WI BIO - Dane Co - ROSS, John A.
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol I, pp 181-183

John A. ROSS, one of the pioneers of 1845, and one of the prominent and 
substantial farmers of Montrose Township [Dane County, WI], residing on 
section 32, was born in the town of Jerusalem, Yates County, New York, 08 
June 1818, a son of John and Christie Ann ROSS. The father [John ROSS] was 
born in Edinboro, Scotland, and his parents were Hugh and Margaret (ALLEN) 
ROSS. The family came to the United States in 1700 and settled in Hebron, 
Washington County, New York. Mr. [Hugh] ROSS had been a merchant in Edinboro 
[Scotland], there became wealthy and came to the United States in order to 
purchase farms for his sons. [p 182] With this in view he [Hugh ROSS] 
purchased considerable land in Washington County, New York, although he 
himself removed to Galway, Saratoga County, New York, where both he and his 
wife died at the age of sixty-six.

The grandparents of our subject [Hugh and Christie Ann ROSS] had six 
children, as follows: (1) James, a farmer, who died at Covington [Wyoming 
County], New York; (2) John, father of our subject; (3) William, a merchant 
of New York City, who died at that place; (4) Charles, engaged in farming on 
the old homestead in Saratoga [means Saratoga County], until the last 
years of his life, when he went to Illinois and died near Spoon River [the 
Spoon River is in Fulton and Champaign Counties, IL]; (5) Euphemia, married 
Gilbert MITCHEL [MITCHELL?] and resided in Johnstown, Montgomery County, New 
York, until her death; and (6) Margaret, who married John McMILLAN, a 
merchant of New York City, where she died. All of the above reared families 
of their own and were in comfortable circumstances.

The father of our subject [John ROSS] was born on 01 January 1769, a few 
months before the family came to the United States. He was reared on a farm 
and like his brothers was given a good education, and when he grew to manhood 
his father presented him with a good farm in Saratoga County, New York. He 
[John ROSS] was married in 1806 to Christie Ann MITCHEL [a relative of 
Gilbert MITCHEL, who married John's sister, Euphemia?], a daughter of James 
and Mary MITCHEL [MITCHELL?], born in Albany [Albany County], New York, 
although her parents were natives of Scotland and had come to the United 
States on the same ship as Mr. ROSS. Mr. MITCHEL was also a wealthy merchant 
of Scotland and came to the United States to invest in land. The father of 
our subject [John ROSS], ten years after marriage, sold his property in 
Saratoga County and purchased 356 acres of land in Yates County, where he 
cleared 100 acres of heavy timber. He was a hard working man, very 
economical, and as time went on had one of the best farms in the township. 
It is located five miles from Pen Yan [Yates County, NY], at the foot of 
Crooked Lake, and today [1893] is valued at $300 an acre. He sold his farm 
in 1825, and improved a farm in Chautauqua County [NY], but ten years later 
removed to Livingston County, New York, whence, in 1845, he came West and 
died at Milwaukee [Milwaukee County; in the Territory of Wisconsin if he died 
before 29 May 1848]. At this time he was seventy-six years of age. The 
mother of our subject [Christie Ann nee MITCHEL] died in Dane County [State 
of WI], 17 October 1871, aged ninety-two. The whole family were taken sick 
with ship fever on the journey to Wisconsin from New York, and it was from 
this disease that the father died in Milwaukee.

The family [of John and Christie Ann (MITCHEL) ROSS] consisted of six 
children [six plus one who died young], as follows: (1) Margaret, married 
John WEBB and resided in Dane County [WI], but died in Minnesota; (2) 
Charles, was a farmer of Dane County until his death; (3) Daniel, became 
quite a traveler and finally died in California; (4) James, was a boot and 
shoe merchant in York, Livingston County, New York, and finally died there; 
(5) our subject [John A. ROSS]; (6) William, died young; and (7) 
Elizabeth, died in early life, soon after the family came West. The parents 
of our subject were members of the Reformed Presbyterian Church.

Our subject [John A. ROSS] resided with his parents until he grew to manhood, 
and then engaged in the boot and shoe business with his brother James before 
coming West, and there made considerable money. After coming to Wisconsin he 
improved a good farm in Verona Township [Dane County]. In 1858 he [John A. 
ROSS] was married to Miss Catherine MARTIN, a daughter of Peter and Janette 
(DAVIDSON) MARTIN. She [Catherine MARTIN] was born in Perthshire, Scotland, 
01 November 1832. The family came to the United States in 1841 and settled 
on a farm in Dane County [WI], where Mr. [Peter] MARTIN purchased 240 acres 
of land and carried on farming as he had done in Scotland. Both Mr. and Mrs. 
MARTIN died in Dane County, aged seventy-six and sixty years, respectively. 
They [Peter and Janette (DAVIDSON) MARTIN] had a family of [p 183] three 
children, namely: Catherine; Jessie A., who died in early life; and Patrick, 
who was a farmer of Verona Township [Dane County, WI], where he died. In 
religion they were all Presbyterians. After marriage our subject [John A. 
ROSS] continued to reside in Verona Township until 1859, when he traded for 
the property where he now resides. He owns 500 acres of land and engages in 
stock raising, also deals in livestock, keeping up a superior grade. He 
erected a stone residence and several good barns, and his beautiful grounds 
are filled with ornamental trees. He has made of this place not only an 
excellent stock farm, but one of the most attractive homes in Dane County. 
Mr. and Mrs. [John A.] ROSS have had seven children, as follows: (1) John 
M., who died in childhood; William L., a traveling salesman; James, Henry, 
Emily, and Cora at home; and Edwin, who is working on a farm in Minnesota.

In religion Mr. [John A.] ROSS still clings to the views of the Covenanter. 
He was reared in the Reformed Presbyterian Church, and on account of these 
views he has not united with the General Assembly Church, but as some members 
of his family are Presbyterians, he is a liberal supporter of the church at 
Belleville [Dane County, WI], and was the principal contributor toward the 
church edifice. Mrs. [Catherine nee MARTIN] ROSS is a member of the 
Presbyterian Church, and is a lady of taste and refinement, most highly 
esteemed in the community. Probably on her account Mr. ROSS has taken such a 
prominent part in assisting the church at Belleville, although, as above 
stated, he cannot consistently unite with it. He is an honest, upright man, 
but has never been willing to accept public office, as he felt that he could 
not bear blame when he knew that he was doing right. For this reason, 
although his party, the Republican, has elected him to local office, he has 
never consented to qualify.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly