Biography of John P. Ross, 1902, Baker Co., Oregon: Surnames: Ross, Livingston, Smith.

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Transcribed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
W. David Samuelsen - November 2001
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An Illustrated History of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties, pub. 1902
by Western Historical Pub. Co. of Chicago. page 258

JOHN P. ROSS

It is without doubt a fact that everyone of the far eastern commonwealths of
the United States are represented by their children in the cosmopolitan
population of Oregon, and the old Keystone state not been backward in sending
her full quota of children to these occidental regions, as we perceive by the
stanch citizens who were brought up under the benign influence of the William 
Penn regime, but now form a considerable portion of wide-awake and progressive
inhabitants. Among this worthy class is the gentleman whose name heads this
paragraph and whose enterprising career commendable achievements have been
largely wrought out in our midst, having come to this section in 1866, being
actively engaged in business here since. His birth was in Allegheny county,
Pennsylvania, on January 30, 1832, being the son of Samuel H. and Sarah
(Livingston) Ross, both natives of the same state, and of Scotch extraction.
In 1841 he removed with his parents to Iowa territory, settling near Mount
Pleasant, where he remained until 1850, when he became desirous of satisfying
his adventurous spirit by actual experience in the western regions and
accordingly set out with ox teams for the Golden state, where he engaged in
mining and freighting until 1866, at which time he came to Baker City and at
once settled. At that time twelve houses and thirty-one people constituted the
village and from that embroyonic stage until the present, Mr. Ross has been
one of the foremost men in the active promotion of the interests of the town
and country adjacent. In 1863 he had passed through this place, but did not
stop at that time. From the beginning he was very active in the organization
of the city government and a very prominent factor in the establishment of her
present commendable institutions. He was a member of the first city council
and continued in that capacity for a number of years, held other improtant
positions and has always been a liberal supporter of the churches and other
institutions of the city. In 1868 he engaged in business and continuously
wrought therein until 1890, when he retired from more active operations to
enjoy the rest and competence which his industry and enterprise had earned and
entitled him to. He has a fine home on Resort street and considerable other
city property and holings also in other places.

He was married to Miss Martha A., daughter of Levi and Matilda Smith, in Mount
Pleasant, Iowa, on September 27, 1869, and to them have been born two
children: William A. in business in Baker City, and John M., in business in
Union, Oregon. Mr. Ross is a member of the I.O.O.F., Baker Lodge, No. 25, of
the Encampment, NO. 7, and the Rebekah degree, No. 8, all in this city. In his
trip across the plains the Indians attacked the train in the Humboldt river,
but none of the immigrants were injured.