Henry Lewis Gruss, son of Dominic, was born on November 11, 1867 at Benton Harbor, Michigan. Carrie Hall Gruss, his sister-in-law, reported November 12,1867 as Henry's date of birth. The 1900 United States census return reports February of 1868 as the time of Henry's birth. He died on January 10,1953 at New Buffalo, Michigan at the age of eighty-five years, one month and twenty-nine days. He was buried on January 13, 1953 in Calvary Cemetery at Benton Harbor, Michigan.
Henry worked as a processor at the Dingee Pickle Factory, later known as Squire Dingee Pickle Co. and Freestone Pickle Co. He became a tenant farmer, renting several farms in Berrien County, Michigan. These farms were usually run down. Henry would build them back to a productive state and then quite them because of disagreements with the owners who generally wanted a higher rent without consideration of the reclamation. He retired from farming about 1943. He was a member of the Holy Name Society at Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church in New Buffalo, Michigan.
Henry first married on May 4, 1898 at St. Francis Catholic Church in Traverse City, Michigan to Bertha Baninger, daughter of Conrad Baninger and Bertha(Swietrick as stated on Bertha's death registration) or (Sweetfrank as stated on Bertha's marriage registration). The witnesses to their marriage were Conrad and Maggie Baninger. At the time of their marriage Henry was thirty years of age and Bertha was twenty-four years of age.
Bertha was born on December 27, 1873. At the time of her marriage to Henry, Bertha was living in Kewadin, Michigan. She died from cervical cancer on March 25, 1904 at Benton Harbor, Michigan at the age of thirty years, two months and two days. She was buried on March 27, 1904 in Crystal Springs Cemetery at Benton Harbor, Michigan. Her grave is marked by a small obelisk and a flat upright tombstone. It is located in the far back of the cemetery. Henry and Bertha lived at 137 Edwards Avenue in Benton Harbor, Michigan. After Bertha's death, Henry boarded at 149 Lake Avenue. Henry and Bertha had no children.
Henry married a second time on January 24, 1906 at Lemont, Illinois to Mary Margaret Hennes, daughter of Jacob Hennes and Elizabeth Willmeng. [Elizabeth is the sister of Seraphine Willmeng, who married Henry's sister, Louisa.] The witnesses to their marriage were William Hennes and Elizabeth Dockendorf. Mary Margaret was also known at Minnie. She was born on July 11, 1879 at Lemont, Illinois. She died on January 9, 1930 at Bainbridge, Michigan at the age of fifty years, five months and twenty-nine days. She is buried in Calvary Cemetery at Benton Harbor, Michigan.
On March 26, 1943, Henry purchased a parcel of land and a house located at 727 Buss Avenue in Benton Harbor, Michigan from Lena Oehlhoffer. The parcel was described as
"Lot twenty-four (24) Block Two (2) Benton Harbor Improvement Association's 6th Addition to the city of Benton Harbor, Michigan".
While he lived on Buss Avenue, Henry raised rabbits as a hobby. After he began to live with his son, Father Gilbert, Henry rented the house. However, he later sold it because of the difficulty involved in renting.
Henry and Mary Margaret had eight children. As you look at Henry and Margaret's family, in the back row they are from left to right: Marie, Elizabeth, Henry, Mary Margaret, Andrew, Leonard. In the front row they are from left to right: Edward, Alma, Florence, Gilbert.
Gilbert was ordained a priest on June 3, 1939 at Lansing, Michigan. Father served as Lieutenant Chaplain in the United States Naval Marine Corps. He entered the service on June 15, 1943 and was honorably discharged at Los Angeles, California on July 6, 1946. He received the following medals or awards: American Area, Asiatic-Pacific Area (2 stars), and World War II Victory. He took his chaplain training at the Chaplain School in Williamsburg, Virginia and was later assigned to the Motor Transport Battalion of the 1st. Marine Regiment.
Sister Alma attended elementary school in Bainbridge and Benton Harbor and graduated from St. John High School. She earned a bachelor's degree from Marygrove College in Detroit.
Sister taught in formal education for sixteen years at Girl's Catholic Centr5al, St. Gregory, St. Catherine and Holy Redeemer in Detroit; St. Michael's in Flint; St. Mary in Mt. Morris and St. Felicitas in Chicago. She also was involved in pastoral ministry for two years at Holy Rosary Mission in Anderson, South Dakota among the Lakota Indians.
For nine years, Sister Alma ministered at IHM-sponsored institutions and on the cafeteria staff at Marian High School, Birmingham, and Immaculata in Detroit.
In 1972, Sister returned to the mother house and ministered as a nurse's aide, EKG technician, staff member of the House of Prayer, driver and in other areas where she could be of service. She retired in 1990.
Sources
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