William John Ross (1833 - 1875)

Born 27 Jan 1833 in Pettis, Missouri, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Anna Haseltine Judson (Thomas) Ross — married 12 Aug 1858 in Pettis County, Missouri, USA

Descendants

Died 26 Aug 1875 at age 42 in Creighton, Cass, Missouri, USA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Jason Ross [send private message]

Biography

This biography is an excerpt from a longer biography on William J. Ross' wife, Anna Haseltine Judson Thomas:

In August 1858, she married William John Ross, son of Robert Ross, a surveyor of Greene County, Missouri.

William J. and Anna established their home in Pettis, County not far from her plantation home. For a brief period they lived in nearby Cooper County.

William J., as he was affectionately called, was a carpenter by trade. He was handsome, tall and large of stature. He had a keen sense of humor, A huge smile and a happy personality were his trademarks.

While living in Pettis and Cooper Counties six children were born: Annie Elizabeth, June 11, 1858; James David, October 3, 1861; William Reuben, November 1, 1863; Sarah Ida, January 26, 1866; Robert Henry, January 10, 1868, and John, April 23, 1870.

The location of the family in southeastern Cass County had its beginnings some time prior to 1868 when William J's mother, Minerva Potter Ross, daughter, Mary Elizabeth and son Andrew Jackson had settled on a tract of twenty acres which later joined, to the west, the hundred twenty-five acres William J. and Anna purchased in 1869 for their home-site. During the time from the date of December 21, 1869, to August 20, 1870, William J. had built his home on the site of the five acres which overlooked the wide valley of Grand River.

It must have been a great day of rejoicing that day on August 20, 1870, when the family arrived at the new home-site. William J., driving a team of spirited horses, his wife, Anna, by his side holding four month old John. The wagon also carried the other five children a few precious family heirlooms, including Anna's Hope Chest, Kentucky Rose quilt, and her mother's hand woven coverlid. Among the other possessions, was the family Holy Bible In a special little container was a tiny cedar tree Anna had taken from her family home.

The next five years were happy ones for William J. and Anna. Anna faced her first crisis on August 26, 1875, when death took her beloved companion. She buried him in the Wadesburg Cemetery^[1]. The following spring, she set out, in the center of the Cemetery, a small cedar tree, taken from the new home-site, to grow into a mighty sentry to stand guard over all the graves^[2].

According to Bennett DeWitt and Related Families,^[3] William John and Anna Haseltine Judson Ross had the following children:

1. James Ross
2. John Ross
3. Henry Ross
4. Elizabeth Ross
5. Ida Ross

Sources

1. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8596343/william-john-ross: accessed 15 February 2023), memorial page for William John Ross (29 Jan 1833–26 Aug 1875), Find a Grave Memorial ID 8596343, citing Wadesburg Cemetery, Wadesburg (historical), Cass County, Missouri, USA; Maintained by LaDon Brennan (contributor 46902635).
2. ↑ History of Creighton Missouri (Cass County), "A Bicentennial Town" 1885-1976" Author: Multiple Publication: Creighton American Revolution Bicentennial Committee Note: Ross Excerpts authored by Virginia Ross Oliver and Naomi E. Ross Morris come from pp.304-307
3. ↑ Bennett, Paul W. LL. B. Bennett - DeWitt and Related Familes. Self Published. Vandalia, Missouri. 1980. p.302 Location: Sedalia Public Library, Sedalia Missouri

Census Records

• 1840 Census: "United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHTS-YRK : 8 December 2020), Robert Ross, Pettis, Missouri, United States; citing p. 40, NARA microfilm publication , (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll ; FHL microfilm .
  • Robert Ross: 1 2 - - - 1 - - - - - - - | - - - - 1 (Rest Blank)
    • 1 Male under 5 (George Washington (2)); 2 males 5-10 (David Marion (5), William John (6)); 1 male 30-40 (Robert (35)); 1 Female 20-30 (Minerva (26))
• 1850 Census: United States Census, 1850. database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDZJ-9T6), Martha J Ross in household of Manerva Ross, Pettis, Missouri, United States; citing NARA Microfilm Number 443617, Image 240.
  • William J Ross, Age 16 Years, Birth Year (est) 1834, Birthplace: Missouri
• 1860 Census: "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MH89-HY3: 18 February 2021), Wm J Ross, Bolling Green, Pettis, Missouri, United States. 1860.
  • Wm J Ross, Age 27, "Carpenter", Birth Year (est): 1833, Birthplace: Missouri
• 1870 Census: "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M461-FCN : 29 May 2021), Wm J Ross, Bowling Green Township, Pettis, Missouri, United States, 1870.
  • Wm J Ross, Age 37, "Carpenter", Birth Year (est) 1833, Birthplace: Missouri.