Ross, Leola (Anna Leola) (Mrs. Norman A.), 1853-1939

ROSS, JAQUES, BEAN

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/15/2021 at 14:17:43

From the Sioux County Capital, September 21, 1939:

OBITUARIES – MRS. ANNA LEOLA ROSS

Anna Leola Ross passed away at the home of her son at Orange City, Saturday, September 16, 1939 at the age of 86 years. Although of advanced years her health was excellent and she was able to walk to town and visit her many friends until two months ago when she crossed the room and slid to the floor breaking her hip. After eight weeks of patient waiting the bone healed and she wanted to leave her bed. Pleurisy developed Monday preceding a general decline.

Leola Jacques was born among the huge sugar maples in a log cabin at Sugar Ridge, Putnam county, Ohio, Sept. 14, 1853 of religious parents. Her earliest memories were of her church with her parents, and her grandfather James Jaques, jr., a Methodist minister from early manhood, and one of the earliest Circuit Riders in Massachusetts and the other New England states. Her father’s family and mother’s family were here before the Revolution and served in the war against England. She joined the church, and in early girlhood rode in a covered wagon through Indian country to Epworth, Ia. Epworth Seminary was founded and she was an early graduate. She cared for a crippled mother until the mother’s death and then married her schoolmate Norman Augustus Ross in 1874. In 1886 she moved to Williams, Iowa where she lived for many years.

Mrs. Ross was an active member of the M. E. church from early girlhood and a constant attendant at the services. Recently a friend told her that his religious life started with her influence in Sunday school when he was a small boy.

Nine years ago Norman Ross passed away at Williams after celebrating their 56th anniversary of marriage, and she came to live with her son, O. N. Ross. She was a charter member of Williams Chapter No. 492 of Eastern Star and the oldest active member of Century Chapter at Orange City which she attended recently.

All of her three children survive: Albert W. Ross, Williams, Ia.; Hattie L. Goulden, Atlanta, Georgia; and Ozro N. Ross, of Orange City, Ia. There are eight grandchildren. One brother, Dr. William Jaques, lives at Chicago, Ill.

Grandmother Ross was patient and considerate. Her interest was in her home and family, she was always doing what she could for others.

Funeral services were conducted by Rev. Mr. LeRoy Nattress at the American Reformed church at Orange City and she was laid at rest in the Webster City cemetery beside her husband by Rev. Mr. Wm. Baddley, her pastor of the M. E. church at Williams, Ia., of which church she was a member for over 50 years. The members of the Eastern Star there assisted with the services.

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RESEARCH NOTES

An almost identical obituary was published in the Alton Democrat, September 22, 1939, Orange City news.

Her death certificate (informant O. N. Ross) has her as Leola Ross and adds her parents, James Jaques, and Hannah Bean, both born in Massachusetts; died at 3 a.m. September 16, 1939; cause, hyostatic[hypostatic?] pneumonia, onset 9-10-39; contributory cause, fractured femur, 7-28-39.

Her FindaGrave.com page has her as Anna Leola “Leola” Jaques Ross; born 14 Sep. 1853 at Finlay, Hancock County, Ohio; buried in Graceland Cemetery, Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa; parents James Jaques (1821-1882) and Mercy Elizabeth Bean Jaques (1817-1879); two siblings listed, William Kilburn Jaques (1859-1945) and Jno E. Jaques (1861-1915); husband Norman Augustus Ross (1854-1931); children Albert W. Ross (1875-1941), Hattie Leola Ross Goulden (1877-1972), and Ozro Norman Ross (1878-1958). There is a photo of the joint headstone of her (Leola Jaques) and her husband.

Census records, and birth and marriage records for her children, give her name variously as Leola, Anna L., Leola Ann, Leola A., or Annie.