My Genealogy Hound

J. A. ROSS, one of the extensive land owners of Woodson County, largely engaged in the growing of hay, was born in Bureau County, Illinois, February 18, 1855. His father, Andrew Ross, was born in Ohio, in 1823, and in 1842 removed to Bureau County, where he yet makes his home. There he married Miss Hannah Randall, who died in 1856, leaving five children: George, yet a resident of Bureau County; Sarah J., wife of W. S. Mayhall; Margaret, wife of Milton Maston, of Iowa; Mary, wife of John Walter, of Bureau County; and J. A. of this review. After the death of his first wife the father married again, his second union being with Salina Ireland. Their union was blessed with three children: Frank, of Iowa, Eliza and Julia.

Upon the home farm in the county of this nativity, J. A. Ross spent the period of youth and childhood, devoting a portion of his time to the acquirement of an education in the common schools, to work upon the farm and to the pleasures in which boys of the period indulged. When youth was passed he there carried on farming until 1881, when he sought a home in Kansas, coming to Woodson County. He located on the northwest quarter of section eight, Perry township, and there resided until 1883, when he came to his present home. He now owns 720 acres of valuable land, largely meadows, devoted to the raising of hay, of which product he yearly gathers large crops and makes extensive shipments. In 1900 he began extensive improvements on his farm and now has a commodious and attractive residence, large barn and other substantial outbuildings for the care of hay and stock, and all of the modern accessories and conveniences found upon a model farm of the new century.

On the 11th of July, 1883, Mr. Ross was joined in wedlock to Miss Grace Brett, and unto them have been born three children: Myrtle, who died in infancy; Vera, who was born January 25, 1886; and Ethel, born December 9, 1888. The family are well known in the community and represent the best class of farming people. Mr. Ross was reared in the faith of the Republican party and by his ballot has always supported its men and measures.