ROSS, Wm. A. 1855-1914

ROSS, ROELFS

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 12/26/2016 at 09:05:33

Obituary
Wm. A. Ross, died November 7, 1914, at his home in Grundy county. He was 59 years, 4 months, and 22 days old. He was born in 1855 in Ogle County, Ill. He was a pioneer of Grundy county, moving here with his parents in 1866, they moving here by wagon; he being a lad of 11 years, he rode the entire distance horse back. In 1877 he was married to Miss Geska Roelfs, who survives him, also his mother, four brothers and one sister, Mrs. John Ertmoed. He leaves besides his widow, eight children, Mrs. Peter Riekena, Mrs. Dick Huisman, Albert, Rieke, Henry, Claus, Willie and John.

He operated a Threshing machine practically all his business career, having commenced working with a machine when he was but 14 years old, making a total of 45 years at threshing.

He brought the first steam threshing outfit to Grundy county.

In his early pioneer days, besides being the community blacksmith and house builder he done the clock repairing of his neighbors. The last building erected by him was that of his sons Rieke, here in Wellsburg last summer.

--Grundy County Democrat (Grundy Center, Iowa), 19 November 1914, pg 8