35:
430:, typically for good quality land. Much of the land was then sold at roughly a 25 percent profit. In addition to providing a source of income, some of the land speculation by local businessmen such as Ross also served as a valuable resource for local farmers. For example, Ross' frequent practice of buying land with quitclaim deeds and then selling the land back to the original owner at the auction price in essence provided a source of loans to farmers in the absence of banks, which did not exist in the region until the 1850s.
349:
161:
362:
As justice of the peace, Ross authored a legal document that has been cited as a prime example of pioneer ingenuity and practicality. Prior to receiving his commission as justice of the peace, Ross was asked to marry a pioneer couple. In response, he wrote the following document: "To All the World
285:
Ossian Ross moved to
Illinois in 1821, shortly after the territory became a state, in order to claim his allotment in the Military Tract. It was Ross’ apparent intention to establish a town in that region, because he brought with him a blacksmith, a carpenter, and other workmen. Ossian Ross, his
309:, and had Lewistown as its county seat. The first election in Fulton County was held on April 14, 1823, in the log cabin home of Ossian Ross. Although he did not win a position in that election (he ran for sheriff but lost narrowly to William Eads), Ross later became the county's first
286:
family, and his companions settled in an area that is now known as
Lewistown, Illinois, a town which he founded and named after his oldest son, Lewis. Ossian Ross donated a quarter-section of his land to the town for the establishment of a public square, courthouse, jail, church, and
680:
Portrait and biographical album of Fulton County, Illinois, containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county ... together with portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States and governors of the
363:
Greetings – Know ye, that John Smith and Poly Myers is hereby entitled to go together and do as old folks does anywhere inside of
Copperas precinct, and when my commission comes I am to marry em good and proper, and date em back to kiver accidents. O. M. R. Justice Peace."
808:
Pioneers of Menard and Mason
Counties; made up of personal reminiscences of an early life in Menard County, which we gathered in a Salem life from 1830 to 1840, and a Petersburg life from 1840 to 1850; including personal reminiscences of Abraham Lincoln and Peter
386:
and southern
Illinois along the Lewistown Trail and other routes is likely to be the major reason that Illinois was called the "Sucker State" throughout much of the 19th century (i.e., the lure of the mines "sucked" men into Illinois from neighboring states).
508:, a great-granddaughter of Ossian and Mary Ross, was an American stage actress and film starlet. Jean Ross Howard Phelan, a second great-granddaughter of Ossian and Mary Ross, was a founding member of the Whirly-Girls International Women Helicopter Pilots.
442:
in
Lewistown in a large plot of land devoted to the Ross family. A collection of Ross family papers, including a business ledger maintained by Ossian Ross as well as correspondence and other documents of members of the Ross family, is housed in the
390:
Ossian Ross moved to what is now Havana, Illinois, in 1829, where he laid out the town, ran the Havana Hotel (where
Abraham Lincoln was a frequent guest), and operated Ross’ Ferry, which was located at the only place between the Illinois towns of
209:
341:, through Ossian Ross' recommendation, and Ossian's son Harvey Lee assisted Lincoln in sorting and delivering the mail. During the great debate over the slavery question in Illinois in 1824, Ossian Ross, together with Methodist minister
561:
The early pioneers and pioneer events of the state of
Illinois including personal recollections of the writer, of Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Jackson and Peter Cartwright, together with a brief autobiography of the
455:
Ossian and Mary Ross established a family that became foremost in the history of the
Illinois River Valley and beyond. Among the prominent individuals of this family were their sons Lewis Winans Ross, a
447:
in
Springfield, Illinois. The final pages of Ossian Ross' business ledger consist of a list of items that were purchased from the personal property of his estate by his son Lewis, totaling $ 3,392.24.
