Losson Ross

ROSS, WEEKS, INMAN

Posted By: Volunteer - Rich Lowe
Date: 10/31/2002 at 20:19:50

In the 1880 So. Co. History book, Losson Ross, of Analy township, has a biography on page 481, which reads:

Ross, Losson, Whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Floyd County, Indiana, July 22, 1828. When quite young he, with his parents, moved to Harrison Co., Indiana, where he recieved his education. In 1849 he went to Louisiana, where he remained until the spring of 1850, when he moved, with his parents, to Van Buren Co, Iowa, and there joined a party, on April 5th, and started across the plains for California, arriving at Placerville September 14th, 1850, and carried on in mining for two years, after which he was engaged with Bradley, Burden and Co., which was organized for the purpose of conveying water from the Cosummes river into the dry diggings, to facilitate mining. Here he was engaged for about three years, when he opened up a general merchandise store in Coon Hollow, which business he followed two years. In February, 1857, he came to this county and settled on his present estate, consisting of three hundred acres, where he has since resided. On Sept. 4, 1853, he married, on Clear Creek, El Dorato County, Miss Synda Weeks. She was born May 15, 1833, a native of Beaver Co., Pennsylvania. By this union they have seven children: William D., born in Coon Hollow, El Dorado County, June 30, 1854; Frank, born June 7, 1857; Kemp, Aug. 28,1859; Irvin, December 3, 1861; George, January 10, 1866; Benjamin December 13, 1868; Anna Ella, November 21, 1875."

The 1911 History of Sonoma county has a biography on Losson Ross which includes history on the father, William Ross, as well, also a detailed discription of the years between leaving Iowa in 1850, and settling in Sonoma county in 1857, with a list of Losson's children, who they married, and where they were living, in 1911, on pages 305-9, it reads: "LOSSON ROSS The roll call of pioneer settlers in California shows that the ranks are being gradually depleted, a fact that was brought forcibly to mind when it was announced that Losson Ross had passed away on July 20, 1908. His death closed a career of distinct usefulness in the community with which he had lived for fifty-four years, no one being more highly esteemed or respected in the vicinity of Forestville than was he. The Ross family originated in the south, William Ross, the father being a native of Tennessee, but when he was quite a young child he was taken by his parents to Indiana, and it was there that he was educated and grew to manhood years on his father's farm. Not only did he become proficient in agriculture, but he also equiped himself in three other lines, gun-making, blacksmithing, and carriage-making, and in Harrison Co., Ind., he established a wagon-making shop that he maintained until the year 1849. He then removed to Iowa and continued working at his trade in Bonaparte for the following five years. In the meantime two of his sons, Losson and James L., had come to California, and in 1855 he joined them in Placerville, where he continued for two years, at the end of that time coming to Analy township, Sonoma county, and locating on a ranch of one hundred and sixty acres that his two sons mentioned had purchased and deeded to him. This was his home for almost twenty years, or until his death in 1876, when seventy-two old. His first vote was cast for a Whig candidate, and he continued to cast his ballot for the candidates of this party until the formation of the Republican party, which he supported as enthusiastically as he had its predecessor. Personally he was a man of high principles, and throughout his mature years he had been a member and active worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church. He had a hardy co-laborer and sympathizer in his wife, who before her marriage was Sarah Kay, a native of Virginia, and who died in Analy township at the age of eighty-four years. In her relegious affiliation she was a member of the Adventist Church. A family of nine children was born to William Ross and his wife, eight becoming citizens of California, but of these only three are now living, as follows: James L., a rancher in Analy township; Jesse, a rancher in San Benito county; and W. T., who owns a ranch in Sonoma county.[apparently this is in reference to Tommy Ross] Losson Ross was born July 22, 1828, in New Albany, near Corydon, Harrison county Ind., and as a boy he attended the district school near his birthplace. When not in school, he found occupation in his father's wagon-shop, and under his father he learned the wagon and carriage-maker's trade. After spending a year in Lousiana, he removed with his parents to Bonaparte, Iowa, remaining there until April 5, 1850, when with his brother James L., he set out on the overland journey with ox-teams. The Carson river was reached after a tire-some journey of six months, during which experience he and his wife walked all of the way, with the single exception of one day, when he was ill.When the brothers reached their final destination, the financial outlook was not the brightest, the total sum of their wealth being $1, each one having fifty cents. Their honest appearence was undoubtedly the means of their obtaining credit with which to make the first payment on a claim to a man who was ill and wanted to sell out, in order to return home. This he was enabled to do with the $15 which they paid him for the claim. Their efforts as miners were very satisfactory until the rainy season overtook them, afterwhich they went on to a camp at Diamond Springs. Some time later, Losson Ross became superintendant of an enterprise to convey water from the Consumne river to the dry diggings, and at that same time advancing some of his personal means to assist the enterprise. After a trail of two and a-half years, the enterprise failed, and Mr. Ross lost not only his wages, but also the money he had invested in the scheme. Still having faith in the enterprise, however, when a new company was formed he entered its employ as agent and continued in this capacity until 1854. Subsequently, removing to Coon Hollow, Eldorado county, he carried on a lucrative business as general merchant until 1857. It was in the year just mentioned that Mr. Ross disposed of his store, and with his brother, James L., came to Sonoma county and purchased six hundred acres in Analy township, each owning one half of it. At first Losson Ross followed general farming and stock raising, a line of endeavor in which he was especially successful, but in more recent years he made a speciality of raising fruit and hops, having fifty acres in prunes, pears, peachs and apples of the best varieties, while thirty eight acres were in hops. On a fifty acre tract adjoining the homestead which he owned he also raised large crops, having thirty acres in hops and two acres in prunes. In the management and care of his ranch Mr. Ross applied the principle that what was worth doing at all was worth doing well, and nothing about the ranch would ever suggest that he at any time deviated from this. Labor saving devices were installed as soon as their need became recognized, and amoung the buildings on the ranch he installed a large up-to-date drier. His stock included the best grade of McCellan and Morgan horses, and his large dairy was supplied from Holstein, Durham and Jersey cattle. In Harrison county, Ind., Losson Ross was first married to Miss Martha Inman, who died a victum of cholera the following year. In Eldorado county, September 4, 1853, he married Miss Sidney Meeks, born in Beaver county, PA., May 15,1833, the daughter of Robert and Sophronia (Baker) Meeks, who came to California in 1852. Mr. and Mrs. Ross became the parents of seven children. William D. leases fifty acres of the old homestead, where he lives with his wife, formerly Hattie Lee, of Forestville; Frank, farming near Santa Rosa, married Miss Annie M. Ayers; Kemp L., owns and manages a ranch in Analy township; Irvine D., living on the home place, chose as his wife Ida, the daughter of D. P. Gardner, of Santa Rosa; George A., who has charge of the home ranch, married Miss Lena L. Bach, and they with their three children, Mervyn F., Edwin and Leonard B., live on the old homestead; Benjamin F., is a rancher in Sonoma county; and Anna E., the wife of Elmer Davis, lives in Clarion county, PA. Unlike his father in his political belief, Mr. Ross was a Democrat, and an active worker in its ranks, although he was in no sense an office seeker. He was also well known in fraternal circles, being the last survivor of the nine charter members of Lafayette Lodge no. 126, F. & A. M., the lodge having been organized in Sebastopol in 1857. In the work of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which Mr. Ross was a member, he was actively interested, and in the office of steward he served efficiently for many years.