My Genealogy Hound

JOHN E. ROSS. No State in the Union gives greater encouragement to a man who desires to devote himself to agricultural pursuits and fruit-raising than does Michigan. Its resources are almost inexhaustible, and its climate is adapted to the cultivation of varied crops. Mr. Ross, who is one of the most substantial and thoroughgoing agriculturists of Berrien County, Mich., has been engaged in tilling the soil from early boyhood, his father, David C. Ross, having initiated him into the mysteries of that occupation, and he thus gained a good, practical knowledge of the same to start out with.

Mr. Ross was born in Laporte County, Ind., on the 3d of July 1843, to the union of David C. and Lydia (Richardson) Ross, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Indiana. The father left his native State at an early age, and went to Indiana, settling in La Porte County, where he was among the early settlers. About the year 1845, he moved to Berrien County, Mich., and here his death occurred many years later. He was of Welsh-Scotch descent, and inheriting all the sterling characteristics of that nationality — uprightness, integrity and industry — it was but natural that he should prosper. When first settling in Berrien County, he bought eighty acres of land, all wild and unbroken, and immediately entered upon his duties as an agriculturist, clearing, grubbing and making improvements. Mrs. Ross is still living, is a most estimable lady, and resides on the old homestead.

Of the seven children born to our subject and wife, three are now living and named as follows: James A., Charley and Paul. John A. Ross passed his youthful days in Berrien County, Mich., and secured a good practical education in the schools of the same. When not in the schoolroom in youth, he was engaged in the arduous duties of the farm and thus gained his extensive knowledge of that vocation. He possesses all the attributes necessary for a first-class farmer, and is now the owner of forty acres eight miles south of St. Joseph, as well as another farm of forty acres. Unlike his father, who was a Methodist, Mr. Ross holds membership in the Christian Church, and his wife is also a member of that church. They are well respected in the community in which they live and are happy in the friendship of many friends. Mr. Ross has adhered closely to the principles of the Democratic party, and his first Presidential vote was for G. B. McClellan.