960:
294:: a member of the Frontier Lodge and active in the Grand Lodge of Illinois. Ossian and Mary Ross had three additional children in Illinois: Lucinda Caroline (1821–1900), who married
366:
In 1827, Ossian Ross, John Holcomb, and Sheldon Lockwood were appointed by the county commissioners’ court of Fulton County to map out the best route from the mouth of the
382:, to Galena, Illinois, via Lewistown and was one of the main routes to the Galena lead mines between 1827 and 1837. The influx of job seekers to the lead mines from
955:
637:
This is Fulton County, Illinois; an up-to-date historical narrative with county map and many unique aerial photographs of cities, towns, villages, and farmsteads
529:
965:
950:
439:
86:
295:
352:
Drawing of the original Fulton County courthouse, situated in Lewistown, Illinois, on land donated for this purpose by Ossian Ross (source:
34:
473:
444:
501:
489:
706:
Early days of Peoria and Chicago: an address read before the Chicago Historical Society at a quarterly meeting held January 19, 1904
230:. While living in New York, he engaged in agricultural pursuits. Ossian and Mary Ross had three children during this period:
342:
611:"Compiled Service Records of Michigan and Illinois Volunteer who Served During the Winnebago Indian Disturbances of 1827"
305:
Ross played a major role in the establishment and governance of Fulton County, which originally extended as far north as
497:
226:, on August 16, 1790, the son of Joseph Ross and Abigail Lee. He was married to Mary (Polly) Winans on July 7, 1811, in
477:
408:
610:
457:
223:
57:
262:
101:
731:. Fulton County Board of Supervisors with the cooperation of the Fulton County Historical Society. p. 18.
265:
as bounty lands to compensate volunteer soldiers for services rendered during the war. Ross later served in
227:
193:
532:
338:
258:
197:
879:"Ross Family (Fulton Co. Ill)," SC 1303, Folder 2, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, Springfield, IL.
39:
Portrait of Ossian M. Ross on wood, probably painted in New York around 1820 before he left for Illinois.
493:
469:
379:
246:
727:
Scott, Judge Albert (1969). "The Bench and Bar of Fulton County". In Clark, Helen Hollandsworth (ed.).
945:
940:
392:
314:
348:
404:
330:
299:
185:
90:
862:
751:
465:
476:; and Pike C. Ross, a pioneer doctor and pharmacist who was associated with the founding of the
742:
Birk, Russell C (Summer 1973). "Shortest route to the Galena lead mines: the Lewistown Road".
505:
468:; Harvey Lee Ross, who compiled and edited an influential history of early Illinois and whose
461:
306:
231:
485:
481:
415:
371:
189:
160:
74:
769:
484:, son of Lewis Winans Ross and a grandson of Ossian and Mary Ross, served as postmaster of
914:
438:
Ossian Ross died in Havana on January 20, 1837, of unknown causes. He was interred in the
396:
334:
326:
172:(August 16, 1790 – January 20, 1837) was a pioneer farmer, stock-raiser, and merchant in
403:
could be crossed. After Ross left Lewistown, his homestead there was purchased by Major
423:
400:
287:
934:
890:
853:
Park, Siyoung (1984). "Land speculation in Western Illinois Pike County, 1821–1835".
704:
678:
585:
559:
419:
353:
274:
213:
125:
806:
177:
111:
524:
367:
250:
181:
121:
651:
310:
322:
291:
208:
535:(microfiche #6088122), is a source of Ross' parents' and children's names.
427:
383:
173:
866:
755:
729:
A history of Fulton County, Illinois, in Spoon River Country, 1818–1968
318:
270:
266:
243:
831:
Rezab, Gordana (1980). "Land speculation in Fulton County 1817–1832".
345:, successfully championed the anti-slavery cause in Fulton county.
347:
254:
207:
234:(1812–1895), Harriet M. (1816–1890), and Harvey Lee (1817–1907).
613:. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration
587:
Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Fulton County
460:; Leonard F. Ross, a lawyer and stock-raiser who served as a
414:
While living in Lewistown and Havana, Ossian Ross engaged in
273:
Neale's Detachment, of the Illinois Mounted Riflemen in the
378:, formed the basis for the Lewistown Trail, which ran from
325:. Ossian's brother John N. Ross was the county's first
192:, and who also played a prominent role in establishing
253:. Following the war, he was given a half-section (320
790:
Koltun, Dave (March 11, 2004). "The Sucker State?".
584:
Bateman, Newton; Selby, Paul; Heylin, Jesse (1908).
155:
147:
139:
131:
117:
107:
97:
81:
64:
44:
21:
528:, by Alice Winans Egy Woolley, available from the
496:, a great-grandson of Ossian and Mary Ross, was a
609:United States. Adjutant General's Office (1988).
855:Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society
744:Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society
329:, and his brother Thomas Lee Ross was the first
184:and subsequently founded the Illinois towns of
961:American military personnel of the War of 1812
653:History of Freemasonry in Illinois, 1804–1829
8:
490:District of Columbia Board of Commissioners
302:(1822–1901); and Pike Clinton (1825–1890).
673:
671:
337:received his appointment as postmaster of
212:Mary Winans, wife of Ossian Ross (source:
151:Farmer, merchant, hotel owner, ferry owner
33:
18:
500:from Illinois who served as chair of the
848:
846:
630:
628:
516:
411:and a close friend of Abraham Lincoln.
