My Genealogy Hound

AUSTIN ROSS, of Florence, Mass., a prosperous farmer now living in restful retirement after many seasons of sowing and reaping, is one of the few remaining members of the famous “community” of fifty years ago. He was born at Mansfield, Tolland County, Conn., in 1812, and passed his early boyhood in Windham County in that State. His father, Elnathan Ross, who was born at Chaplin, in the above-named county and State in 1771, died of an epidemic fever in 1813, leaving a widow and eleven children, Austin being then but one year old. His wife, whose maiden name was Olive Storrs, and who was of a prominent family in the Connecticut valley, returned to the homestead of her father and cared for him until his decease, which occurred at the age of ninety-seven. Mrs. Olive S. Ross lived to the age of ninety-two years. Her children, who were distributed among strangers, all grew to maturity and became heads of families. With the exception of Austin Ross, all are now at rest. Harriet, wife of George Hunt, a farmer of Yates County, New York, reared one son, and died at the age of nearly fourscore years; and Caroline, who was born previous to Austin, and became the wife of George Wyman, of Potter, Yates County, reared a family of thirteen children, and died at the age of about seventy years.

Austin Ross was practically thrown upon his resources at the age of ten years, but continued to make his home among his brothers and sisters until reaching the age of fifteen, when he went to live with Deacon Knight, a rigid Presbyterian, from whom he acquired the shoemaker’s trade, an occupation which he followed for a number of years at Chaplin. In 1834, when he was twenty-two years of age, he married Miss Fidelia Rindge, who was born in Chaplin, Conn., in 1813. They came to Florence early in 1845, and entered the “community” founded in 1842 by the “Northampton Association of Education and Industry,” Mr. Ross assuming charge of the agricultural department. An intelligent, liberal-minded, progressive class of people were drawn hither, including some prominent abolitionists. Mr. Ross, who had been dismissed from the Presbyterian church on account of his anti-slavery sentiments, is credited in the history of those times with having been a successful station agent on the “underground railroad.” The community at Florence lasted only about four years. When it disbanded, Mr. Ross, in company with his uncle Abel Ross and J. C. Martin, purchased the farm for the sum of five thousand dollars, his portion consisting of about one hundred and fifty acres of the original four hundred. This he continued to cultivate with extremely profitable results; and, having in the course of time added to his estate, he now owns two hundred acres of valuable land, which is divided into two farms.

Mr. and Mrs. Ross have buried an infant son. Their living children are: E. S. Ross, a merchant of Leeds, having two children; Dwight A. Ross, who resides upon his father’s farm and has two sons and one daughter; and Martha Jane, wife of Robert M. Branch, a merchant of Florence, having two children. Mr. Ross retired from active labor in 1890, leaving the farm in charge of his son, and now lives at his pleasant home, which is situated upon the opposite side of Mill River. He is a Republican in politics, but was never an aspirant for public office. Well known and highly esteemed, he occupies a warm place in the hearts of the older residents of Florence.

On another page is given a portrait* of this venerable citizen. Long years hence shall it be told for a memorial of him that he was wont to succor the distressed, that he helped to break the oppressor’s yoke and set the captive free.

*Editor's note: Portrait was included in the original printed book.