The Ross Families of Henry County, Iowa

SAMUEL H. ROSS, a prominent and influential citizen of Henry County, residing on section 27, Marion Township, was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., Nov. 25, His parents were John and Maiy (Cochrane) Ross, she being a niece of William Finley, associate of Gen. George Washington, and a brother-in-law of one of the members of the old Continental Congress. Her grandfather Cochrane was a Captain in the Light Horse Guards of Gen. Washington, he acting as Washington's body-guard for seven years afterward. Mr. and Mrs. Ross were the parents of eight children: Samuel II., of Mt. Pleasant; Sarah married John Magill, both now deceased; their son AVilliam is one of the prominent men of Pennsylvania, having served as Justice of the Peace in West Deer Township, Allegheny Co., Pa., and four terms in the State Legislature, being prominently spoken of for State Senator by the Republican party. John died in Allegheny County, Pa. in 1885, leaving four sons and two daughters; he was an Elder in the United Presbyterian Church. Rhuma, wife of Thomas Cox, died in Cincinnati, Ohio; George W. was united in marriage with Miss Ester Irvin, and now resides in Allegheny County, Pa., on the old home farm; Eliza, deceased wife of Robert Cunningham, a resident of Allegheny County, Pa.; William died when a young man, and Mary A., the widow of Allen Aber, resides in Allegheny County.

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Shortly after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Ross removed to Allegheny County, where he leased a farm for ten years. At the expiration of the time, he decided to try the far West, so in 1811 he with his wife and four children came to Henry County, Iowa, locating in Center Township, his post-office being Mt. Pleasant. Mr. and Mrs. Ross are the parents of six children: John P., residing in Baker City, Ore.; James; Martha, now Mrs. Thomas Lash, of Mt. Pleasant; William E. owns a large ranch in Nevada; Sarah, wife of John Huling, a farmer of Center Township; and Sam, a resident of Oregon. Mr. Ross is one of the pioneer settlers of Henry County, has witnessed the many changes that have taken place, and has ever been identified with all public improvements. He and his estimable wife traveled life's journey together for nearly fifty-seven years, she being called to her final home Sept. 24, 1887. They were both members of the United Presbyterian Church, doing their part in all church work. As a pioneer, citizen and friend, none more truly deserve the respect and love of all than does Samuel H. Ross. Politically, he is a Republican, having voted with that party since its organization.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JAMES R. ROSS.

James R. Ross is the owner of a farm of seventy acres on section 2, Marion township, constituting a well improved property, which is highly cultivated and returns him golden harvests. He was born near Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, December 17. 1832, his parents being Samuel H. and Sarah (Livingstone) Ross, both of whom were natives of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania.

The father's birth occurred in November, I799,and themotherwasborn in 1803. Having arrived at years of maturity he engaged in farming in Pennsylvania and was connected with agricultural interests in that state until 1841, when he came to Iowa, settling northeast of Mount Pleasant, where he rented a farm. Later he bought eighty acres of timber land in Center township, southwest of Mount Pleasant, and his attention was given to the tilling of the soil until 1876, when he retired from active business, and lived in Mount Pleasant until 1886. He then spent his remaining days in the home of his son, James R., passing away in February, 1890, when a little more than ninety years of age. Although he had attained an advanced age he had always enjoyed good health. His wife passed away in September, 1887, and they were laid to rest in Forest Home cemeten, Mr. Ross was a republican in his political views and both he and his wife were members of the United Presbyterian church. In their family were ten children, of whom six reached adult age: John P., who married ]Martha Smith and resides at Big City, Oregon; James R.; Martha, who is the widow of Thomas Lash and is a resident of Oklahoma; W. F., who died in Nevada; Mrs. Sarah Hughlings. deceased; and Samuel R.. who resides at Big City, Oregon.

James R. Ross was educated in the district schools of Pennsylvania until eight years of age and afterward spent four years in Iowa as a district school student of Henry county. Through reading, travel and observation he has added greatly to his knowledge and is now well informed, keeping in touch with the general trend of thought and progress of the present day.

Making his home under the parental roof, he worked at intervals as a farm hand until 1860, when he left Iowa for Colorado, attracted by the discovery of gold in that state. Not long afterward, however, he returned to Marion township, Henry county, and in 1868 took up his above upon a farm of forty acres, entirely unbroken. With characteristic energy, however, he began the development of a farm and his labors soon wrought a noticeable change in its appearance. He had been married in 1866 to Miss Mary A. Neel, who was born in Indiana in 1834, and was a daughter of Jesse and Rebecca Neel. They had two children: Elwood F., who married Nettie Huber and is living in Mount Pleasant, their children being three in number, Neelie C., William F. and Ellis L.; and Neel, who married Lillian A. Zuhn and resides in Marion township upon a farm adjoining the Ross homestead. Mrs. Ross died in 1877; her remains were interred in the Mount Pleasant cemetery.

