on the Platte river and start a bakery. This didn’t last long, but he got some interesting experiences of western life out of it that he had written in an autobiography. He later returned to the bakery in Omaha, then being conducted by J. W. Newell, Sr., of this city, and P. A. Demorest, later of Casper, Wyo. He caught the gold fever some three years later and made another trip west, finally came to Washington county and settled on a homestead, which he still owned at the time of his death. Also another eighty he has purchased. He sold out and moved to Blair some eighteen years ago. The farm is now being rented by Abe Suterland, Jr. Mr. Bross was married to Mathilda Ann Keys July 4th, 1869. There were eleven children, two of whom died in infancy. The living are Mary, Mrs. Robt. Caldwell, Anna, Mrs. Hosea Wilson, Etta, Mrs. Wm. Ryan, Clyss, Mrs. Roscoe Sylvis, all of and near Blair and Jeannette, Mrs. Eugene Spiker of Ft. Collins. Col; and four sons, J. H., G. F., A. A. and J. L., all of Blair. Mrs. Bross passed away March 9th, 1917. Mr. Bross joined the Christian church four years after his marriage. The funeral service was held at the Methodist church at 2 o’clock this afternoon, Rev. O. U. McProud officiating. Mr. Bross had been a member of the Masonic lodge for many years and burial was under Masonic auspices. there are 19 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. Thus an interesting life has come to an end, but for the influence and example of a long life well lived. Someday someone may work over the material he prepared for a book, which throws many interesting sidelights upon the pioneer days in Nebraska and the west.
~~~Obituary courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. News clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~
Contributor: MrsB (47910340)
Buried: 9/23/1925 ~ Age: 83
John H. Bross and Matilda Rees were married on July 4, 1869 in Washington County, Nebraska ~ Washington Deed Books, Book 2, Page 69.
John H. Bross was a butcher in Blair, Nebraska in 1885. At that time, their children living with them were: Liza (age 15), Jake (age 13), (George) Frank, (age 11), Annie (age 6), and a baby, Arthur. Servant, William Feek age 19, born Holstein, Germany, was also living with the family. All the children except the baby Arthur were in school that year.
On George Frank's draft card for WWI, completed Nov. 12, 1918, his nearest relative was John H. Bross, born in Wisconsin, and John H was living on East South St. in Blair, NE. Even today South street is one of the main East-West streets in Blair. At that time 16th street, where the courthouse is, was called Walker Avenue, and I believe East South street would have been east of the court house. The Congregational Church is just north and west of the courthouse, on 16th St., and actually on the corner of South and 16th.
Source: National Archives, Nebraska Census, June 1885 ~ research by MrsB (#47910340) ~ Thank you
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NOTES FROM GABE:
"United States Census, 1860"
Name: Meriba Bross
Minor Civil Division: Bear Creek Township
Age (Expanded): 20 years
(IF this is his daughter, then the birth inf for Samuel or for her is incorrect because they were born too close together)
(John is here too)
John H Bross, "United States Census, 1860"
Name: John H Bross
Minor Civil Division: Bear Creek Township
Age (Expanded): 18 years
John H. Bross died at his home on east South street at about 5:25 last Sunday afternoon of old age. He had no pain and was in bed but just a week before the end came, being unconscious for some three days. He was 83 years old August 22nd, having been born in Newton township, Sussex county, New Jersey, in 1842. In the year of 1845 he moved to Davenport, Ia. with his parents. His father, Rev. G. D. Bross, was a Baptist minister, who passed away in this county at the home of his son in his seventieth year. Later the family moved to Poweshiek county, where Brookly, Ia. was located, he helping to build the first house in the town where most his relatives lie sleeping in the cemetery. On April 19, 1860 he came west and crossed the Missouri river at Omaha on a small ferry boat belonging to Captains Downs and Marsh. He was then bound for Pike’s Peak and had paid his fare to the place, including three weeks board after he landed. This took all the money he had, but a cousin, P. A. Demurest, who had started a small bakery in Omaha, induced him to stop there and learn the baking business. Later