Lawrence Sullivan "Sul" Ross 1838-1898

JOHNSON, ROSS

Posted By: Volunteer - Rich Lowe
Date: 6/20/2005 at 17:05:39

LATE GOV. ROSS

Texas Executive Was Born in
Van Buren County.

Mr. Geo. B. Johnson of Ft. Worth while at Bonaparte last week, handed us the following newspaper clipping, which explains itself:

Austin, Sept. 22 – Governor Lanham today received a letter from an attorney named Harlan, who lives at Keosauqua, Iowa, making inquiry as to the place and year of birth of the late Governor Sul Ross of Texas, Mr. Harlan in his letter says that he has an uncle, who is still living at the age of 94 years who in the 30’s knew a resident of Van Buren county, Iowa, named Captain Shappley P. Ross, to whom in 1838, a son was born. This son, Mr. Halan says, was named Sullivan, and he believes that he afterward became governor of Texas. It is interesting to note that this aged resident of Van Buren county is correct in his supposition. Governor Ross was born near Bentonsport, Iowa, in 1838, and when one year old came to Texas with his father, Captain Ross, and settled at Marlin.

Mr. Harlan, who is a member of the Iowa State Historical association, gives a long list of men who afterward became United States senators, governors of states and prominent in political affairs of the country, all of whom were born in Van Buren county.

Source: Article found in McCrary scrapbook, Bonaparte Library. Handwritten on article was “1904”]

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Lawrence Sullivan
"Sul" Ross
(1838-1898)

Born in Iowa on 27 September 1838, Sul Ross moved with his family to Texas the following year. He attended Baylor University in 1856, then graduated from Wesleyan University at Florence, Alabama in 1859.

Ross earned early recognition as captain of a ranger company that attacked a large Comanche village in 1860 and recaptured the long lost Cynthia Ann Parker.

The following year Ross resigned ranger service and joined the Confederacy. In the war, he gained rapid promotions, advancing to the rank of Brigadier General. Soon after the war ended, he entered politics and advanced from the office of sheriff of McLennan County to that of State senator in 1880.

Ross was elected governor of Texas in 1887, and was the first governor to occupy the newly completed capitol building in 1888.

After serving two terms as governor, Ross became president of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas in 1891. While at A&M, he was popular with the students and was responsible for numerous improvements.

Ross died on 3 January 1898 as the result of an illness acquired during a hunting trip.

Source: http://www.lsjunction.com/people/ross.htm

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BORN: 1838 in Bentonsport, IA.
DIED: 1898 in Waco, TX.
(Died of exposure while hunting)

CAMPAIGNS: Participated in 135 battles and engagements over the course of the war.

HIGHEST RANK ACHIEVED: Brigadier General

BIOGRAPHY

Lawrence Sullivan Ross was born in Bentonsport, Iowa, on September 27, 1838. His family moved to Texas when he was an infant, and Ross developed a reputation as a fighter of Native Americans on the frontier. He graduated from Wesleyan University in Alabama, spending his vacations working on operations against the Comanches. Among his actions was rescuing Cynthia Ann Parker, the mother of Quanah (who became chief of the Comanches); and killing Chief Peta Necona in single combat. Sam Houston appointed Ross captain of a company of Texas Rangers, but Ross declined Gen. Winfield Scott's offer of a commission in the US Army. When Texas seceded, Ross joined the Confederate service as a private. He served in the Battle of Corinth, and was promoted to brigadier general on December 21, 1863. He commanded a brigade in the Atlanta Campaign. During his service in the war, "Sul" Ross took part in 135 battles and engagements, and had 5 horses shot under him. After the Civil War ended, he returned to Texas a poor man. He began farming, and his plantation eventually became a financial success. Ross served as sheriff of McLennan County, a member of the state constitutional convention and a state senator. Elected governor in 1887, and reelected two years later, he served as president of Texas Agricultural and Mechanical College. Ross died from exposure while he was hunting along the Trinity River, on January 3, 1898. He is buried in Waco, Texas.

Source: http://www.historycentral.com/bio/CWcGENS/CSARoss.html

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Lawrence Sullivan Ross "Sul"
1838-1898

Lawrence Sullivan Ross was born September 27, 1838 at Bentonsport, Iowa Territory. In 1839 his family migrated to Texas, first settling in Milam County. By 1849 the family had settled at Waco. Sul Ross attended Baylor University at Independence, Texas and graduated from Wesleyan University, Florence, Alabama in 1859.

In the summer of 1858, Ross signed on with the U. S. Army as the leader of a band of Indian auxiliaries from the Brazos Indian Reservation. His skill and courage were noted by the regular army officers, but he nearly lost his life in October 1858 during a battle with Comanches at the Wichita Village near Rush Springs, Oklahoma. Recovering from his wounds, he returned to college and graduated the next spring.

Ross joined the Texas Rangers in 1860, first serving as a lieutenant and later as a captain. He was empowered by Sam Houston to raise a company of men to serve in Young County and the surrounding area. He showed the same skill and courage as a Ranger captain as he had shown earlier with the army. In December of 1860 he and his company pursued a Comanche raiding party that ended in the battle of Pease River in which Cynthia Ann Parker, who had been captured by the Comanche some 20 years earlier, was rescued. Ross resigned from the Rangers at the beginning of the Civil War.

Ross enlisted in the Confederate Army in 1861. He was soon promoted to the rank of major of the 6th Texas Calvary, and in May 1862 he was promoted to colonel. He was promoted to brigadier-general as a reward for his skill in covering the retreat of Gen. Earl Van Dorn from Corinth, Mississippi in 1863. He commanded a brigade in Wheeler's cavalry, Army of Tennessee, and later was in command of the Texas Calvary, Army of the West.

Returning to Texas after the war, he took up farming. He served as sheriff of McLennan County from 1873 - 1875, He was a member of the 1875 state constitutional convention, served as a state senator from 1881 - 1886 and as governor of Texas from 1887 - 1891. It was during his term in office that the new state capitol building was completed. Following his last term in office he was appointed president of the struggling Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas (now Texas A & M University), an office he held until his death on January 4, 1898, in College Station.

Source: http://www.texasranger.org/halloffame/Ross_Lawrence.htm