Ross, August G. F.

ROSS, PETERS, KLEE

Posted By: Roseanna Zehner
Date: 7/25/2006 at 12:29:49

ROSS, AUGUST G.F.

Mr. Ross, a popular general merchant of Little Rock, Lyon County, has an established business of eleven years' standing, and carries a stock consisting of groceries, boots and shoes, dry goods, clothing, and an extensive line of queensware. He was born in Schleswig, Holstein, Germany, February 22, 1870, the fourth member of a family of eleven children born to August and Anna (Peters) Ross. He completed a business course in the old country, uniting with his studies work in a dry goods store. A line which he followed for several years after his school days had ended, whereby he acquired an intimate knowledge of the business, a knowledge that has stood him well in hand in after years.

In 1888 in company with a younger brother the subject of this writing came to the United States and found employment in the dry goods store at Hawarden, Iowa, which was run by an uncle. After six months, despite the fact that he had never made a study of English, he had become so proficient in it, that he was put in charge of a store at Alcester, South Dakota, where he did all the buying and kept all the accounts. For two years he was engaged at this point and then spent a year in Sioux City, Iowa, with T.S. Martin & Co., after which he went back to Aleester to take the management of a three-room store owned by F. Raastad & Co.

In the spring of 1894 Mr. Ross came to Little Rock and purchased the old Fisher building, there he went into business, Smith & Ross being the original firm, with Mr. Ross in charge. Five years ago Mr. Ross became sole proprietor. At the present time the volume of his business is so great that he employs four clerks. In politics he is a Republican, and in religion a member of the Lutheran Reformed Church. He is now serving his third term as a member of the village council, and is also on the school board.

Mr. Ross was married in 1893 to Miss Emma Klee, and this happy union has been blessed by the birth of three children, Florence, Hobart and Irma. They have a comfortable home in the village, and are regarded as among the best people of the town.

Source: Compendium of History Reminiscence and Biography of Lyon County, Iowa. Published under the Auspices of the Pioneer Association of Lyon County. Geo. Monlun, Pres.; Hon. E. C. Roach Sec’y; and Col. F. M. Thompson, Historian. Geo. A. Ogle & CO., Published, Engravers and Book Manufacturers. Chicago, 1904-1905

Transcribed by Roseanna Zehner, Darlene Jacoby and Diane Johnson