Edwin D. Tross Pages 359-360 - Edwin D. Tross, president of Tross & Company, which is successfully established in the mortgage and investment-bond business at Grand Rapids, with offices in the Houseman building, and also in the Buhl building at Detroit, was born in the historic old city of Elizabeth, Union county, New Jersey, December 31, 1885, and is a son of Edwin T. and Anna (vonder Osten) Tross, the former of whom likewise was born at Elizabeth, September 7, 1855, and the latter of whom was born in New York City, May 23, 1850. Edwin T. Tross was for many years engaged in the wholesale grocery business at Elizabeth, New Jersey, and he finally retired and turned the business over to his son Edwin D., of this sketch, his death having there occurred within a short time after his retirement. He passed away July 14, 1906, and his widow died in 1918. After his graduation in the high school of his native city Edwin D. Tross completed a course in the Ohio Northern University, at Ada, in which likewise he was graduated. He was for some time a student in the University of Pennsylvania. As a youth he became associated with his father's wholesale grocery business at Elizabeth, and after his father's retirement he successfully continued the business until 1907, when he sold the same. He then established himself in business in New York City, as an importer of spices from Germany and Austria. This enterprise he continued until 1914, and he has since given his close and successful attention to the mortgage and investment-bond business, except for an interval of two years, in the World war period, when he was in active service in the intelligence department of the United States secret service, in 1918-19. He has made a close study of the financial business in which he is now engaged, he having been identified with the same in New York City during a period of two years, and having been similarly engaged thereafter in Des Moines, Iowa, during the two years prior to his coming to Grand Rapids, April 1, 1920. Mr. Tross is now one of the prominent exponents of the mortgage and investment-securities business in the progressive city that is the metropolis of western Michigan, and his clientage is one of representative order. Mr. Tross is a loyal and valued member of the Grand Rapids Association of Commerce and the local Exchange Club. His Masonic affiliations are still maintained in his native city of Elizabeth, New Jersey, and in Grand Rapids he and his wife are members of the First Church of Christ, Scientist. September 9, 1922, Mr. Tross wedded Miss Winifred Reeves, who was born and reared in Grand Rapids, and they are popular factors in the social life of their home community. Mr. Tross is a skilled and enthusiastic yachtsman, and while residing at Elizabeth and New York City he became the owner of several fine yachts that were built for him and in which he took much pride.

Transcriber: Terry Start
Created: 4 March 2003