A. L. Ross

A. L. Ross, a particularly capable farmer owning nearly two hundred acres in sections 5 and 8 of Avon township, has been a resident of this locality for more than thirty years, during which time he has won a high degree of respect from his neighbors and his acquaintance in general. He is, however, a native of Pennsylvaia, his family having been located at the time of his birth and boyhood at Northampton county, Pennsylvania. His parents were Joseph G. and Sarah A. (Lockard) Ross, the father being a mechanic who made a specialty of stair-building. In the Pennsylvaia home of Mr. Ross' childhood there were seven children, of whom he was the fourth in line and the second son. His brothers and sisters were the following: Sarah, deceased; Emma E., who is Mrs. Edward Radcliffe, of Hackensack, New York; and Cyrus G., of Brooklyn, New York.

A. L. Ross was born on September 25, 1858, and after a general education obtained from the public schools he began farming at the early age of fifteen. After three years of this work he determined upon a change of location and on March 4, 1878, he came to Rochester, Michigan, with the inconsiderable sum of two dollars. lie had, however, the adequate fortune of a strong heart, two capable hands and a clear, purposive mind. After ten years of work for other agriculturists he purchased his first property of one hundred acres in Avon township, to which he has since added eight-five acres. In the meantime his parents had come to Michigan and had been established in the home he had made ready for them. He had also been united to his life's companion and had prospered materially. Mr. Ross has developed his land for the purposes of general farming, with specialties of dairy work and of potato growing. He is also bringing his orchards to a high state of productivity.

An interesting family has been reared by Mr. and Mrs. Ross during the years of their life together. The estimable helpmate of A. L. Ross was before her marriage Miss Anna Tienken, a daughter of Henry and Meta Tienken, natives of the German Fatherland. Her brothers and sisters who are now living are the following: Etta, Mrs. W. J. Luisen, of Denver, Colorado; John Tienken, of Oakland county; William Tienken, of Rochester; and Henry Tienken, of Oakland county. The marriage of Anna Tienken and Mr. Ross took place on April 25, 1885, and the children who were born to them and who have lived to maturity are these: henry Ross, who assists his father at home: Anna C, now Mrs. Albert Schults, of Avon township: Nettie B. Ross, of Pontiac; Meta, of Pontiac; and Laura E., at home. The Ross home is an attractive and spacious structure, in harmony with all the excellent buildings with which the up-to-date farmer has improved his property. The homestead is roofed with slate which Mr. Ross had secured for this express purpose from his old home in Pennsylvania.

Interested in all public matters which concern the general good of the community, Mr. Ross has been much appreciated by all those who know how to estimate real worth. For ten years he has been incumbent of the office of supervisor of Avon township and had before that time been a member of the board of review. The Monitor Insurance Company of Oakland county is fortunate in having A. L. Ross as a member of its directorate; he and the two other directors having charge of this work; supervising its operations in no less than eight townships. Fraternal societies have sought his membership and have accorded him honorable place; he is connected with the Grange, the Independent Order of Foresters, the Maccabees of the World and the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the last named organization ranking him in its Blue Lodge. Mr. Ross's political activity has always been in harmony with the tenets of the Republican party. His religious predilections are of the practical sort, conforming more nearly to the body of theory characterizing the Cofigregational church.

Fred S. Maetrott who was born in Oakland county, on January i6, 1889, is a son of John and Fanny (Carey) Maetrott. He attended the district schools until sixteen years old, when he took up farming for a livelihood and has followed it ever since. He is now renting one hundred seventy acres in Bond township, located in section 21. Previous to this he was in Troy township for six years and was also located west of Rochester for two years. The present is his second year on the large place in Avon township.

Mr, Maetrott married Anna Macklem in September, 1902, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Macklem, both of whom are now deceased. Their home has been blessed with four children, Doris Mildred, Stan-' ley, Harold and Elton LeRoy.

Mr. Maetrott is a member of the Democratic party. He attends services at the Baptist church.

As printed in History of Oakland County Michigan a narrative account of its historic progress, its people, its principal interests (1912). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.