Clay County, SD Biographies.....Ross, Nathaniel V. 1835 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/sd/sdfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00001.html#0000031 February 17, 2008, 12:19 pm Author: Geo. A. Ogle & Co. (1897) HON. NATHANIEL V. ROSS. The subject of this biography, a farmer residing in section 18, Vermillion township, Clay county, was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, on the 9th of June, 1835. His father was Benjamin Ross, and his mother, Mary Palm, a native of Pennsylvania, of German descent. After their marriage they settled in Trumbull county, Ohio, where they lived, with the exception of a couple of years spent in Mercer county, Pa., until early in the '40s, leaving the Buckeye state at that time and settling in Jones county, Iowa. During the latter years of his life, Mr. Ross went to Maysville, Ark., for his health, and there died; his wife later on came to Clay county, Dak. Ter., and at the residence of her son, in Fairview township, she also passed to her reward beyond the grave. Of the eight children born to the above couple, three sons and five daughters, our subject was the fifth in order of birth. He was living with an uncle in Trumbull county when his parents removed to Iowa, but in the fall of 1852, he joined the family and engaged in farming in Jones county until 1858, leaving the Hawkeye state at that time for southern Nebraska, where he remained until coming to Dakota territory. May, 1861, Mr. Ross took up a claim of 160 acres in section 18, of Vermillion township, settled thereon, and has ever since made it his home. Agriculture has always been his business, and he has been eminently successful in his chosen calling. The marriage of Mr. Ross and Miss Margaret Goudy, was celebrated in Marion, Linn Co., Iowa, November 18, 1855. Mrs. Ross is a daughter of Thomas and Mary (McWilliams) Goudy, and is a native of Ohio, born February 6, 1835. Six living children have come to bless this union, of whom the following is a record: Mary, the wife of L. B. Keeling; Walter; Eva, now Mrs. Stickney; Edith, Horace and MayB. Of the four deceased members of the family, three died in infancy, and John died in his fifteenth year. Mr. Ross has always affiliated with the Republicans, and is a stanch upholder of the doctrines of that party. He was a member of the territorial council, serving during the sessions of 1864-5 and 6, and has also held numerous of the township offices, being the present chairman of the board of supervisors. He is also a strong temperance man, and makes use of his influence wherever he can in the cause. Additional Comments: Extracted from: MEMORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF Turner, Lincoln, Union and Clay Counties, SOUTH DAKOTA. Containing Biographical Sketches of Hundreds of Prominent Old Settlers and Representative Citizens, with a Review of their Life Work; their Identity with the Growth and Development of these Counties; Reminiscences of Personal History and Pioneer Life; and other Interesting and Valuable Matter which should be Preserved in History. ILLUSTRATED CHICAGO. GEO. A. OGLE & CO. Publishers, Engravers and Book Manufacturers. 1897. Biography is the only true history.—EMERSON. A people that take no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote generations.—MACAULAY. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/sd/clay/bios/ross282gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/sdfiles/ File size: 3.7 Kb