My Genealogy Hound

ELIAS ROSS, farmer; P. O. German. We herewith present the sketch of another of the early pioneers of this township in the name of Elias Ross; he was born in Pickaway Co., Ohio, Feb. 20, 1811; he is the son of Henry Ross, who was a native of Virginia; early in his youth, he left his parental roof and embarked on the sea of life without guide or counselor; he soon found his way to Pickaway Co., Ohio, where he entered into the occupation of farming; after dwelling here for a short time he moved to Big Darby Creek, Franklin Co.; from there he came direct to this township and located on land in northwest part of Sec. 24; this was in October, 1817, and his family constituted one of the first in the township; nothing but a vast wilderness greeted him on every hand, not even a log cabin could be found to house his family in when he landed here; in lieu of this he was obliged to improvise a temporary shed, which served as a very imperfect shelter until he could erect a more substantial domicile; this he set about at once to do; gathering together what few settlers were to be found in the vicinity, they erected a “pioneer’s home,” the log cabin, completing the structure ready for use in one day, the first house built in one day in the township; before they got their cabin built, the weather became very rigorous, snow falling to the depth of several inches, which produced no little suffering to the family in their temporary shed; the cabin erected and the family comfortably housed, the next thing to be done was to clear the land of its forests, preparatory to cultivation; to have some land ready by spring, it was necessary to work through the winter, which was an unusually severe one; this Mr. Ross did faithfully the whole winter through, although with much exposure; thus began the sturdy pioneer, and, although these and many other difficulties confronted him, his indefatigable will conquered them all. Mr. Ross assisted in the erection of the first church built in the county. It was located in Washington Township on Sec. 36, and was built in 1819; it was a Methodist Church and is still (1880) standing, a relic of pioneer days, though not now used. Mr. Ross was the father of twelve children, one of whom met with a fatal accident at the age of 14, by a falling tree; the rest grew up to mature years and ten are still living; he was a local minister of the M. E. Church and for almost a lifetime preached the Gospel and endeavored to turn the erring ones from their way; he lived to a ripe old age, his death occurring August, 1865; his wife had preceded him to her final rest. Our subject was only 6 years old when he came to this township with his parents; pioneers as they were, he grew up inured to the privations and hardships incident to such a life; he knows what hard work is, and what living “under difficulties” means; he remained at home contributing his labor to the subsistence of the family and clearing of the farm till he was of age; at this age, he entered the course of life on his own account; he first hired to David Puterbaugh for six months as a farm laborer; for the subsequent two years he was employed by Hezekiah Veitz, of Neave Township; the first one and one-half months he received $8 per month; for the next four and one-half months he got $6 per month; for the next year he received $100; at the end of eighteen months, he found that he had lost only one day. For the next three months, he received $10 per month. At the end of this time, September 4, 1834, he celebrated his first marriage with Miss Lucy Chapman. He was only permitted to live with her sixteen years and two days, when death claimed her as his victim, September 6, 1850. After his marriage he moved on the place where he now lives, having previously purchased and erected a cabin on it. In this he set out on the course of life with his companion. His first household furniture he manufactured himself with an ax and auger. Wishing to go into the manufacture of maple sugar, he purchased an auger on credit, with which to tap the trees, and paid for it by an entire night’s work over his kettles, making sugar. This illustrates the extreme poverty of the early pioneers. In front of Mr. Ross’ house stands an apple orchard of twenty-two trees, thrifty and productive, which he planted with his own hands, forty-five years ago. He was united in marriage the second time, October 16, 1851, to Mrs. Rebecca Furrow. Seven children were the fruits of the first union, three of whom are deceased, and six of the second union, three of whom are also deceased. He has been a consistent member of the U. B. Church for more than half a century, and lives an exemplary life. His first wife was also a member, and died in the triumphs of her faith. His present wife is also a faithful member of the same church.