This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Ross Cato Classification: Biography Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/XNB.2ACI/450 Message Board Post: source:History of Ray County, MO; Missouri Historical Company, 1881, St. Louis. p. 745-746 JOHN A. ROSS. The subject of this article was born in Kosciusko county, Ohio, on the 11th day of February, 1839. While he was in infancy his parents removed with him to Brown county, Ohio, and there he lived until he was nineteen years old. In the month of April, 1858, he came to Ray county, Missouri. While at St. Louis, on his way from Ohio, he attended the funeral of the distinguished Missouri senator and statesman, Thomas H. Benton. He taught school for a, short time soon after his arrival in the county. In the spring of 1859 he started to Pike's Peak, Colorado, but, on arriving at St. Joseph, changed his mind and went to Des Moines, Iowa. After visiting several places in that state, he returned to Missouri, and taught school for a short time in Mercer county. From that time until the beginning of the civil war he traveled through western Missouri, pursuing the business of sign writing. On the 19th day of June, 1861, he enlisted in company A, 1st Missouri battalion mounted infantry, 8th division, Missouri state guards, captain, David Boone; lieutenant-colonel, John W. Payne; division commander, General James Raines. He was engaged in the battles of Dug Spring, Wilson's Creek, Dry Wood, and Lexington. At the latter place, after the battle, the command was re-organized, called the 6th cavalry, and placed under the command of Colonel John T. Coffee. Mr. Ross was appointed ordnance master, in which position lie continued until he was discharged from the service. He was engaged in the battles of Pea Ridge, Shiloh, and Farmington. Mr. Ross was the first to reach and raise the Union general Lyon after he was shot, at the battle of Wilson's Creek, early in the war. Having been sick and unable to do duty, and, in consequence, committed to the hospital at Mobile, Alabama, Mr. Ross was discharged from that institution in the summer of 1863, and went to Fort Laramie, to Denver, and to Montana, where he engaged for about two years in mining. From there he went to Nevada, thence to California, from California to Mexico, and from there to Central America, and thence into South America, where he remained, in Quito, a short time; thence he came back to the coast, and from the coast to the West Indies. Here he remained a short time, and then sailed for New York. Arriving there, he spent some time in that city. Then he came west, and stopped for a short time in Brown county, Ohio. From there he came to Ray county, Missouri, arriving in the month of March, 1866. The succeeding year he started again to California, but being taken sick at Rock Bluff, he returned to Lafayette county, Missouri, and remained there about three years. In the fall of 1869 he came to his present location in this county, section 22, township 54, range 26. He owns a fine, fertile farm of four hundred acres, all inclosed by good fences, and well improved. Mr. Ross was married in 1876, to Miss Sarah I. Cato, a native of the state of Alabama. They have three children: John A., Anna, and Samuel R. Mr. Ross is a member of Dover Lodge No. 122, A. F. & A. M.