T. W. Ross

T. W. Ross, son of James S. and Martha A. (Watson) Ross, was born in Philadelphia, Pa. in 1827. His parents were natives of New Jersey, now both deceased. Mr. Ross passed his early years in New Jersey or attending school at Reading, Pa. In 1842 he moved to Belmont county, Ohio, and in the village of Pleasant Grove, learned his trade of blacksmith. In 1848 he moved to Peoria city, but soon after located at Lafayette, where he carried on his business of blacksmithing until 1857, when he engaged in mercantile work. In 1860 he resumed his trade. He was appointed postmaster at Lafayette in 1852, during the Pierce administration, serving until 1860 when he resigned. He was the first clerk of Goshen township in 1853, one of the village trustees and village treasurer. Of all the men who were in the village when Mr. Ross came, there are only three now living in the town, and of the women, only the few named in the history of the village as survivors of pioneer times. Mr. Ross was married in 1849 to Miss Margaret J. Armstrong. They are the parents of six children, namely: Martha J., Ella E., Wm. W., Emma E., James A., and Thomas S. Mrs. Ross died in 1860. In 1866 he married Miss Happalonia C. Wilber, who is also the mother of six children: Edna M., Edith A., Fred., Max. W., Rena L., and Chas. F. A reference to the history of masonry in Lafayette, to the municipal history, and to the political chapter of the general history, as well as to other pages of this volume, will be necessary to learn the varied and unostentatious parts taken by this old settler in the social and industrial progress of the county.