My Genealogy Hound

PHINEAS GROSSMAN who has assisted largely in the material development of his adopted city, was born to Alpheus and Catherine (Swaby) Grossman, in Ulster county, New York, April 18, 1829. His great-grandfather, Thomas Grossman, came from English parents but was born and lived in eastern New York where he died. He served the colonies as a private during the whole of the Revolutionary war, a term of seven years. He was a farmer by occupation and a member of the Methodist church. His grandfather Grossman, was born in the eastern part of the Empire State and was a farmer. He married and reared a family of nine children. The Swabys also came from the same locality where they lived and died. Alpheus Grossman was born in Ulster county, this State, in 1809, but in 1832 removed to Crawford county, Pa., and afterwards to Venango county, same State, where he followed farming until 1865, when he came to Jamestown and retired from active life. A farmer for thirty-five years feels the need of rest. In politics Mr. Grossman was a republican but now affiliates with the prohibitionists and is a member of the Methodist church. He married Catherine Swaby and became the father of five children, four sons and one daughter, three of whom are now living. After the death of his first wife he married Mrs. Mary Stoombs.

Phineas Grossman secured the usual education acquired by the boys of his time at the public school, and was then apprenticed to a blacksmith who taught the young man the “King of Trades.” This was in 1848 and he worked at blacksmithing in Jamestown until 1860 when he went to the Pennsylvania oil fields where he remained five years and then returned to Jamestown and engaged in the real estate business, buying acreage, cutting it into lots, building houses upon them and offering them for sale. Mr. Grossman has erected and sold one hundred and four houses in this manner and has opened up about three miles of streets in Jamestown.

Phineas Grossman, married Caroline Price, a daughter of Charles Price, who came from one of the old families of Jamestown (see sketch of A. A. Price). They have one daughter: Etta C., wife of James N. Weller, who is now connected with his father-in-law in the real estate business — they have one child, Roy G. When President Lincoln called for soldiers, Mr. Weller responded with three years of service and was attached to the Excelsior Brigade.

In political matters, he is a republican and from 1872 to 1875, served as deputy revenue collector and in addition to this has been trustee, sixteen years assessor of Jamestown and seven years street commissioner. He has been an active man and has secured the reward of toil.