Benjamin F. Ross

ROSS, HULLIHAN, HERRING

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 3/25/2007 at 21:27:30

Source: History of Monona County Iowa
Chicago National Pub. Co 1890

Benjamin F. Ross, the present efficient County Superintendent of common schools, residing at Onawa, was born in Clinton County, Penn., July 11, 1852, and is a son of Samuel A. and Margaret (Hullihan) Ross. He grew to manhood in his native State, and having grounded his education in the common school, finished it at the Farmers’ High School, at New Lebanon, Mercer County. In 1871 he came to Onawa arriving there March 22, and was engaged in school teaching in the county for several years. In the fall of 1875 he purchased a farm on section 21, Lincoln Township, which contains one hundred and sixty acres of land, which is now under an excellent state of cultivation, and which he still owns. At the same time he was engaged at his professional labors, he improved his farm and successfully carried on stock-raising. In the fall of 1887, he was the regular nominee of the combined Democratic and Union Labor convention for Superintendent of common schools, of the county, to which he was duly elected, and in 1889, being elected his own successor, is now serving his second term. In 1877 he formed a partnership with his brother, C. M. Ross, in the real-estate, loan, insurance and collection business, which is still carried on under the management of the latter.
Mr. Ross was united in marriage, December 25, 1873, with Miss Sarah M. Herring, a native of Winnebago County, Ill., who was born April 5, 1854, and is the daughter of Benjamin and Honor E. Herring. Her father was born in Oxford County, Me., and was the son of John and Mercy (Haskell) Herring, who were among the pioneers of Winnebago County, where they died. Benjamin, after his marriage removed with his family to Greene County, Wis., where he worked at his trade of a cooper. During the Civil War he enlisted in Company B. Twenty-second Wisconsin Infantry, and while engaged in the defense of his country, during one of the dreadful conflicts that marked the course of the war, was captured by the rebels, and confined in Libby Prison. After his release and discharge in the spring of 1865, Mr. Herring came to Monona County and took up a homestead on section 20, Lincoln Township, where he resided until the spring of 1889, when they took a trip to visit his friends. Mr. and Mrs. Herring were the parents of five children, three of whom are living: Sarah M. and Mary M., twins, and Lillie J., the wife of A. E. Wheeler, of Eugene City, Ore.
Mr. and Mrs. Ross are the parents of four children: Samuel B., born October 3, 1874: Harry W., December 7, 1876: Grace E., January 8, 1881: and Margaret A., May 23, 1883.