The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-04-23
BRIEF SKETCH OF
DR., J, NJ, GROSS
RETIRING PRESIDENT OF HAIR
GROVE COLLEGE TAKES A
WELL EARNED REST.

There is one man in this city who
will be greatly missed when he
sewers his connection with Hargrove
College and leaves Ardmore. That
man is DR.. j. M. Gross, who as pres
ident of that institution, has done
more than any other man to make
the college a success.
DR.. Gross has had many vicissi-
tudes TO meet since taking charge
of the affairs of the institution, but
he has met them squarely, and his
manner and mode of doing business
inspired the confidence of the busi-
ness and professional men who al
ways rallied to his ard in time of
necessity. He has been practically
three times the president of the in
stitution. Hargrove College was
founded in 1892, and when pastor of
the Methodist church here he was
chosen as dts president in 1904. On
October 2, 1907, the college building
was burned to the ground, but this
was while the presidency was vested
in another. DR.. Gross was recalled,
however, to raise the institution,
phoeniX-like, from the ashes, and
was subsequently reelected to the
presidency.
The beautiful school building
grounds and dormitories north OF
the city today are monuments to
his untiring zeal and executive abil
ity.
DR.. Gross was born on a farm in
Tazewell county, Virginia, in the year
1SAh and Snnnt tha tirCt 1S
of his life at home tilling the soil,
and incidentally attending a select
school and preparing himself for
his chosen avocation, that of pastor.
He entered the travelling ministry
in 1877 in the Holston conference
and remained there three years. He
next moved to Kansas and Nebraska
and remained there for nearly ten
years preaching the gospel.
About II years ago he removed to
Oklahoma and has made this his
home since. He says that he never
had any other ambition than to be
a pastor, and during his ministry
more than 5000 people have been
received into the church, and that he
has laid upon the altar of the
church more than $25O,OO0 worth of
property, truly an enviable record.
In speaking of his successor, DR..
Gross says:
Martin, Phi. d., was elected president
of Harsrove College to succeed me
Dr. Martin Is a thorough school
man of "a years experience. He is
a Virginian by birth, but has spent
a number of years in the west doing
educational work. He is in the prime
of life. He has ben president of
Columbia College at Milton, Ore,
for number of years, and has done
a great work There. He is recognized
as one of the leading educators of
the Pacific northwest He is said to
be a fine preacher and platform
man. He will arrive in Ardmore
about the first of June.
He is said to have a very excel.
lent family. He is selecting his fac
ulty and will get out his catalogue
soon after his arrival in Ardmore.
| am retiring from the college be-
cause 1 feel it my duty to do so,
and want. to turn the college to a
more competent man, and | believe
blIdJ man 10 III. NAL iii. Il tAptIl
next year to be the greatest year in
the history of the college. Let all
the people rally to DR.. Martin and
the college. We have had a fine
school this year. May it be greater
next"
DR.. Gross will take a long rest.
He will go from here to San An
tonic, Texas, and will visit several
places in the southwest before his re-
turn to Ardmore
DR.. Gross has travelled extensive
ly in foreign lands. He was appoint.
ed by the college Of bishops in 1901
as a delegate to the Educational
Conference in London, England, and
while there visited other cities in
England. and also toured Scotland,
ireland and France.
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