Mahlon Ross, one of the retired citizens of Virden,
where for many years he has been prominent in professional life as the
senior member of the law firm of Ross & Ross, and has also been identified
with the business interests of the place, was born November 12, 1821, in
Mercer County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Edward C. and Mary (Axtel)
Ross.
The Ross family was originally from New Jersey and in that
State both our subject's father and grandfather were born. The family
removed to Washington County, Pennsylvania, where Edward C. was reared and
educated. After his marriage he settled on a farm of 200 acres in Sandy
Creek township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, where he lived until 1835, when
he sold this property, which he had much improved, and removed to Delaware
County, Ohio, where he proposed to clear and improve a large tract of land,
but his death took place in the following year, at the age of 52 years. This
calamity left a widow and nine children, who remained on this farm until
1839, when they sought a new home in the then Territory of Iowa, Mrs. Ross
securing a government claim in Linn County. She was the moving spirit for
some years in all the changes of the family, and perhaps no more capable or
self-denying woman ever lived. Her memory is treasured by her children,
whose welfare it was her continual desire to promote. She died in 1846,
having lived to see the farm under cultivation and well improved, and her
children all on the high road to success.
In the work incident to
the settlement in Linn County, Iowa, our subject was his mother's right-hand
helper. He was 18 years of age at this time and his schooling was finished,
his education having been obtained in the subscription schools in the
neighborhoods where his parents had lived, and at the Mission Institute at
Quincy, Illinois, where he remained from 1842 to 1846. He was thus prepared
for teaching and was employed one summer in Missouri and one summer and one
winter in Greene County, Illinois. His vacations were made profitable in
every way that opportunity offered, as assistant on neighboring farms and
also as chain boy in surveying expeditions, a notable example of the latter
being during the survey of the Territorial road from Davenport to Iowa City,
at a time when a log cabin was the only house then standing in the present
bustling and important city of Cedar Rapids. All this time, however, the
youth was cherishing an ambition, and under the most unfavorable conditions
managed to prepare himself for the law, and in 1850 was admitted to the bar.
After a short practice at Hardin, Calhoun County, Illinois, he went to
Carrollton, and in 1854 located in Virden, where for almost a half century
he has been one of the leading members of the bar of Macoupin County.
Natural ability he possessed to a high degree and he successfully waged
legal contests with other men in his profession, who already had become
eminent and many of whom later gained national reputations. It is recalled
of Mr. Ross, that he was long considered a very formidable opponent on
account of his ready wit and flow of language, as well as for his clear
comprehension of every case he ever undertook. After years of activity, he
retired to private life, taking with him the cordial esteem of his
co-workers, the respect of the community and the affection of those who have
been permitted to enter into close association with him.
Mr. Ross
was married in 1857 to Harriet E. M. Roberts, who was born June 27, 1825,
and is a daughter of Joel and Tabitha (Fellows) Roberts, and five children
were born to them, of whom three died in infancy. Those living are: Alva and
Ella.
It may be truthfully said that the mantle of the father has
fallen on his son, for Alva Ross since his father's retirement has entered
upon a brilliant individual career, and has pushed to the front until to-day
he is recognized as one of the leading attorneys of the Macoupin County bar.
He was educated in the public schools of Virden, Jacksonville Business
College and Northwestern University's Law School at Chicago, Illinois, where
he was graduated in law in 1890. In the following June he was admitted to
the bar and was admitted to partnership by his father, the firm name of Ross
& Ross then coming into existence. From the first it was a strong one and to
it has been entrusted much of the important litigation of the county.
Our venerable subject has filled many positions of trust and
responsibility in Virden, being at all times a man whose life and character
reflected honor upon his community. While interested in all public spirited
efforts and contributing service, time and financial aid, his real life has
been more that of a thinker and scholar. His pen has often strayed into
literary effort and his papers, if collected, would show deep learning,
close reasoning and the careful consideration of a wide range of subjects.
In his beautiful home in Virden, his fine library is his chosen spot, and
here the evening of life is peacefully enjoyed by this citizen of Virden,
who is the center of his fellow citizens' good will.
Extracted 2018 May 08 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 349-351.
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