ROSS, Rev. Samuel Bailey - 1890 Bio (1845-1929)

ROSS, WHITNEY, SACKETT, BALDWIN, ZOOK

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 8/23/2007 at 21:23:55

Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties, Iowa, Printed 1890 by Lake City Publishing Co., Chicago
Pages 431-432

Rev. Samuel Bailey ROSS, Pastor of the Christian Church, of Fairfield, has been a resident of Iowa since 1852, and when a lad of eight years he accompanied his parents to Jones County. He was born near Utica, N. Y. , Decmember 22, 1844 (sic - 1845), his parents being Francis E. and Laura M. (WHITNEY) ROSS. His father was born September 17, 1807, in Herkimer County, N. Y., of Scotch (sic) parentage. The founder of the family in America was Capt. John ROSS, a gentleman of Scottish birth, who served as an officer in the British army, but sold his commission and emigrated to America during the English and French wars about the time Gen. Wolfe was killed. He bought a tract of land of Gen. Herkimer and settled in the county which bears that warrior's name. The old stone house which Capt. ROSS erected is still standing -- a landmark of Colonial days when this country was still subject to the British crown.

The mother of our subject was born in Oneida County, N. Y., April 4, 1812, and was also of Scotch (sic) descent. She lost her own mother while a child and was reared by a German family, thus learning the language of her foster parents, and at the time of her marriage she could scarcely speak a word of English.

We now take up the personal history of our subject, the Rev. S. B. ROSS, the highly esteemed pastor of the Christian Church, of Fairfield. On the anniversary of Washington's birthday, in 1852, the family crossed the Mississippi River into Iowa and settled in Castle Grove, Jones County. During his boyhood he attended the district schools of the neighborhood and in his early manhood engaged in railroading and other employments, but not content with the educational advantages which had hitherto been afforded him, he entered Oskaloosa College as a student. His ministerial work began in the fall of 1874 in Washington County, Iowa, and one year later he went to Glenwood, Mills County, where he remained until 1877. His pastorate at that place was followed by three years of labor in Shenandoah, Page County, and by one year spent in Creston, Jackson County. The succeeding year he was pastor of the church in Whittem, Hardin County, after which he accepted a call from the church at Delta, Keokuk County, where he remained for five years. At the expiration of that time, in February, 1888, he accepted his present charge in Fairfield, Iowa, and has entered upon his third year as pastor at this place. He had, however, previously resided in this city, having here made his home from 1870 until September, 1875.

On the 2d of February, 1876, in Fairfield, Mr. ROSS was united in the holy bonds of matrimony with Miss Hulda SACKETT, daughter of Simon and Ede SACKETT. She was born in Mahoning County, Ohio, and came to Iowa in March, 1870. Two children were born unto the Rev. S. B. ROSS and wife, but both were called to the home above. Fred A.. born February 9, 1878, died on the 19th of February of the same year; Willie C., born in Shenandoah, Iowa, July 10, 1879, died on the 30th of October, 1889. In politics Mr. ROSS is both a Prohibitionist and a Republican, voting with the former party on National questions and with the latter on State elections. He is a studious, earnest man, and has proved a popular pastor in the various fields where he has been called to labor.

The parents of our subject are both now deceased, the father having died on September 24, 1871, and the mother on December 12, 1869. Their family consisted of four sons and two daughters, as follows: Andrew J., who died at the age of twenty-three years; Hubbard W., who was a deaf mute and graduated from the Deaf and Dumb Institute, of New York City, was killed by the cars near Delavan, Wis., at the age of twenty-three years; Frank, who served as a soldier in Company D., Ninth Iowa Infantry, during the late war, is married and lives in Ottawa County, Kan.; Alcena is the wife of Newton BALDWIN, also a resident of Ottawa; Rev. Samuel B. is the next younger; and Laura O., wife of James ZOOK, of Ottawa County, completes the family.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.