My Genealogy Hound

J. S. ROSS, lightning-rods, Bloomington. Of those who for years have been active business men of this city, we mention Mr. J. S. Ross, who is a native of Pennsylvania; he came West in December, 1849, and located in this city, where he has since resided; he began the manufacture of pumps shortly after his arrival; this he followed but a short time, then engaged in the clothing trade, with his father; this, and the grocery business he continued until 1861, when he again began the manufacture of pumps; this business he soon increased to a large scale, employing sometimes about twenty men, and manufacturing and selling about 1,200 pumps per year; in connection with his pump trade, he has taken up the sale of lightning-rods; the pump trade not being so good as formerly, he has given more attention to rods, and believing the best to be the cheapest, he has secured the Chambers’ patent rod and insulator; he is well read in the science of electricity, and is meeting with good success in the sale of the “Chambers rod;” he is a good financier, and has made a success of his different business enterprises; an old resident of the city, and one of the honored and respected citizens.