My Genealogy Hound

Anton Grass (deceased), eldest son of John Grass, was born in 1821, at Klosters, Canton Grawbunden, Switzerland, where he was reared as a peasant boy. His father, who was a teacher, and later a collector of revenue, managed to give his son a good education. After growing up he accepted a clerkship in the collector’s office, and held this position for two years, but wanting more room he left for America, in 1845, settled near Hermann on Frere Creek, in 1847, and two years later married Miss Henrietta Heck (daughter of Ernst Heck), who was born in Oberdreisz, Rheinpreusen, in 1820, and who descended from a long line of preachers. She immigrated from Urbach in 1848 in company with several brothers, and settled near Hermann, on Cole Creek, the same year. After marriage Mr. Grass and wife settled on the farm where she is still living. In 1869 Anton and family moved to Missouri City, Clay Co., Mo., where he engaged in vine growing, but died the same year. Two years after the family returned to this county again. In their family were eight children, of whom five are living —all boys: John P., Anton, Ernst, Charles and Henry. Charles and Henry are the only ones in this county. The eldest and youngest of the boys are teachers, and the second son is a miner in the West. The home place of 440 acres of land is tilled by Charles and Henry. The Grass family has been settled in this county for forty years. The father was a wide-awake, stirring business man, as are all his sons.