Genealogical and Personal History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania, 1912


Ross Family Biography

(II) Robert (2), youngest son of Robert (1) Ross, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, September 2, 1753. He was educated in Lancaster county, continuing his studies there until 1784, then coming to Fayette county with his father, and settling in Nicholson township. He was a farmer until his death in 1823, aged sixtynine years. He served in the militia, attaining the rank of captain. He married Dorcas Andrews, died August 10, 1835. They were Presbyterians. Children: 1. Joseph, born March 2, 1779. 2. John, born January 31, 1786, died August 1, 1865. 3. Robert (3), born November 28, 1787, died November 12, 1823. 4. Nancy, born February 15, 1789, died August 15, 1863. 5. Moses A., born August 11, 1790, died November 22, 1862. 6. Jean, born December 24, 1792. 7. Dorcas, born January 9, 1795, died February 12, 1880. 8. Warwick, born June 7, 1797. 9. Hanniah, of whom further.

(III) Hanniah, youngest child of Robert (2) and Dorcas (Andrews) Ross, was born in Nicholson township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, April 18, 1800, died there in 1880. He was educated in the public school of Masontown and spent his active life engaged in farming. He was a Whig, later a Republican. serving as supervisor and school director. He was captain of the German Blues, a well known local military company. He married Hannah Rider, born in German township, died aged seventyfive years, daughter of Lawrence Rider, a farmer of that township. Children of Hanniah Ross: John, born February 11, 1825; Isaac N., March 4, 1827; Nancy, July 6, 1829; Jehu N., October 7, 1833: Warwick, September 1, 1836; Diana, September 5, 1839; Ezra J., of whom further; Hannah A., deceased.

(IV) Ezra J., son of Hanniah and Hannah (Rider) Ross, was born in Nicholson township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, October 23, 1843. He was educated in the public schools and spent his early life at the home farm. After his marriage he established on a farm of his own, and has spent his entire life engaged in farming. He is a Republican in politics, a Presbyterian in religious faith, and belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

He married, September 18, 1874, Sarah Virginia De Bolt, born in Masontown, April 17, 1851, daughter of Hugh De Bolt, a carpenter, who died in Greene county, Pennsylvania, aged sixty-five years; he married Maria Walters, born in Masontown, died aged sixty years; their children: Nicholas, John, Rebecca, Margaret, Elizabeth, Huldah, Nancy, Ann, Elisha and Sarah Virginia. Children of Ezra J. and Sarah V. Ross. 1. Virginia, born June 18, 1875. 2. Hanniah Hugh, November 10, 1877; married Helen Davis; children; Robert, born 1908; Helen, 1910.

It is from one of the sons of Robert (1) Ross (q. v.) that the following line descends. David, grandson of Robert Ross, was born in Pennsylvania. He came to Fayette county when a young man, married in that county, and died there leaving male issue.

(IV) Thomas, son of David Ross, was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, May, 1810, died in Greene county, Pennsylvania, in 1885. He was educated and grew to manhood in Fayette county, going to Greene county when a young man. He was a woolen manufacturer, owning mills at Clarksville, Pennsylvania. He was a Republican in politics, and a member of the Society of Friends. He married Eliza Bailey, born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, March 28, 1812, died 1887, daughter of Joseph and - (Johnson) Bailey. Joseph Bailey was a wealthy mill owner of Greene and Fayette counties, and a member of the Society of Friends. He died in Fayette county, his wife in Greene county. Children of Thomas and Eliza Ross: 1. David, a farmer, served in the Union army during the entire period of the civil war. 2. Joseph, now of Waynesburg, Pennsylvania. 3. Eli, deceased. 4. Elizabeth, married Rev. James Miller, of Cumberland, Maryland. 5. Rachel, deceased. 6. Thomas, deceased. 7. Louise, married John Arnold, of Waynesburg, Pennsylvania. 8. Jesse T., of whom further.

(V) Jesse T., youngest child of Thomas and Eliza (Bailey) Ross, was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, September 24, 1861. He was educated in the public schools of Clarksville, Pennsylvania, also attended Waynesburg College. He learned the trade of cabinetmaker, later establishing a furniture and undertaking business in Waynesburg. In 1896 he came to Brownsville where he continued the same lines of business until 1908, when he sold his furniture department and has since devoted himself exclusively to undertaking. He has admitted his son Homer to a partnership, the firm being known as J. T. Ross & Son. They are firmly established in business as funeral directors, undertakers and embalmers, both being capable and thorough masters of their calling. Mr. Ross is a Republican in politics, and the entire family members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

He married, September 26, 1883, Martha Pogue, born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, in 1861, daughter of William L. and Emma (Monday) (or Munday) Pogue, the latter deceased, the former still living in Greene county. Children: 1. Thomas, died aged seven years. 2. Homer, born September 2, 1886; educated in the public school of Brownsville, a graduate of the high school, also a graduate of Eastman's Business College, now the junior partner of J.T. Ross & Son of Brownsville. 3. Fannie E., born 1892; graduate of Brownsville high school, also student at girls' Moravian school at Lititz, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. 4. Hazel, born October, 1895; now a student at Brownsville high school.

Source: Genealogical and Personal History of Fayette County, John W. Jordan, Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1912.





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