My Genealogy Hound

William P. Ross is the president of the Okolona Mercantile Company, which was established on the 1st of January, 1890, being incorporated with a paid-up capital of $15,000. It is one of the leading mercantile establishments of the county, and is amply equipped with everything which the heart of man can desire. Mr. Ross was born in Clark County, Ark., on the 1st of February, 1847, and is a son of William B. and Nancy (Peeples) Ross, who were born in Alabama, but were married in Clark County, Ark., whither they had come when quite young, and here spent the rest of their lives. The mother died when the subject of this sketch was an infant, and the father afterward wedded Eliza Sloan, by whom he became the father of eight children. He was one of the first settlers of the county, became a substantial citizen, and until his death, which occurred in 1871, he was a worthy tiller of the soil. He was a member of the A. F. & A. M., and was a son of Peter Ross, who came from Alabama to Clark County at an early day, and died nine miles from the town of Arkadelphia, on a farm on which he had settled and cleared. The maternal grandfather, Michael Bozeman, also came from Alabama to Clark County, Ark., and on his farm, which was situated six miles from Arkadelphia, he made his home the rest of his life. He was quite a prominent man in the early history of the State, and besides being a member of the first State Constitutional Convention, he served in the General Assembly of the State for some years, and was in one of the early Indian wars. He passed to his long home in 1883. The subject of this sketch was the only child born to his father's first union, and after his mother's death he was taken to rear by his grandfather Bozeman, who brought him up to a farm life, and gave him the benefit of a common school education. In 1861 he left the shelter of his father's roof to take up arms in defense of the Southern cause, and became a member of the Fourth Arkansas Battalion, commanded by Col. Terry, and was in the engagements at Belmont, Ky., Shiloh, Tenn., Richmond, Ky., Shelbyville and Murfreesboro, Tenn. After the last named engagement he was discharged, on account of ill health, and came home, but soon after joined Fagan's command of cavalry, and operated in Arkansas and Missouri. He was at Poison Springs, Mark's Mill and Jenkins' Ferry, and was with Price on his raid through Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas and the Indian Territory. After the final surrender he farmed until 1868, then opened a mercantile establishment in Okolona, and during 1870-71 was in the warehouse business at Camden. After some time he returned to Okolona, and shortly after again opened a mercantile house here, which he has ever since successfully managed. The firm was first Ross & Weaver, then became Ross & Son, then Ross & Weir, next W. P. Ross & Bro., the next change being to W. P. Ross & Co., and in January, 1885, the firm of Ross & Hayes was established, and for five years did an exceedingly prosperous business, the sales during 1889 amounting to about $65,000. Besides this he is the owner of about 1,200 acres of land, with some 600 under cultivation, and a fine home and business property in Okolona, the most of which has been obtained by his own personal efforts. In January, 1890, he purchased the Arkansas Messenger, a paper which was published at Okolona, and changed the name to the Okolona Messenger, and has since owned and operated it in the interest of the Democratic party, of which he is a stanch member. He is past dictator in the K. of H., Okolona Lodge No. 3356, and he and wife, whose maiden name was Alice Sloan, and whom he married September 25, 1873, are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Mrs. Ross is a daughter of Thomas B. and Missouri Sloan, who were very early settlers of Clark County, Ark., where Mrs. Sloan still lives. Mr. Sloan was sheriff of Clark County for eight or ten years, and was filling this position at the time of his death, which occurred August 13, 1882. Mrs. Ross was born in this county, and she has borne Mr. Ross seven children, three sons and two daughters living.