.On the 8th of Xovember, 1880, Mr. Ross was married to Miss Laura A. Molsbee, who was born in Vermilion county, Indiana, September 29, 1843. '' "'s a daughter of Epps and Sarah (Wright) Molsbee, both of whom were natives of Tennessee, the former born February 26, 1815, and the mother September 15, 1810. Mr. Molsbee was a farmer by occupation and when a young man removed to Park county, Indiana, where he devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits. He died September 20, 1897, having for several years survived his wife, Avhose demise occurred July 26, 1885. They were buried in Linebarger cemetery in Indiana.. Mr. Molsbee was a democrat, unfaltering in his advocacy of the principles of the party. Unto him and his wife were born three children: Laura A., now Mrs. Ross; Elizabeth E., who is living at the old homestead in Indiana; and William E., who resides with his sister upon the old home farm. The last tW'O are unmarried. Mr. and Mrs. Molsbee also had an adopted son, Preston A., who married Ora Ratcliffe and resides in Bloomingdale, Indiana, w'here Elizabeth Ellen and William Molsbee also make their home.

In the spring of 1884 Mr. Ross removed to his present farm which comprises seventy acres on section 2j, Marion township. Here he engaged in farming for ten years, but for the past decade has rented the land and lives retired. At the time of the Civil war he enlisted for service in the Union army, but on account of physical disability he was rejected as was his brother, W. F. Ross, who, however, served for three months.

Mr. Ross has ever voted in support of the men who are pledged to uphold republican principles. He is deeply interested in educational progress and has served as a member and president of the school board. He has long resided in Henry county having come here in pioneer days when the district was largely unbroken prairie and a few people residing here felt that the uncultivated prairie tracts would never be of much value. He is a self-made man in every- sense of the term and his life record proves that success may be attained through ])persistent and earnest effort. At the same time a ])pleasant and genial manner have won for him warm friendship and high regard, and he is classed with the worthy citizens of his community, where he is highly esteemed by all who know him. having resided in the vicinity for more than a third of a century.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

ISRAEL ROSS, a farmer residing on section 9, Scott Township, Henry Co., Iowa, was born in ll\ Brown County, Ohio, Nov. 16, 1815. He is a son of Thom.as and Deborah (.Jennings) Ross. The Ross family were natives of Virginia, of Scotch ancestry. Of the Jennings family but little is known except that the grandmother, Charity (Freeman) Jennings, was born in Europe, and when a child came to America. Her parents later moved to Kentucky and were there during the troublous times when the Indians were hostile, and the family were occasionally forced to take refuge iti a boat, and to.avoid capture would paddle to the otiier side of the Ohio River. The Jennings family later removed to Brown County, Ohio, near Georgetown, where the venerable parents lived and died. Tiiomas Ross became the husband of Deborah Jennings in Brown County, where both families were early settlers. Prior to marriage Mr. Ross ran a keelboat upon the Ohio River, and made regular trips between Cincinnati and Pittsburg. His boat occasionally made a trip to New Orleans, carrying the products of the country, as there were no railroads at that time. When a boat was sent to New Orleans the return journey had to be made on foot or horseback, it being impossible to bring the boat up stream.

After his marriage Thomas Ross settled on a farm, and reared a family of children: Israel, our subject; Margaret, who wedded David Vand'ke; Sarah, the wife of WinBeld Wright, and after his death of Dr. Dennis Callihar, of Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio; John W. became the husband of Miss Power; Thomas wedded Amy Snedaker; Isaac wedded Hannah Day; and three others died in childhood. All the sons of Thomas Ross, Jr., are ministers in the Methodist Churcii, except our subject, who learned the tanner's trade with the father of Gen. Grant, and w.as a bosom friend of the lamented General and President. They frequently slept together, and on one occasion, while bathing in a creek, Israel saved the life of the future President, who was younger than he, and h;ul strangled and gone down in the water. After completing his trade Mr. Ross farmer for while, and then worked at journeyman's wages for Mr. Grant for some time.

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Emma Blockmartin; Isaac W., wedded to Emma Willis; and Diana, were all born in Ohio. Adeline, wife of John Rittenhouse; Arethusa, J. F., Amy and Maggie J. were born in Iowa, the two latter in this county, on the old homestead.

Township offices have been repeatedly filled by our subject, who has, however, always preferred the management of his farm, and the privacy and comfort of his pleasant home. Since the death of his wife Mr. Ross has taken life easy, and his son Jay assumes the management of the farm. In an elegant home, made attractive by prosperity and the bright faces of his younger children, Mr. Ross is passing the evening of a well-spent life in deserved ease and comfort, and for his years is a remarkably youthful and well-preserved man. He has ever been a citizen of whom his countrymen are proud, and his family rank second to none in social circles.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.