Peter Alfred Gross, who was born in North Whitehall, Jan. 21, 1849. He received his education in the local schools and at Fort Edward Academy, New York, and taught school for a time. Having inherited a love of art from his maternal grandfather, he learned engraving and travelled through Ohio and West Virginia, making bird's-eye view maps of the large cities, after which he engaged in the lithographing business at Toronto, Canada. In 1877 he went to Paris and taught the English branches in the International Institute, founded by his uncle, Charles Rudy. He soon began painting and became one of the most distinguished American artists, famous for his landscape and marine scenes. His first canvas was hung in the Paris Salon in 1883 and his most famous painting was "The First Snow at Nemours." He received high honors and hospitably entertained many Americans and also Europeans of rank at his studio. He remained in Paris for over thirty-five years, latterly at 30 Rue Bruxelles, Place Clichy. In 1889, he married Jeanne Sauvalle, who died in 1907. They had one son, Pierre Albert Gross. In 1913 he decided to visit his native land and arrived in New York on November 15th, and in Allentown on the 28th, and at both cities he received magnificent receptions. Having brought with him a large number of paintings, he left for Chicago in January to arrange for their exhibition and died in that city, after a brief illness, on Jan. 24, 1914. At his funeral at Allentown on January 30th, thousands paid tribute to his memory.

Mr. Gross presented the city of Allentown with two superb paintings and gave to the Lehigh County Historical Society an engraving of Columbus. It was his ambition to establish an art gallery and museum in Allentown and his unexpected death prevented his plans from being realized. It is to be hoped that the citizens of his native county will carry out the plans of their distinguished compatriot.