Henry H. ROSS, was born in Livingston County, Missouri, near Chillicothe, August 11, 1840, the eldest son of Thomas and Martha (McMILLIAN) ROSS, who are of Scotch descent, the father born in Ohio and the mother in Kentucky. The mother of our subject went to Illinois when seventeen years of age, where she was married, and soon after went with her husband to Missouri where he followed the teacher’s profession. In 1849 they moved to Wapello County, Iowa, and the year 1859, came to Ringgold County, where the father followed his profession being among the first school-teachers of Mount Ayr. He is still living in Ringgold County. The parents of our subject had a family of thirteen children, of whom only five – four sons and one daughter – survive.

Henry H. ROSS passed his youth in Wapello County, Iowa, where he attended the district schools. He came to Ringgold County, Iowa, in 1859, and attended school at Osceola till the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion, when he enlisted [August 18, 1861] in Company M, Third Iowa Cavalry, and was in the Western department [serving as a 2nd Sergeant]. He was captured at the battle of Pea Ridge, but was soon after exchanged. He was mustered out of the service in August [9], 1865, at Davenport, Iowa, after serving his country faithfully for four years.

He then returned to Mt. Ayr, where he taught school for thirty-six months. In 1867 he was elected county superintendent of schools.

He was married in 1867 to Miss Mary DOZE, daughter of Peter DOZE, one of the early settlers of Ringgold County. They have two children living – Minnie and Eunice McCLINTOCK.

Mr. ROSS was elected county surveyor, and served as such four years. In 1879 he was elected to the same office, holding the position the four years following. He was elected county auditor in the fall of 1885, which office he still holds, to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. Mr. ROSS is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.

NOTE: Henry H. ROSS died on September 3, 1917, Mount Ayr, Iowa, with interment at Rose Hill Cemetery.

Henry's grandfather Thomas ROSS, Sr. was born in Delaware in April of 1776, and died in April of 1864, Mount Ayr, Iowa, with interment at Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr, Iowa. Henry's grandmother was Susannah (HOLLAND) ROSS.

Henry's father Thomas ROSS, Jr. was born in 1816, and died in 1901. Henry's mother, Martha Ann (McMILLIAN) ROSS was born in Scott County, Kentucky November 19, 1821, and died in Mount Ayr, Iowa, on September 12, 1888. Thomas and Martha were interred at Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr, Iowa.

Mary's father Peter Doze was the first elected sheriff of Ringgold County.

SOURCES:
Biography & Historical Record of Ringgold County, Iowa, p. 361, 1887.

American Civil War Soldiers Database, ancestry.com

WPA Graves Survey

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, March of 2009

Biographical Sketches Pages Index: A - F,   G - L,   M - R,  S - Z