Macoupin County
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Biography - MAHLON ROSS

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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This page was last updated 07/01/2022