he was induced to go out to near Galesburg, Col., on the Platte river and start a bakery. This didn’t last long, but he got some interesting experiences of western life out of it that he had written in an autobiography. He later returned to the bakery in Omaha, then being conducted by J. W. Newell, Sr., of this city, and P. A. Demorest, later of Casper, Wyo. He caught the gold fever some three years later and made another trip west, finally came to Washington county and settled on a homestead, which he still owned at the time of his death. Also another eighty he has purchased. He sold out and moved to Blair some eighteen years ago. The farm is now being rented by Abe Suterland, Jr. Mr. Bross was married to Mathilda Ann Keys July 4th, 1869. There were eleven children, two of whom died in infancy. The living are Mary, Mrs. Robt. Caldwell, Anna, Mrs. Hosea Wilson, Etta, Mrs. Wm. Ryan, Clyss, Mrs. Roscoe Sylvis, all of and near Blair and Jeannette, Mrs. Eugene Spiker of Ft. Collins. Col; and four sons, J. H., G. F., A. A. and J. L., all of Blair. Mrs. Bross passed away March 9th, 1917. Mr. Bross joined the Christian church four years after his marriage. The funeral service was held at the Methodist church at 2 o’clock this afternoon, Rev. O. U. McProud officiating. Mr. Bross had been a member of the Masonic lodge for many years and burial was under Masonic auspices. there are 19 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. Thus an interesting life has come to an end, but for the influence and example of a long life well lived. Someday someone may work over the material he prepared for a book, which throws many interesting sidelights upon the pioneer days in Nebraska and the west.
~~~Obituary courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. News clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~
Contributor: MrsB (47910340)
Buried: 9/23/1925 ~ Age: 83
John H. Bross and Matilda Rees were married on July 4, 1869 in Washington County, Nebraska ~ Washington Deed Books, Book 2, Page 69.
John H. Bross was a butcher in Blair, Nebraska in 1885. At that time, their children living with them were: Liza (age 15), Jake (age 13), (George) Frank, (age 11), Annie (age 6), and a baby, Arthur. Servant, William Feek age 19, born Holstein, Germany, was also living with the family. All the children except the baby Arthur were in school that year.
On George Frank's draft card for WWI, completed Nov. 12, 1918, his nearest relative was John H. Bross, born in Wisconsin, and John H was living on East South St. in Blair, NE. Even today South street is one of the main East-West streets in Blair. At that time 16th street, where the courthouse is, was called Walker Avenue, and I believe East South street would have been east of the court house. The Congregational Church is just north and west of the courthouse, on 16th St., and actually on the corner of South and 16th.
Source: National Archives, Nebraska Census, June 1885 ~ research by MrsB (#47910340) ~ Thank you
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NOTES FROM GABE:
"United States Census, 1860"
Name: Meriba Bross
Minor Civil Division: Bear Creek Township
Age (Expanded): 20 years
(IF this is his daughter, then the birth inf for Samuel or for her is incorrect because they were born too close together)
(John is here too)
John H Bross, "United States Census, 1860"
Name: John H Bross
Minor Civil Division: Bear Creek Township
Age (Expanded): 18 years
Family Members
Siblings
Children
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Mary Eliza Bross Caldwell
1870–1931
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Jacob Henry "Jake" Bross
1872–1946
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George Franklin "Frank" Bross
1873–1952
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Stella M. Bross
1876–1878
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Anna Matilda Bross Wilson
1879–1946
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Arthur Austin Bross
1884–1960
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Clarissa E. "Clyss" Bross Wesson
1887–1983
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Alta Etta Bross Ryan
1888–1960
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![]()
Jeanette A Bross Spiker
1890–1966
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![]()
John Lester Bross
1892–1941
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Baby Girl Bross
1896–1896
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