Brown-Switzerland County IN Archives Biographies.....Ross, John C. 1858 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/in/infiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 26, 2007, 11:43 pm Author: B. F. Bowen (1904) JOHN C. ROSS, M. D. For nearly twenty years a practicing physician of Brown county. Dr. Ross ranks among the leading representatives of the medical profession in this part of the state, his thorough training, close application and persistent labors gaining for him pre-eminence in the noble work to which his life is being devoted. If fame and success were purchasable qualities many a man whom fortune has favored would be occupying prominent positions in professional circles, but learning and consecutive effort are the rounds of the ladder by which all must rise, and by these alone has the Doctor been enabled to win distinction and forge his way to the front in the line of his chosen calling. Dr. Ross is a native of Gallatin county, Kentucky, where his birth occurred on April 22d, of the year 1858. His parents, Milton C. and Nancy (Hopkins) Ross, were descended from old Virginia families that settled in the Blue Grass state many years ago, the father a miller in early life and later a successful and well-to-do farmer and stock raiser. He was also a man of considerable influence in his community, a local Democratic politician of no little prominence, and, with his wife, was a faithful and devoted member of the Christian (or Disciple) church. Milton and Nancy Ross had a family of eleven children, the subject of this review being next to the youngest, and of the number but two are living at the present time. Dr. Ross received his preliminary educational training in the public schools, and shortly after attaining his majority began planning for the profession for which he early manifested such a decided preference. After the usual course of reading, under the direction of a well-known local physician, he entered, in 1883, the College of Physicians and Surgeons, in Cincinnati, where he pursued his studies and investigations for a period of two years, being graduated with an honorable record on the 26th day of February, 1885. With a mind well disciplined by critical professional training, the Doctor, in May of the latter year, opened an office at Markland, Switzerland county, Indiana, where he practiced for a short time, removing the following October to Belmont, Brown county, which was his field of operation until 1889, when he found a larger and more inviting field in the town of Nashville. Since locating in his present place of residence, Dr. Ross has built up an extensive and lucrative professional business and won distinctive precedence as a successful physician and skillful surgeon. His practice soon assumed large proportions, for his success in the handling of difficult cases demonstrated his superior talent and ability, and from the beginning of his career to the present time his reputation has steadily grown until, as already indicated, he now occupies a commanding position among the leading men of his profession in this section of the state. The Doctor has been a close and thorough student of the science of medicine, has kept abreast with the original lines of thought and investigation as they have advanced and with all the latest inventions and appliances to aid in the practice. His financial resources have increased in proportion as his extensive patronage has grown, and by judicious investment of the same he is today in comfortable circumstances, being one of the well-to-do men and substantial, public spirited citizens of the town and county in which he lives. Dr. Ross has long been an influential factor in the political circles of Brown county, and, for a number of years his position as a leader of the local Democracy has been duly recognized and appreciated. He has rendered valuable service to his party in a number of campaigns, and in recognition thereof he was elected in 1898 auditor of Brown county, which office he has since held. He served for nine years as secretary of the board of health and for a period of four years was a member of the board of pension examiners, discharging the duties of both positions with ability and to the entire satisfaction of the public. On December 31, 1885, in the town of Sanders, Carroll county, Kentucky, Dr. Ross was united in marriage with Miss Nannie Smith, who was born in Gallatin county, that state, November 25, 1861, the daughter of Robert D. Smith, a prominent farmer and representative citizen of the community in which the family resided. Dr. and Mrs. Ross have three children: Melville, born July 26, 1887; Robert T., March 29, 1889, and an infant whose birth and death occurred in the year 1891. Dr. Ross is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America, in all of which organizations he is held in great esteem, and at different times he has been called to fill important official positions in each. He is a prominent and highly respected citizen, and since his residence in Nashville has always manifested a public spirited interest in its welfare, doing all in his power for its upbuilding and advancement of the town and surrounding country. His life thus far has been well spent and the eminence to which he has attained in his profession indicates a future of continued success and prosperity. Additional Comments: Extracted from BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY INDIANA INCLUDING BIOGRAPHIES OF THE GOVERNORS AND OTHER REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS OF INDIANA ILLUSTRATED 1904 B. F. Bowen PUBLISHER File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/in/brown/bios/ross809gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/infiles/ File size: 6.0 Kb