Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 09.djvu/188

 ROSS

ROSS

Ross of Templeton. ^lass., reputed to have been a Scotchman, and a descendant of Sampson Mason. Jonathan Ross was born on the farm cleared by his parental grandfather, and worked on the farm till 1847. Ho attended the St. Johns- bury academy, and was graduated from Dartmouth college in 1851. He was mar- ried, Nov. 22, 1852. to Eliza Ann, daughter of Isaiah and Caro- line (Bugbee) Carpen- ter of Waterfurd, Vt., who died, Jan. 15, ,^ 18SG; and secondly, > July 4, 1887, to Helen Augusta Daggett. ^;,:i'^^'-'^'// ■; He was principal of

J .// Ai^, , Chelsea and Crafts-

^a^Ut^ ^^^^ bury academies, Vt..

1851-56; was ad- mitted to the bar in January, 1856, and prac- tised in St. Johnsbury, 1856-70. He was state attorney for Caledonia county, 1862-63; a rep- resentative in the state legislature, 1865-67; state senator in 1870, and a member of the state board of education, 1866-70. He was judge of the supreme court of Vermont, 1870-90; chief jus- tice, 1890-99; and was appointed U.S. senator by Governor Edward C. Smith, Jan. 11, 1899, and served in the vacancy caused by the death of Justin S. Morrill until Oct. 18, 1900, when Wil- liam Paul Dillingham was elected to complete the term. He was made chairman of the state railroad commission of Vei-mont, Dec. 1, 1900. The honorary degree of LL.D. was conferred on him by Dartmouth in 1885.

ROSS, Lawrence Sullivan, governor of Texas, was born in Bentonsport, Iowa, Sept. 27, 1838; son of Capt. Shapley Prince and Katharine (Falk- erson) Ross; grandson of Shapley and Mary (Prince) Ross; great-grandson of Lawrence and Susan (Oldham) Ross, and a descendant of Lawrence Ross, born in Scotland, who in his boyliood removed to Virginia with his father, attended school, and was wounded and captured from the sclioolliouse by the In- dians with whom lie lived until twenty-three years old. He afterwards married Susan, daughter of Gen. "William Oldham. Lawrence S. Ross re- moved with his parents to Texas in 1839, attended Baylor university, and was graduated from Wes- leyan university, Florence, Ala., in 18.59. He raised a company of 135 Indians and whites, and enlisted under Capt. Earl Van Dorn in the expedi-

tion against the Comanche Indians in 1858, dis- tinguishing liimself at the battle of Wichita. He was commissioned major of state militia and commanded the Texas Frontier battalion in later fights with the Comanches. He married, May 28, 1801, Lizzie, daughter of David R. and Sarah Ann (Holt) Tinsley of Waco, Tex. In 1861 he enlisted as a private in the Confederate army; was pro- moted major of the 6tli Texas cavalry in Septem- ber, 1861, and colonel in May, 1862. He M'^as pro- moted brigadier-general in 1863 for his skill in covering the retreat of Gen. Earl Van Dorn from Corinth, Miss.; commanded a brigade, Wheeler's cavalry, Army of Tennessee, and later was in command of the Texas cavalry, Army of the W©gt. After the war he returned to Texas and engaged in farming. He was sheriff of McLen- nan county in 1875; a member of the state con- stitutional convention in 1875; state senator in 1881-86, and governor of Texas, succeeding John Ireland, 1887-91. During his term of office the new state capitol was completed in May, 1888. He was president of the Agricultural and Me- chanical college of Texas, 1891-98. He died in College Station, Tex., Jan. 4, 1898.

ROSS, Leonard Fulton, soldier, was born in Lewistown, III., July 18, 1823; son of Ossian M. and Mary (Winans) Ross; brother of Lewis Winans Ross (q.v.). He attended Illinois col- lege, 1841-42, was admitted to the bar in 1844, and Nov. 13, 1845, was married to Catlierine M., daughter of Reuben C. and Frances (Graves) Simms of Virginia. On July 18, 1846, he enlisted as a private in the 4th Illinois volunteers, for service in the war with Mexico, was commis- sioned first lieutenant, September, 1846, and com- manded his company at Vera Cruz and Cerro Gordo. He was probate justice of Fulton county, 111., in 1847, clerk of Fulton county in 1S49, and in 1861 recruited a company for the civil war. He was commissioned colonel of the 17th Illinois volunteers, was engaged at Fredericktown, Mo., under General Fremont in October, 1861, and at Belmont, Mo., under General McClernand, Nov. 7, 1861. He was attached to the 3d brigade, 1st division, Grant's army, and fought at Fort Henry, Feb. 6, 1862, and at Fort Donelson, Feb. 15, 18^2, wliere he succeeded Colonel Morrison in the com- mand of the brigade. He was placed in command of Fort Girardeau, Mo., and April 25, 1862, was promoted brigadier-general. He was stationed in southwestern Tennessee, later took part in the operations about Vicksburg and was mustered out in 1865. He was apjiointed collector of inter- nal revenue in 1867, in 1868 was unsucce.ssful Re- publican candidate for representative in the 41st congress, removed to lowaCitj'. la., and engaged in raising cattle, but in 1894 returned to Lewis- ton, 111. He was a delegate to the Democratic