- CHANCEY ROSS, is a leading farmer and dairyman of Turtle
Township, and resides on section
- 16. It is with pleasure that we record his sketch, for since
1854, the date of his arrival, he has been prominently identified
with the farming interests of the county, and with the growth
and development of Turtle Township. He was born in Herkimer County,
N.Y., in the town of Norway, Jan. 22, 1819, and is a son of Nogle*
and Tempa (KELSEY) ROSS. Both parents were natives of Connecticut,
the father born in Kent County, Dec. 26, 1782, the mother in
Tillingworth, June 25, 1783. They were united in marriage in
Fairfield, Herkimer Co., N.Y., Aug. 6, 1806, and had a family
of twelve children, all born in Herkimer County, namely: Dayton,
who was born Feb. 5, 1807, and died Jan. 18, 1874, at the age
of sixty-six years and eleven months; Charles K., born May 5,
1809, died March 20, 1813; Eliza, born Sept. 24, 1811, is the
widow of Nicholas GARDNER; Charles, born June 28, 1813, resides
at Lowville, N.Y.; Jemima, born Sept. 21, 1815, is the widow
of Heman WAFULL; Daniel K., born Dec. 15, 1817, is a resident
of Newport, N.Y.; our subject is the seventh in order of birth;
Clarina E., born April 24, 1822, became the wife of Henry D.
PARKHURST of Newport, Herkimer Co., N.Y.; Lester, born April
18, 1824, is a carpenter and joiner of Beloit; Emily M., born
April 28, 1826, is the wife of E. J. CARPENTER, a farmer of Turtle
Township; Sophia L., born Nov. 28, 1828, married Benjamin L.
SPENCER, whose home is in Newport, N.Y.; Almeda G., born Aug.
17, 1831, is the wife of T. J. WAFULL, of Herkimer County, N.Y.
- Nogle ROSS the father of these children was of Scotch descent,
and served as Captain during the
- War of 1812, and was on duty at Sackett's Harbor. He engaged
in farming, and also followed the trades of a carpenter and a
millwright. He owned 200 acres of land which he successfully
operated, and was one of the leading men of the county in which
he lived. His death occurred at the age of ninety years and seven
months, July 26, 1873. His wife preceded him to her final home,
dying at Newport, N.Y., March 29, 1866. She belonged to the Close
Communion Baptist Church and her husband at one time was a member
of the Free-will Baptist Church, but for several years prior
to his death was not a member of any church.
- The education our subject obtained was in the common schools
of his native county, and during his
- early life he assisted his father with the duties of the
farm. He seemed to have a natural ability for the handling of
tools, and also worked at the carpenter's trade, at which he
became quite proficient. Until his marriage, which occurred July
5, 1843, he remained under the parental roof. The lady of his
choice was Miss Mary B. DODGE, who was also a native of Herkimer
County, N.Y., born in 1819. Her parents, Cyrus and Johannah (VEACH)
DODGE*, were natives of Massachusetts, and the mother
died at Newport, N.Y. Her father's death occurred at Sherland,
Ill., at the advanced age of one hundred years.
- After his marriage Mr. ROSS rented the old home farm in his
native county, where he passed the
- next ten years engaged in the cultivation of that land, which
comprised a tract of 143 acres. While there residing four children
were born to Mr. and Mrs. ROSS: Mervin C.*, born May 5, 1844,
served for eighteen months in the 16th Wisconsin regiment during
the late war, and died Jan. 21, 1872; Spencer D.*, born Oct.
12, 1847, served as a soldier in the War for the Union in the
3d Wisconsin Infantry, and is a resident of Beloit, where he
is general agent for the Eclipse Windmill Company of that city;
Marion A.*, born Oct. 12, 1849, is the wife of John A. YOST,
a farmer of Beloit Township; Helen G., born Feb. 19, 1851, has
charge of the domestic affairs at home; Fred L.*, the youngest
child of the family, was born after their removal to Rock County,
on the 1st day of August, 1857, and is in the same employ as
his brother Spencer.
- In 1854 Mr. ROSS, accompanied by his family, emigrated to
Rock County, and for a short time
- remained in Beloit, until a home could be erected on the
farm which he purchased on section 16, Turtle Township. It consisted
of a track of 320 acres of wild, unimproved land, which he cultivated
for his children when they should grow up, placing the same under
a high state of cultivation. In those early days, when the country
was so unsettled, Mr. ROSS could drive across the fields to Beloit,
there being no house or fence to intercept his progress. This
will serve to illustrate the unsettled condition of the county
at that time, and Mr. ROSS has not only witnessed the great changes
that have since then been made, but has been an active participant
in the labors which have brought about the great transformation,
placing Rock County on an equal rank with any in the State. In
1866 he built a cheese factory, which he at once began to operate
and which proved a successful enterprise. The product of this
factory was of the finest grade, and always found a ready sale.
Although his private interests have been extensive, Mr. ROSS
has found time to serve his fellow citizens in various local
offices of trust, including that of Township Supervisor, in which
capacity he served ten terms, discharging his duties with fidelity
and promptness. He cast his first Presidential vote for Martin
Van Buren, but since the organization of the Republican party
he has supported that body. His honorable, upright life, before
and since becoming a resident of Rock County, has won him the
love and confidence of all, and he is a valued and respected
citizen of Turtle Township.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 578-579.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
-
- *Corrections and additional information
- Chauncey ROSS was the son of Noble and Tempra (KELSEY) ROSS.
His wife, Mary B.
- (BEACH) DODGE, was the daughter of Cyrus and Johannah (BEACH)
DODGE.
- Mervin C. ROSS was a graduate of Beloit College class of
1867. Spencer D. ROSS married
- Ida PERRY 23 Jan. 1869. Marion Angeline ROSS married John
Andrew YOST 20 Oct. 1869. Fred Lorenzo ROSS married Mary S. PORTER
15 Dec. 1880.
-
- Courtesy of William
|