895:. Peoria, Ill.: C. C. Chapman & Co
956:People from Dutchess County, New York
684:. Chicago: Biographical Pub. Co. 1890
553:
551:
549:
547:
545:
543:
541:
370:(near Havana) to the lead mines near
261:, a region that was allocated by the
7:
474:National Register of Historic Places
445:Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
889:Chas. C. Chapman & Co. (1879).
650:Smith, General John Corson (1903).
892:History of Fulton county, Illinois
502:House Committee on Foreign Affairs
492:, a position equivalent to mayor.
355:History of Fulton County, Illinois
215:History of Fulton County, Illinois
14:
966:19th-century Illinois politicians
833:Western Illinois Regional Studies
374:. Their report, published in the
915:"Jean Ross Howard Phelan Papers"
812:. Forest City, Ill.: T.G. Onstot
159:
951:People from Lewistown, Illinois
1:
656:. Chicago: Rogers & Smith
275:Winnebago Indian Disturbances
242:Ross served as a major under
498:United States representative
204:Early life in New York State
281:Life as an Illinois pioneer
982:
590:. Chicago: Munsell Pub. Co
488:, and as president of the
478:Phi Alpha Literary Society
409:Illinois State Legislature
703:McCulloch, David (1904).
558:Ross, Harvey Lee (1899).
458:United States congressman
224:Dutchess County, New York
58:Dutchess County, New York
32:
263:United States Government
222:Ossian Ross was born in
200:counties in that state.
102:United States of America
861:(2 (Summer)): 115–128.
565:. Chicago: Eastman Bros
525:Winans Family Genealogy
259:Illinois Military Tract
228:Seneca County, New York
805:Onstot, T. G. (1902).
533:Family History Library
376:Illinois Intelligencer
359:
333:and county treasurer.
219:
494:Robert B. Chiperfield
380:Springfield, Illinois
351:
290:. Ross himself was a
211:
639:. Chicago: Loree Co.
635:Drury, John (1954).
315:justice of the peace
269:Constant's Company,
451:Notable descendants
405:Isaac Newton Walker
339:New Salem, Illinois
135:Mary (Polly) Winans
91:Lewistown, Illinois
466:American Civil War
407:, a member of the
360:
220:
176:, who served as a
770:"Lewistown Trail"
506:Betty Ross Clarke
472:is listed on the
462:brigadier general
440:Oak Hill Cemetery
307:Chicago, Illinois
257:) of land in the
167:
166:
87:Oak Hill Cemetery
973:
926:
925:
923:
921:
911:
905:
904:
902:
900:
886:
880:
877:
871:
870:
850:
841:
840:
828:
822:
821:
819:
817:
802:
796:
795:
787:
781:
780:
778:
776:
766:
760:
759:
739:
733:
732:
724:
718:
717:
715:
713:
700:
694:
693:
691:
689:
675:
666:
665:
663:
661:
647:
641:
640:
632:
623:
622:
620:
618:
606:
600:
599:
597:
595:
581:
575:
574:
572:
570:
555:
536:
521:
486:Washington, D.C.
482:John Wesley Ross
434:Death and legacy
416:land speculation
372:Galena, Illinois
343:Peter Cartwright
321:, and the third
238:Military service
163:
75:Havana, Illinois
71:
68:January 20, 1837
54:
52:
37:
19:
16:American pioneer
981:
980:
976:
975:
974:
972:
971:
970:
931:
930:
929:
919:
917:
913:
912:
908:
898:
896:
888:
887:
883:
878:
874:
852:
851:
844:
830:
829:
825:
815:
813:
804:
803:
799:
789:
788:
784:
774:
772:
768:
767:
763:
741:
740:
736:
726:
725:
721:
711:
709:
702:
701:
697:
687:
685:
677:
676:
669:
659:
657:
649:
648:
644:
634:
633:
626:
616:
614:
608:
607:
603:
593:
591:
583:
582:
578:
568:
566:
557:
556:
539:
522:
518:
514:
453:
436:
424:quitclaim deeds
335:Abraham Lincoln
296:William Kellogg
283:
240:
206:
148:Other work
124:
93:
89:
82:Place of burial
73:
69:
56:
55:August 16, 1790
50:
48:
40:
28:
25:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
979:
977:
969:
968:
963:
958:
953:
948:
943:
933:
932:
928:
927:
906:
881:
872:
842:
823:
797:
792:Illinois Times
782:
761:
750:(2): 187–197.
