William Howard Ross
The Ross family have been well known and influential in public and private life in both Wayne and Holmes counties since the early days, one of the most progressive of the younger generation being William Howard Ross, who was born in Ripley township, Holmes county, Ohio, September 18, 1879. His paternal ancestors came to the United States from Ireland and located in Pennsylvania, from which state his grandfather, John Ross, emigrated to Wayne county, Ohio, and here he was married to Sarah Tracy. William F. Ross, father of the subject, was born in 1843. He received an excellent education and entered upon a teacher's career, which he continued throughout his subsequent life, becoming known as one of the leading educators of the county, his teaching being confined exclusively to Holmes and Wayne counties. His death occurred on June 2, 1893. The maternal ancestors of William H. Ross emigrated to America from England and settled in Loudoun county, Virginia, from which place the subject's grandfather, James Swart, came to Wayne county, Ohio, settling in Franklin township, and there he was married to Rosanna Hafhill, and it was there that the mother of William H. Ross was born in 1837, her maiden name being Catherine M. Swart. James Swart was a farmer, a justice of the peace, and one of the associate judges of the district court. He was a prominent man in his community. The Swart family later moved to a farm in Ripley township, Holmes county, Ohio, where James Swart served as a justice of the peace during many terms. Catherine M. Swart was engaged in teaching district schools in Wayne county until her marriage, in 1866, to William F. Ross. After their marriage they resided in Franklin township, this county, for several years and later moved to Ripley township, Holmes county.
To Mr. and Mrs. William F. Ross four children were born, namely: Julia Blanche, a school teacher; a son died in infancy: Henry E., now a well-to-do farmer in Clinton township, Wayne county, this state; William Howard, subject of this sketch. The father of these children was called to close his earthly account in 1893, leaving Catherine M., his widow, who still resides on the old home place in Ripley township, Holmes county, and the two sons, Henry E. and W. Howard, the youngest, who was then but thirteen years of age.
Although but a mere boy, the subject of this sketch engaged in growing berries for market when he was but thirteen years of age, attending the district schools at Bigelow during the winter months, and when nineteen years of age he commenced teaching, having applied himself very assiduously to his text-books and receiving a good education. His first school was that in his home district and he continued to teach for four years. Desiring higher training than he had received in the common schools, he entered the Ada Normal, Ohio, and later studied at the Valparaiso Normal College, Valparaiso, Indiana. Deciding that the law held greater attractions for him than the school room, he took a course in the Valparaiso Normal School, from which he was graduated in 1901, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Laws. He made a splendid record in that institution and was honored by his class by being elected its president. Being then without money and realizing the financial difficulties that confront a young lawyer, he again taught school for two years, then engaged in the grocery business at Shreve Ohio, with W. L. Porter, the firm being known as Porter & Ross, in which business he remained for three years, during which time he attended the bar examination and was admitted to practice law in Ohio.
Mr. Ross was married in August, 1902, to Mabel Grace Garrett, one of the six daughters of Alfred A. Garrett, of Shreve, Ohio. She, like her husband, was a school teacher, having received a liberal education at Ada, Ohio, and at the University of Wooster. One winsome daughter, Myrtle Evelyn, has graced this union.
When Mr. Ross gave up the grocery business he opened a real estate and law office in Shreve, Ohio, and, by hard work and close attention to business, has succeeded in building up quite a lucrative patronage, soon becoming an active member of the Wayne county bar. The death of Hon. Martin L. Smyser and the lection of Judge William E. Weygandt, both occurring in 1908, took from the firm of Smyser, Weygandt & Weiser two of its members and on January 1, 1909, Mr. Ross became the junior member of the firm of Weiser & Ross, which firm succeeded the firm of Smyser, Weygandt & Weiser, and they are now enjoying an extensive law practice in Wayne and adjoining counties, having one of the largest and best law libraries in Ohio.
Mr. Ross is an active Democrat, always found in the front ranks working for the success of his party. He and Mrs. Ross are both members of the Methodist church and take an active interest in the welfare of their neighbors and the general public. When asked to what he attributed his success in life, Mr. Ross replied: "Whatever measure of success I may have attained, I owe to the youthful impressions I received from a kind and godly father, to a sainted mother and faithful wife."
From The History of Wayne County, Ohio, B. E. Bowen & Co., Indianapolis, 1910