Lawrence Sullivan Ross (1838 - 1898)

Born 27 Sep 1838 in Bentonsport, Iowa Territory

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth Dorothy (Tinsley) Ross — married 28 May 1861 in McLennan County, Texas, USA

Died 3 Jan 1898 at age 59 in College Station, Brazos County, Texas, USA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Steve Gates [send private message]

Preceded by 18th Governor John Ireland

Lawrence Sullivan Ross 19th Governor of Texas 1887—1891

Succeeded by 20th Governor Jim Hogg

Biography

This profile is part of the Ross Name Study.

Lawrence Ross is Notable.

Civil War Confederate Brigadier General, Texas Governor. Born Bentonsport, Iowa, he relocated to Texas with his parents when he was an infant. After he graduated from Wesleyan University in Alabama, Sam Houston appointed him a Captain of a company of Texas Rangers. At the start of the Civil War, he joined the Confederate Army as a Private and quickly rose through the ranks to Colonel in command of the 6th Texas Cavalry. He took part in numerous western campaigns, including Pea Ridge, Corinth, Vicksburg, was promoted Brigadier General in December, 1863 and commanded a brigade in the Atlanta Campaign. After the war, he served as Sheriff of McLennan County and was a member of Texas State Senate in 1880. In 1886, he was elected Governor of Texas and served until 1891.

Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith

Lawrence Sullivan “Sul” Ross, soldier, statesman and university president, was born at Bentonsport, Iowa Territory, on September 27, 1838. He came with his family to the frontier of the Republic of Texas in 1839. In his teens and early twenties, he was involved in frontier defense. Recognizing the importance of education, Ross attended Baylor University and received his A.B. degree from Wesleyan University in Florence, Alabama in 1859. From October 1859 to February 1860 Sul Ross was a Captain in the Mounted Texas Rangers. He served in the 6th Texas Cavalry during the Civil War, achieving the rank of Brigadier General and commander of the Texas Cavalry Brigade. Sul Ross then raised cattle and farmed for several years, was elected Sheriff of McClennan County (1873-1875), was a member of the 1876 Texas Constitutional Convention and served as a state senator (1881-1883). In 1886 he was elected Governor of Texas and, during his two terms, he championed public education and oversaw the construction of the new capitol building. In 1891 he became president of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas and under his leadership that troubled institution flourished and gained respect throughout the state. When he died in College Station on January 3, 1898, Texans mourned and extolled him for his courage, his dedication to the state and his public spirit. The Dallas Morning News on January 4, 1898, wrote: “It has been the lot of few men to be of such great service to Texas as Sul Ross . . . he has . . . discharged every duty imposed upon him with diligence, ability, honesty, and patriotism.” In 1917 the Texas Legislature named a newly created Normal School in Alpine, Texas, in his honor – Sul Ross Normal College – which became Sul Ross State University in 1969. <https://www.sulross.edu/page/1065/lawrence-sullivan-ross>

Sources

• "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXLL-PPL : 12 April 2016), Sullivan Ross in household of Shupley P Ross, Milam county, Milam, Texas, United States; citing family 318, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

• "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXFJ-VYK : 12 December 2017), L S Ross in entry for S P Ross, 1860.

• "Texas Marriages, 1837-1973," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VK1L-HKQ : 11 February 2018), L. S. Ross and Lizzie Tinsley, 28 May 1861; citing , Mc Lennan, Texas, , reference ; FHL microfilm 987,554.

• "United States Civil War Soldiers Index, 1861-1865," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F92H-G4D : 4 December 2014), Lawrence Sullivan Ross, Colonel, Company GFS, 6th Regiment, Texas Cavalry (Wharton, Stone's), Confederate; citing NARA microfilm publication M227 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 31; FHL microfilm 880,044.

• "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFN1-91V : 15 July 2017), L S Ross, Waco, McLennan, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district ED 103, sheet 45C, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 1318; FHL microfilm 1,255,318.

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6065/lawrence-sullivan-ross

• Find A Grave: Memorial #6065

• Lawrence Sullivan Ross on Wikipedia

• "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXFJ-VYK : 26 July 2017), L S Ross in entry for S P Ross, 1860.

• "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFN1-91V : 15 July 2017), L S Ross, Waco, McLennan, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district ED 103, sheet 45C, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 1318; FHL microfilm 1,255,318.

Acknowledgments

• This person was created on 05 December 2010 through the import of My Family File 8.ged.