Ross, Duncan Sr. 1811-1906

ROSS, MENZIES

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/19/2013 at 20:41:29

PIONEER PASSES AWAY

Duncan Ross, one of the pioneer and best known citizens of the Big Sioux Valley, passed peacefully to the Great Beyond at the home of his son, Boyson, in Akron, Iowa, Saturday morning, at 6:45 o’clock, April 21, 1906.

He was probably the oldest person in this part of the country, having attained the great age of 94 years, 4 months and 24 days. He endured a period of intense suffering. Nearly ten years ago he was afficted with a cancerous affection in the heel, but was not seriously troubled until last year and in the fall went to Hot Springs, S. D.., for treatment, accompanied by his granddaughter, Miss Alta Ross. He submitted to several operations and was thought to be improving, but the malignant disease slowly spread to other parts of his body and the best medical skill was of no avail.

Duncan Ross was born November 27, 1811, at Nigg, in Rosshire, Scotland. He grew to manhood there, imbibing the industrial habits so characteristic of the lads and lassies of the land of heather. At this place he was united with the Presbyterian Church. In his native country he learned and practiced the trade of a stone-mason. His father was a ferryman at Cromarty Ferry and every shilling that he made was earned on the water. At a little parish near Aberfeldy, in 1837, he married a Highland lassie—Janet Menzies. They lived at Perth for some time and it was not until 1856 that he decided to try his fortune in the land of the free, and that year he came with his family to America.

His first location was in the then young state of Minnesota, where he settled on a wild farm in Steele County. It was poor land, too, and ill-suited for the pursuit of agriculture; but Mr. Ross brought it to a fair state of cultivation. After living there for five years, he came to Union county, Dakota territory, and chose a promising prairie claim. He brought his wife and family the following year, but, upon arriving, found that the claim had been “jumped” during his absence. He was, therefore, compelled to look around for another location. This he found in Jefferson Township, Union County. This was about the time of the Indian massacre at new Ulm, Minnesota, and the trip with his family through the hostile country was fraught with constant peril. They lived at Jefferson four years and then bought a farm in Sioux Valley Township, Union County, and that was the family home until 1898, since which time he made his home in with his sons, Robert and Boyson.

Mr. and Mrs. Ross were the parents of thirteen children, of whom, five sons and two daughters, sill survive, namely—James, Boyson, Robert, Walter and John, of Akron and vicinity; Mrs. Margaret Massey, of Jefferson, S. D., and Mrs. Susan Hardy, of Ontario, California. The good wife and mother died July 18, 1871, and is numbered with the silent sleepers on the farm in Sioux Valley. One son, Duncan, now deceased, served as a soldier in the Civil War.

Duncan Ross was one of the first settlers in this vicinity and endured all the hardships of pioneer life. He had but a half dollar in money when he crossed the Big Sioux River, and his financial prospering was due to his own exertion, judicious management and to his honorable dealing with all. Politically, he was a Republican—always supporting and voting for the candidates of this party since casting candidates of this party since casting his first ballot. In the early 60s he was a member of the Dakota territorial legislature. He had a most remarkable memory and was a great admirer of Robert Burns. He knew most of Burns poems by heart. Many will remember his striking appearance in riding so erectly on his gray horse, and even last summer he would spring to the saddle from the ground like a boy of eighteen. He was patience personified in speaking of endurance. In his late illness he bore his great suffering nobly and without grumbling, and one day he cheerfully said: “I haven’t had much sickness all my life, so I don’t know as I out to complain now.” His true manhood gained the highest esteem of all with whom he came in contact and this world is the better for his having lived in it. The community extends condolence to the ones near and dear to him.

Monday afternoon, at 1:30 o’clock, the local Masons, with twenty-three visiting brethren from Hawarden, Elk Point and Chatsworth (all prominent citizens of those places), marched in a body from the hall to the home, where prayer was briefly offered by Rev. A. C. Blackman. Then the remains were conveyed to the Baptist church and Rev. Blackman delivered a splendid sermon upon the theme of “Immortality.” The services were largely attended by friends and old neighbors, as a last tribute of respect. At the grave, his Masonic brethren took charge and carried out the beautiful and impressive ”apron,” “evergreen” and “farewell” rites of that order. Interment was made in Riverside Cemetery.

Akron Register Tribune
Thursday, April 26, 1906
Akron, Iowa