Chicot-Clark County ArArchives Biographies.....Ross, Benjamin L. 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ar/arfiles.html
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Robert Sanchez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00027.html#0006574 June 16, 2009, 4:54 pm

Author: S. J. Clarke (Publisher, 1922)

BENJAMIN L. ROSS.
    Prominent in the financial circles of Arkansas is Benjamin L. Ross, cashier
of the Merchants & Planters Bank at Eudora. of which institution he is also a
director. He is a native son of Arkansas, his birth having occurred at
Arkadelphia, on the 27th of August, 1885. His father, Robert R., who died in
1918 at the age of sixty years, was for many years active as a bookkeeper and
for some time held the office of circuit clerk in Clark county. He was also in
the land office at Camden for many years. Mr. Ross died in Arkadelphia and his
passing came as a severe blow to his many friends in the community. One of his
brothers, Jesse A. Ross, was a major in the Confederate army during the Civil
war. The Ross family was one of the pioneer families in Clark county. In
Memphis, Tennessee, in 1883, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Ross to Miss Sue
John Ligon, a native of Mason, that state. She is now making her home in
Memphis, aged fifty-five years. To their union two boys and one girl were born,
all of whom are living. Benjamin L., whose name introduces this review, was the
second in order of birth.

    In the acquirement of an education, Benjamin L. Ross attended the public
schools of Arkadelphia, and after graduating from the high school there he took
a two-year literary course at Ouachita College. His higher education was
acquired through his own efforts, for he worked in a sawmill during the summer
vacations in order to secure enough money to pay his tuition. In 1907 he went to
work with the Gulf Congress Company of Little Rock, as clerk, and was active in
that capacity for one month. The following three months were spent as clerk in
the State National Bank at Little Rock, at the termination of which time he was
transferred to the Bank of Lake Village, being promoted to the position of
assistant cashier. For about one year he was connected with that institution and
was then transferred to the Bank of Eudora, being employed in the same capacity.
All of these banks were branches of the Bankers Trust Company of St. Louis,
Missouri. Two years later, or in 1910, Mr. Ross became cashier of the Citizens
State Bank at Lake Village and remained with that institution until 1911, when
he returned to Eudora. Subsequently he organized the Merchants and Planters Bank
here, of which he was elected cashier and has remained active in that capacity
since. The success of the institution seemed assured from the start and today1
the deposits amount to some one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The bank was
organized with twenty-five thousand dollars, paid up capital, and since
organization it has paid about seventy per cent dividends. The surplus and
undivided profits now total twenty thousand dollars. Mr. Ross is one of the
stockholders in the bank and is acting as secretary and director of the Eudora
Congress Company of this city.

    Mr. Ross was married on the 24th of December, 190S, at Eudora, to Miss Essie
Crab-tree, a daughter of Benjamin Crabtree, a well known resident here. To their
union four children have been born: Benjamin L., Jr., aged twelve years; Sue
Elizabeth. ten years of age; Roberta A., eight years of age; and Robert Harlan,
aged six months. The three older children are attending the Eudora public schools.

    The religious faith of the family is that of the Presbyterian church, which
Mr. Ross serves as deacon. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, holding
membership in Concord Lodge, No. 23, A. F. & A. M., of Eudora; Eudora Chapter,
No. 132, Royal Arch Masons, of which he is high priest; Arkansas Consistory at
Little Rock; and Sahara Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Pine Bluff. He is a
Scottish Rite Mason. During the World war Mr. Ross took a prominent and active
part in all activities and served on various committees in the interest of Red
Cross, Liberty Loan and other drives. He is one of Eudora's most public-spirited
and representative citizens and is never too busy to give his aid in the
furtherance of any movement for the development and improvement of the
community. Mr. Ross has many stanch friends throughout the county and state who
appreciate his true personal worth and he is held in high esteem by his fellowmen.


Additional Comments:
Citation:
Centennial History of Arkansas
Volume II
Chicago-Little Rock: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
1922


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ar/chicot/bios/ross104bs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/arfiles/

File size: 4.9 Kb