734:
719:
695:
667:
642:
624:
601:
576:
537:
515:
513:
510:
452:
449:
435:
432:
420:warranty deeds
401:Illinois River
300:Leonard Fulton
288:Masonic temple
282:
279:
239:
236:
205:
202:
170:Ossian M. Ross
165:
164:
157:
153:
152:
149:
145:
144:
141:
137:
136:
133:
129:
128:
119:
115:
114:
109:
105:
104:
99:
95:
94:
85:
83:
79:
78:
72:(aged 46)
66:
62:
61:
46:
42:
41:
38:
30:
29:
27:Ossian M. Ross
26:
22:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
978:
967:
964:
962:
959:
957:
954:
952:
949:
947:
944:
942:
939:
938:
936:
916:
910:
907:
894:
893:
885:
882:
876:
873:
868:
864:
860:
856:
849:
847:
843:
838:
834:
827:
824:
811:
810:
801:
798:
793:
786:
783:
771:
765:
762:
757:
753:
749:
745:
738:
735:
730:
723:
720:
708:
707:
699:
696:
683:
682:
674:
672:
668:
655:
654:
646:
643:
638:
631:
629:
625:
617:September 29,
612:
605:
602:
589:
588:
580:
577:
564:
563:
554:
552:
550:
548:
546:
544:
542:
538:
534:
531:
527:
526:
520:
517:
511:
509:
507:
503:
499:
495:
491:
487:
483:
479:
475:
471:
467:
463:
459:
450:
448:
446:
441:
433:
431:
429:
425:
421:
418:, purchasing
417:
412:
410:
406:
402:
398:
394:
388:
385:
381:
377:
373:
369:
364:
357:
356:
350:
346:
344:
340:
336:
332:
328:
324:
320:
317:, the second
316:
312:
308:
303:
301:
297:
293:
289:
280:
278:
276:
272:
268:
264:
260:
256:
252:
248:
245:
237:
235:
233:
229:
225:
217:
216:
210:
203:
201:
199:
195:
191:
187:
183:
179:
175:
171:
162:
158:
154:
150:
146:
142:
138:
134:
130:
127:
126:Winnebago War
123:
120:
116:
113:
110:
106:
103:
100:
96:
92:
88:
84:
80:
76:
67:
63:
59:
47:
43:
36:
31:
20:
918:. Retrieved
909:
897:. Retrieved
891:
884:
875:
858:
854:
836:
832:
826:
814:. Retrieved
807:
800:
791:
785:
773:. Retrieved
764:
747:
743:
737:
728:
722:
710:. Retrieved
705:
698:
686:. Retrieved
679:
658:. Retrieved
652:
645:
636:
615:. Retrieved
604:
592:. Retrieved
586:
579:
567:. Retrieved
560:
530:LDS church's
523:
519:
454:
437:
413:
389:
375:
365:
361:
354:
313:, the first
304:
284:
241:
232:Lewis Winans
221:
214:
169:
168:
118:Battles/wars
70:(1837-01-20)
946:1837 deaths
941:1790 births
464:during the
368:Spoon River
251:War of 1812
247:Jacob Brown
182:War of 1812
122:War of 1812
935:Categories
899:14 January
816:14 January
712:14 January
688:14 January
660:14 January
594:14 January
569:14 January
512:References
399:where the
393:Beardstown
311:postmaster
98:Allegiance
51:1790-08-16
809:Cartright
428:tax deeds
323:treasurer
292:Freemason
277:of 1827.
186:Lewistown
156:Signature
132:Spouse(s)
867:40191611
839:: 22–35.
756:40190966
384:Missouri
331:assessor
327:surveyor
174:Illinois
140:Children
920:8 April
775:8 April
319:sheriff
271:Colonel
267:Captain
249:in the
244:General
180:in the
865:
754:
562:writer
426:, and
194:Fulton
190:Havana
863:JSTOR
752:JSTOR
681:state
470:house
397:Pekin
255:acres
198:Mason
178:major
112:Major
23:Major
922:2015
901:2017
818:2017
777:2015
714:2017
690:2017
662:2017
619:2018
596:2017
571:2017
395:and
196:and
188:and
108:Rank
77:, US
65:Died
60:, US
45:Born
298:);
937::
859:77
857:.
845:^
835:.
748:66
746:.
670:^
627:^
540:^
504:.
480:.
422:,
358:).
218:).
924:.
903:.
869:.
837:3
820:.
794:.
779:.
758:.
716:.
692:.
664:.
621:.
598:.
573:.
143:6
53:)
49:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
