Identifier: contemporaryamer03newy (find matches)
Title: Contemporary American biography
Year: 1895 (1890s)
Authors:
Subjects:
Publisher: New York, Atlantic publishing and engraving co.
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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es, was located on the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Eailway, a mile west of Eiverside,where a prairie farm of five hundred acres was transformed into a town of beautiful residencesamong which are many fine public buildings, including a theatre, churches, etc. During theinterval of ten years Mr. Gross transactions have been enormous: he has sold over thirtythousand lots; erected and sold over seven thousand houses; and located, platted, and foundedsixteen thriving towns and villages. In securing these grand results, Mr. Gross has confinedhis efforts entirely to his own methods. He purchases the land and becomes its owner, laysout streets and parks and makes ornamental and useful improvements; erects railway stationsand public buildings; builds substantial and attractive houses; sells at a moderate price topeople who will build, and when necessary, advances the money for the purpose. Notwith-standing the magnitude of his business, reaching among many millions of dollars, it is claimed
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^ry>^T^tJc?^-^ ^j2^&~7^c^ CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY. 249 that he has never foreclosed a mortgage. It is largely on his reputation for generous dealingthat he has won the confidence of an enormous clientele and secured such an immense busi-ness. He is now the owner of more than one hundred and fifty subdivisions in various partsof the city, containing some 24,000 lots. His fortune is estimated at from $4,000,000 to$5,000,000. His success is due primarily to his own natural qualities, and secondarily to hisreliance on the desire which exists in every true American heart to own a home. Although hisreputation is that of a multi-millionaire, the United Workingmens Societies showed theirconfidence in him by nominating him to the mayoralty in 1889, an honor which, from press ofprivate business, he was obliged to decline. Mr. Gross is a member of the Chicago, Union,Athletic, Iroquois, Marquette, and Washington Park Clubs; and a Patron of the Art Institute,the Humane and other ben

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