|
KANAWHA COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA - BIOS: ROSS, J. Shirley
******************************************************************
Submitted to the West Virginia Biographies Project by:
SSpradling@aol.com
September 21, 1999
******************************************************************
History of Charleston and Kanawha County, West Virginia and Representative
Citizens
W.S. Laidley
Richmond Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, ILL.
1911
p. 370
J. SHIRLEY ROSS, city recorder of Charleston, W. Va., who is now serving his
third term in that office, was born in this city August 31, 1883, a son of
John Tyler and Hannah (Creel) Ross.
John Tyler Ross, the father of J. Shirley, was born in Patrick County, Va.,
in 1841, and died at Charleston in i896. He was reared and educated in
Patrick County, where his parents spent their lives. They had a family of
six sons and three daughters, all of whom are now living, except John T., and
all having families of their own. Some are residents of Virginia and others
of New York state. All of the brothers served in the Confederate army, one
of them, Capt. D. Lee Ross, being a captain in the 51st Virginia Infantry,
under whom his brother, John Tyler, served. The subject of this sketch has
lately looked up his father's war record in the War Department at Washington,
D. C., and received therefrom the following communication:
\VAR DEPARTMENT
THE ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE,
WASHINGTON, July 21, 1910.
Respectfully returned to
Mr. J. S. Ross, Department of Records, Charleston, West Virginia.
The records show that one John T. Ross was a corporal and a private in
Company C, afterward Company D (Captain D. Lee Ross and later Captain Wm. T.
Akers), 51st Virginia Infantry, Confederate States Army, and that he enlisted
May I, 1862. On the roll of the company dated October 31, 1863, last on
file, he was reported, "Absent, detailed as shoemaker since Nov. 10, 1862."
The Federal records of prisoners of war show that he was arrested in Roanoke
County, Virginia, Decemher 19, 1863, and sent to Camp Chase, Ohio, and that
lie was transferred thence to Fort Delaware in March, 1864, at which place he
was released June 15, 1865, on taking the oath of allegiance.
(Signed)
W. P. HALL,
The Adjutant General.
Though John T. Ross was never wounded in action, he caught the small pox
while in the Federal prison, so may be regarded as having had his share of
disagreeable experieces-to a greater extent, perhaps, than many who saw
harder field service. After his return from the war he came to Kanawha County
and, settling near the present limits of the city of Charles-ton, engaged in
the manufacture of brick. It was through his suggestion that this material
was used in street construction in Charleston, this being the first instance
also of its utilization in this way in any city. In 1873 a hand-made brick
pavement was laid on Summer street, and the result was so satisfactory that
the city has used this material extensively ever since. Mr. John T. Ross was
a man of acknowledged hosiness ability and of sterling personal qualities.
He was a staunch Democrat politically and was affiliated fraternally with the
Odd Fellows and other secret orders.
John Tyler Ross was married in Kanawha County, W. Va., to Hannah Creel, who
was horn at Davisville, that county, in 1848, and who survives him, being now
a resident of Charleston. Her father was Bushrod W. Creel, her paternal
grandfather being also named Bushrod, while her mother was in maidenhood
Alcinda Kinchelo, a member of one of the old Methodist families of what is
now West Virginia. She was the third youngest born of her parents' children,
the others being John, Bush, George, Henry, Bettie, Lucy, Clara, aud Ella,
all of whom survive and have families of their own. The brothers of Mrs.
Ross served in the Confederate army during the Civil war.
J. Shirley Ross, our direct subject, was the only child of his parents. He
was educated in the public schools and for some years was connected with his
father in the brick industry. He is identified with a number of fraternal
organizations, including the Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the Elks,
the Eagles, and others. In politics, like his late father, he is a Democrat.
He has given good satisfaction in the office of city recorder, as is
evidenced by his election for a third term and is personally esteemed and his
family respected throughout this section. He is a member of the Baptist
church. Mr. Ross resides with his widowed mother in Charleston.
|
