William Ross Biography


	This biography appears on pages 721-722 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				WILLIAM ROSS.  

	William Ross, for many years chief carpenter of the E. & D. & 
James River division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, is 
now yard foreman and is well known in railroad circles. He has resided 
in Milbank since 1882 and is one of the well respected residents of 
that town. He was born in Richmond county, province of Quebec, Canada, 
October 20, 1847, a son of John and Ann (Monroe) Ross, both of whom 
were born in Scotland, the father in 1805 and the mother in 1824. Both 
came to the new world in 1836 and settled in the province of Quebec. 
The father followed agricultural pursuits until his demise, which 
occurred in 1860. The mother survived for many years, dying in 1902. 
They were the parents of eight children, six of whom grew to maturity 
and four of whom are still living, namely: Jeannette, who resides in 
Vandraul, in the province of Quebec, and who is now the wife of Joseph 
Nixon; William; Findlay, a farmer of Quebec; and Catherine, the wife of 
John H. Chapman, who is farming in Grant county, this state.  

	William Ross was educated in Quebec but when thirteen years of 
age began working, as it was incumbent upon him to support himself and 
his widowed mother. He followed the carpenter's trade in Vermont, 
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Ohio, Missouri and Iowa and in 1879 
entered the employ of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad. In 
1882 he was made chief carpenter of the H. & D. & James River division 
of that road with headquarters at Milbank and since that time has 
resided in that town. He held the position of chief carpenter until 
1911, when he became yard foreman, in which capacity he is still 
serving. Whatever he has done he has performed to the best of his 
ability and his work has always been of a high order. Although he was a 
poor boy and has been compelled to rely solely upon his own resources 
throughout life he has gained a gratifying measure of success. As his 
capital has increased he has invested in land and now owns three 
excellent farms. 
722 HISTORN- OF SOUTH DAKOTA

	In 1897 Mr. Ross was married to Miss Annie Rooney, who was born 
in the state of New York. They have two children, Esther Elizabeth and 
William H., both of whom are in school.  

	Mr. Ross is a republican in politics and is stalwart in support 
of that party at the polls He attends the Congregational church but his 
wife and children are members of the Roman Catholic church. Fraternally 
he is identified with the various Masonic bodies, belonging to the blue 
lodge, the Royal Arch Chapter, the Knights Templar Commandery, the 
Consistory and the Shrine. He has served as master of the blue lodge 
and as high priest and captain of hosts in the chapter. He has done a 
great deal of effective work in behalf of the temperance cause and 
believes that the liquor traffic is one of the greatest evils of today. 
For over three decades he has resided in Milbank and the fact that his 
fellow citizens, who have known him intimately during that time, hold 
him in the highest respect and esteem is proof of the genuine worth of 
his character.