ROSS, William G 1859 - 1926

ROSS, CLARK, LIGHT, WOODS, GALVIN, WILSON, FRANKLIN, HOWARD, LAMSON, EMERSON, DAVIES, GAGE, LEGGETT, STEVENSON, FISH, STEVER, AVERILL, AXLINE, BROWN, SIMMONS

Posted By: Richard K Thompson (email)
Date: 10/7/2010 at 15:35:55

The Fairfield Daily Ledger
Monday May 24, 1926

Transcriber note: The front page of this issue has both an obituary for William G ROSS, and an editorial tribute to him. Both are transcribed for this entry:
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A Tribute

In the death of W. G. ROSS Fairfield suffers a loss that is well nigh irreparable. He was not only a student whose mind was a vast storehouse of knowledge, but he had the broad human sympathies which made it possible for him to share his knowledge with others. No one came in contact with him but admired and respected him and none was associated with him but added affection to respect and admiration. An omniverous reader - no, rather a discriminating reader of extremely wide range, for he wasted no time on trash - he had a most wonderful memory, a profound and deep seated knowledge of the classics, was a clear and cogent reasoner and was a student from the days of his boyhood until stricken in the ripeness of his mind a few weeks ago. He had the scholarly mind without losing interest in the every day affairs. He was remarkable not only for his great fund of accurate information, but for the soundness of his judgement and his common sense. Among his associates his word on any question of literature or history or politics was accepted without debate, for he almost always knew and when he didn't know he made no pretensions. The scope of his knowledge and the facility with which he could bring forth the facts that were stored in his mind were a constant cause of amazement to his friends.

As a mere intellectual machine he was remarkable, but it was the attributes of the heart, the clean white soul of him, that endeared him to those with whom he was associated in the various relations of life.

Hie judgement, always sound, was tempered with charity whcih covered as with a mantle the shortcomings of others. He gave praise and commendation freely and with discrimination, blame or hurtful criticism never, or at least so seldom that even close friends never heard it. Clean and honest and upright himself he instinctively gave others credit for being the same. Neither by deed nor word nor thought did others suffer through him.

He was a passionate lover of nature and the call of the outdoors ever found him ready. Rocks were his friends and companions, but so were the birds and the trees and the flowers and so were his fellow men. In all the relations of life he was a man among men and he went through life with high thoughts and with keen enjoyment of the simple things.

Mr. ROSS wasa man of sound business judgment and was connected with most of the institutions upon which Fairfield's prosperity and Fairfield's leadership rest. His services to Parsons college have been invaluable. As a student and a graduate he was a credit to the college and in all the years since he left its halls he has given freely of his strength and his ability and his time in its service.

A good man has gone from among us, a man loyal to every friend, loyal to every duty and responsibilty, loyal to every friend, loyal to every duty and responsibility, loyal to every trust reposed in him.

(end of tribute)
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The Fairfield Daily Ledger
Monday May 24, 1926

W.G. ROSS DEAD AFTER ILLNESS OF 2 MONTHS

End Came Peacefully To Notable Citizen Early Sunday Morning At the Family Home

W.G. ROSS, one of Fairfield's foremost citizens, died yesterday morning at 2:30 oclock at the family home, 503 South Main street (sic. this home was razed in the late 1950's), where he had been ill for nearly two months, following a stroke of apoplexy. The end came peacefully, his waning strength coming gently to an end.

Funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon at 4 oclock in Barhydt chapel on Parsons' college campus, following the common desire that the college for which he did so much and which he loved so much and of which he was so distinguished a product might honor him thus.

The services will be in charge of Dr. Gilbert Voorhies, of the Presbyterian church and Dean Carl C. Guise will deliver the oration.

Interment will be in Evergreen cemetery.

**BORN IN 1859**

William G. ROSS was born in Masontown, Pa., February, 19, 1859 his parents being John and Rebecca ROSS. The family moved to Jefferson county in 1866 and settled on a farm in the Hardscrabble district in Center township. Mr. ROSS grew up in that district, attended the country school there, and held the fondest memories of the men and women who resided there and gave it its distinctive cast of thought.

He was frequent in his references to the school and district, and he esteemed the debates held Friday night at the school house and participated in by the men of the district, as being highly educational. It was there he heard many important questions threshed out and was given a perspective of life that served him all his days.

After completing the county school he attended for a time Prof. R. M. FISH's academy, either when its classes were held in the old AXLINE academy building, or over where BROWN's meat market is now. When this institution was discontinued, he pursued his studies under Mrs. George STEVER and Mrs. N.S. AVERILL.

But with the beginning of Parsons college, he turned avidly to it as his opportunity, and it opened up to him vistas of culture and learning which he entered with zeal and enthusiasm.

**Member of First Class**

He was the valedictorian of that notable first class that was graduated in 1880, receiving his diploma with fifteen others. Of the sixteen, now that he is gone, only five are living - Miss Anna Belle CLARK of Los Angeles, Rev. and Mrs. Samuel LIGHT of Sidney, Nebr., Dr. Harry WOODS of Birmingham and John M. GALVIN of Council Bluffs.

He was honored by the award of a Master's degree from the college in 1885 and a doctor's of literature degree in 1915.

Upon his graduation he became principal of the Fairfield High school, then housed in the old FRANKLIN school building where HOWARD park now is. He held that position for a year, and then entered the law offices of Senator James F. WILSON to "read law," according to the custom of the day, under that eminent statesmen's tutelage. He was admitted to the bar in 1883 and at once formed a partnership with John M. GALVIN, who had read law along with him in Senator WILSON's office. The partneship continued until Mr. GALVIN went to Council Bluffs in 1889 to make his home.

