John A. Ross
One of the most valuable farms of Jefferson Township, Greene County, is that which has been under the management of Mr. Ross since 1877, and which has become a valuable piece of property and the source of a handsome income. It is two hundred and forty acres in extent and is pleasantly located. Mr. Ross settled upon this farm as early as 1848, and later became the owner. He has been more than ordinarily successful as a tiller of the soil, an occupation with which he has been familiar since his boyhood. About the time of reaching his majority, he located on this farm with his father and here he has since maintained his residence.
Mr. Ross was born July 17, 1827, in Monroe County, in what is now West Virginia. His father, Robert Ross, was a native of Montgomery County and born near the line of the old and new States. The paternal grandfather, John Ross, was a native of Ireland and of Scotch-Irish ancestry.
John Ross when a mere child, was orphaned by the death of both parents and crossed the Atlantic with an older brother and sister. They settled in Tennessee where Grandfather Ross developed into manhood but removed to Montgomery County, Va., prior to reaching his majority. He was there married to a Miss McDonald, who was born and reared in Virginia and was of ancestry similar to his own. They settled on a farm in that county and there spent the remainder of their lives, dying when ripe in years. They were people remarkably kind and hospitable and became widely and favorably known throughout that region.
The father of our subject was one of the younger members of a large family and remained under the parental roof until reaching manhood. Then going into Monroe County, W. Va., he was in due time married to Miss Susannah Alexander. The latter was born and reared in Monroe County and is the daughter of Matthew Alexander who was of Irish parentage and who lived for many years in Monroe County, Va., spending there his last days. He was married in Virginia to a Miss Black, and later they settled in Monroe County, that State, and Mr. Alexander followed farming the remainder of his life. He and his wife died at the old farm when quite aged. They were members of the Seceder’s Church.
Robert Ross and his wife lived for some years after their marriage at the farm belonging to his wife’s parents, where he followed agriculture and also conducted a grist and saw mill. They became owners of a farm which they lived upon about ten years. Then selling out his property in Monroe County, the father started for Ohio with his family, making the journey overland with teams. They traveled after the fashion of that day, camping and cooking by the wayside and sleeping in their wagons at night. They finally arrived at their destination—Jefferson Township, Greene County—where Mr. Ross took up land and began in true pioneer style to cultivate the soil and build up a homestead. By great industry and perseverance he in time provided his family with all the comforts of modern life. He made for himself a good record as a man and a citizen and departed hence in 1877 at the advanced age of eighty-four years. The wife and mother had passed away ten years prior to the decease of her husband, at the age of sixty-five. Both were members of the Seceder’s Church. Mr. Ross in early life was an old line Whig, but later identified himself with the Democratic party whose principles he supported until his death.
John A. Ross of whom we write was the eldest of the four sons born to his parents, one of whom, James died when twenty-four years old. William and Thompson are both residents of Greene County. Mr. Ross, religiously, follows in the footsteps of his honored parents belonging to the Seceder’s Church and like his father, politically, he is a stanch Democrat.
From Portrait and Biographical Album of Clark and Greene Counties, Chapman Bros., Chicago, published 1890