Elopement at Greene - 1883

Elopement at Greene

Chenango Semi-Weekly Telegraph, November 3, 1883

The people of Greene [Chenango Co., NY] are unusually excited over an elopement in high life.  The eloping parties are Mrs. Augustus Gross, the wife of a highly respected and prominent citizen, who resided about two miles south of Greene village, and E.H. Converse of Coventry [Chenango Co., NY].  The latter taught the winter school in that district last winter, and has always been a friend of the Gross family, and was frequently received at their house.  No suspicions, however, were ever entertained by anyone that there was undue intimacy between Mrs. Gross and himself.  Last Tuesday, week, Mrs. Gross left home, ostensibly for the purpose of paying a visit to friends in Oxford, and it was expected that she would go from there to Mt. Upton.  On taking the train at Greene, she there bid her husband and little boy, aged eight years, an affectionate farewell.  Mr. Gross' suspicions were aroused on Friday last, by receiving a letter from the Oxford friends enquiring why his wife had not visited them.  Then, on investigation, the husband found that all the family silver had disappeared, together with about $60 in cash.  It was ascertained that the wayward wife had gone through Oxford, on the D.L.&W. train, and proceeded as far as Poolville, where the up and down trains pass.  There she had taken the down train and proceeded to Binghamton, where she had met her paramour, and together they had fled to parts unknown.  It is thought that Converse had about $200 with him. 

From a statement made by Converse, previous to the elopement, it is supposed they have gone to Florida, although the chances are that their destination is in an opposite direction.   The deserted husband has the sympathy of all in his misfortune.

 

Discovered in Louisville

Chenango Semi-Weekly Telegraph, January 5, 1884

 

It will be remembered that some time last fall, a young man by the name of E.A. Converse, a resident of Coventry, eloped with the wife of Augustus Gross, of this town [Greene, NY].  Nothing was known of their whereabouts, until recently, when by a letter written by Mrs. Gross from Louisville, Ky., to her sister in Oxford, revealed her place of residence.  Mr. Gross becoming aware of this fact, at once started for Louisville.  Arriving at Louisville, and having the street and the number of the residence of the runaway couple, he laid the case before the authorities there, who detailed a detective to go with Mr. Gross to the house and learn the situation of affairs.  The detective entered the house, while Mr. Gross remained secreted outside.  The detective found Mrs. Gross in the third story of the house, engaged in preparing dinner for Converse, who was at work somewhere in the city.  He inquired her name, how long she had been married, and where she came from when she came to that city.  She answered that she was from New York State, and had been married to Converse about one year.  At this point the detective informed Mrs. Gross that he would call the chief in, and went out and shortly brought her husband into her presence.  Of course quite a scene followed.  Mrs. Gross expressed a willingness to return home with her husband, and relieved her agony of mind with a flood of tears.  Converse came upon the scene, and had some high words with the wronged husband, and it is said he showed fight.  Mr. Gross came home on Sunday last without his wife, and it is supposed that he only went to Louisville to get positive evidence that his wife was living with Converse, in order to procure a divorce--Greene American.

 

Marriage Notice

Chenango Union, March 12, 1885

 

GROSS - GROSS:  At Mt. Upton [Chenango Co., NY], March 4th, by Rev. J. C. Barber, Mr. Lora Augustus Gross, to Mrs. Emma I. Gross, both of Greene.

 

Chenango Union, March 19, 1885

L. Augustus Gross of Greene, who two years since obtained a divorce from his wife, on account of domestic infelicity, was remarried to her at Mt. Upton, a few days since.

 

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Obituary - Lora Augustus Gross 

Norwich Sun, December 23, 1919

GROSS:  At Greene, Dec. 24, L.A. Gross aged 67 years. Burial will be made on Wednesday at Greene.

Greene:  Saturday evening about six o'clock a very sad accident occurred to L.A. Gross, a well known and highly regarded Greene citizen.  Mr. Gross was making a call on a sick neighbor as he had  a daily habit of doing, and when passing through the bathroom to the bedroom he opened the wrong door and fell headlong down the cellar stairs, striking his head very forcibly on the cement floor of the cellar.  Help was summoned at once and Dr. Chapin was called as soon as possible, and tried to alleviate his suffering.  It was to no avail, however, as the brain had been badly injured and death resulted about four o'clock Sunday afternoon.  Mr. Gross was 67 years of age, and is survived by his wife, Mrs. Emma I. Gross, a son, Robert J. Gross, a sister, Mrs. George Wylie, of McGraw and a brother, Cortland W. Gross, of Greene.  Mr. and Mrs. Gross had been living on a farm a few miles below this village until about four weeks ago they moved into the village into the Seeber house on South Chenango street which they had recently purchased. The sad death is a hard blow to his many friends in Greene and elsewhere.  The funeral will be held Wednesday afternoon at half past one at the home on South Chenango street.

[Note:  Mrs. Emma I. Gross died in April 1931.  Augustus and Emma Gross were buried in Sylvan Lawn Cemetery, Greene, NY]