Mr. ROSS did his two year's law reading in one year.

**Into Public Life**

Mr. Ross ran for county attorney in 1891, was elected and held the office for four years. He then was city solicitor for four years, and in 1904 was appointed postmaster, his appointment being renewed from administration, until he had held the office for twelve years. He resigned on account of his health and returned to the practice of his profession, which he pursued diligently until his last illness.

He was in partnership with E.F. SIMMONS from 1920 to 1922. He married Miss Carrie LAMSON, May 17, 1893. They had no children.

Mr. ROSS early in his manhood became a part of the intellectual, professional and business life of the community. He was a member of the Old EMERSON club, the Science club, SHAKESPEARE, Wit and Wisdom and Book clubs. His ability as a counselor brought him a large law practice, and his sagacity in business led him to investment in the .....(sic. missing lines from microfilm image).....of the Library board and gave his duties in that connection serious attention.

Of the family of seven children, his passing leaves but two living - Mrs. Thomas J. DAVIES and Miss Laura V. ROSS, both of Farifield. Margaret died in 1860 at the age of eleven, J.M. passed away in 1873 (sic. possibly the Josiah M. ROSS who died Sept. 22, 1874), Alma died in 1896 and George Y. ROSS died December 15, 1924 (sic. see Evergreen Cemetery listings for these individuals and their burials, including that of his parents, John and Rebecca ROSS).

**Served Parsons Long**

Mr. ROSS always has been one of the mainstays of Parsons College. He served through the hard years when the institution was battling for its existence and colleges faced their discouraging times. He had been a member of the board of trustees continuously for forty years.

He was the first aluminus to be honored thus. Since 1889 he had been a member of the executive committee until a few years ago when he asked to be relieved of the duties. But he returned to the committee with his devotion and wise council after being off for some months.

**His Varied Activities**

Mr. ROSS always was physically active. As a lad he was an ardent baseball player, his forte being to pitch. It was before the day of the curve, and speed was the factor in skill. He could throw a ball higher than any other person in town, and was wont to measure his prowess by trying to equal the height of the old light tower that reared its 185 feet in the middle of Central park.

Something of the range of his activities can be gathered when it is recounted that he was a member of the board of trustees of Parsons college .....(sic. missing a sentence or two in the microfilm image of the text) various industries of the city which he helped nourish to success....president of the Fairfield Glove and Mitten company, at the head of the Hiram HEATON Park board, a member of the directorate of the Iowa Malleable Iron company and the Golf club, the Daily Ledger and the Dexter Manufacturing company in addition to his membership in various study clubs.

**His Love of Nature**

No more appreciative student of nature lived in this community. He loved the birds and the trees and the flowers with an intimate devotion, and he was rich in nature lore. This was the high tide of the year for him, and had the hand of illness been stayed, he would have been abroad early these mornings, studying the birds and renewing acquaintances with his feathered friends. To fell a tree was a personal hurt with him and he looked sadly upon the notion that a study oak or elm, years in the growing, should be removed to make way for something ephemeral.

But above all, he loved his friends. He wanted sturdy thinkers, free speakers among them. And his great pleasure was the discussion of interesting questions where argument flew thick and fast and the facts were faced without flinching.

And his love of nature and of his friends, made him an enthusiastic golfer. He was a charter member of the old Kahgahgee (Crow Creek) Golf club, and the log cabin, which was its golf house, was the scene of many a feast of reason. There the Lantern Bearers met - so named from one of STEVENSON's essays and there the arguments were famous.

Mr. ROSS as a young man joined the Presbyterian church and was a faithful member, being expecially active in the work of the Sunday school. While still a resident in the country, he was a teacher and the superintendent of the rural Sunday school at various times, and after taking up his residence in Fairfield he found special delight in the adult Bible class. He pursued religious matters, with the same fidelity to his intelligence that he pursued in other things, and followed the recent discussion of modernism with a great deal of interest. But his faith was never shaken, his grasp upon the principles of christianity being too great for that.

**Stricken March 28**

Mr. ROSS's illness dates from March 28, Sunday afternoon, when President Harry M. GAGE of Coe College was here to deliver an address at the Methodist church. The two were the warmest of friends and in the afternoon they went to the home of Mrs. C. D. LEGGETT to join a company of congenial spirits. Walking with President GAGE the few blocks that intervene between the ROSS home and that of Mrs. LEGGETT, he seemed uncertain of his step and stumbled a little, passing it off with the remark that old age was creeping upon him. A little while after they reached the LEGGETT home, he got up and stole out, without overcoat to go home alone. Mrs. ROSS noticed his absence and followed him a short distance behind. When he reached the steps leading up to the terrace at home, he seemed unable to climb them and sat warily down. Mrs. ROSS came along in a moment and helped him into the house. A physician was summoned and he was put to bed. It was disclosed that he had had a brain hemorrhage, and his left side was paralyzed.

**Hope at First**

His mind was clear, however, and the indications were that he would recover. His anxiety was about business, and he instructed that a notice be placed on his office door that he would return in two days. His friends were allowed to come in to see him. He was able to shave himself, and discussed the possiblities of being able to play golf soon.

But a few days later he took a turn for the worse and hope dwindled. He rallied remarkably after a week or two and hope was renewed. But for several weeks his condition grew slowly worse, and the end was expected for a week or more.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes. I am not related to the person(s) mentioned.

Note: Buried at Evergreen Cemetery, Fairfield, Iowa. Old.P.036. A large boulder was used for his headstone, placed there ante 1999.