M. 24 Jul 1872 in Jersey County, Illinois
Wife: Mary Edith Luckey
D. 17 Feb 1884 in Labette County, Kansas
James Ross didn’t have a great role model for a father. And when he was a teen, the boy fell under his bad influence by helping him break into a store.
James was born on January 14, 1852 to John Ross and Ellen Ann Luckey in Jersey County, Illinois, the oldest of five children. In 1860, the family was living in the house of his grandparents, James and Alletta Ross, in Jerseyville. John Ross was described as a “thrasher,” seeming to be doing farm labor for his father. All evidence indicates that he never really supported himself or owned his own property. Along with this was a reported reputation for being “a lawless character.”
James was 14-years-old when his father took him along on a night of crime in Jerseyville. Late on the night of November 18, 1866, the two of them entered a local grocery store in order to help themselves to what was inside. After grabbing everything they could, including jugs of molasses and oil, sacks of tea, sugar and coffee, and items such as candles and gunpowder, someone passing by the store saw them inside and notified the police. James and his father were arrested as they tried to escape through the back.
James was 14-years-old when his father took him along on a night of crime in Jerseyville. Late on the night of November 18, 1866, the two of them entered a local grocery store in order to help themselves to what was inside. After grabbing everything they could, including jugs of molasses and oil, sacks of tea, sugar and coffee, and items such as candles and gunpowder, someone passing by the store saw them inside and notified the police. James and his father were arrested as they tried to escape through the back.
A grocery store in Jerseyville in 1872.
While his father was kept in jail, James was released a short time later because it was the desire of the store owners that he be supervised by his extended family. A court record later stated that, “It … was [the store owners’] wish that John Ross’ son might be let go on account of his being taken there by his father (although the boy has a very bad character), in hopes that his uncles would take him out of the town and try to reform him.” Whether James was actually "reformed" by his uncles isn't known. In 1870, with his father out of prison, he was back living with his parents and siblings.
Presumably, James got his life on track after his father seems to have died during the early 1870s. On July 24, 1872, he married his first cousin, Mary Luckey; perhaps her father, Samuel Luckey, was one of the uncles who was supposed to take care of him. James and Mary settled in Jersey county, and soon had a baby daughter. They had a total of five children between the years 1873 and 1882.
When Sam Luckey took his family out west in about 1878, James and Mary joined him. The two households bought adjoining farms in Labette County, Kansas (James was said to have paid off his farm within a few years). James seems to have had a disability in the form of a "crippled hand," as reported on the 1880 census, but it isn't known how he got it, or whether it made it difficult to work on his farm.
In February of 1884, a storm of hard sleet struck the area near the farm, knocking down trees and damaging homes. It was said to be the worst storm of its kind that anyone could remember. James' house suffered some damage to the roof, and he was forced to repair it. Being exposed to the elements in the dead of winter caused him to come down with pneumonia, and he died less than a week later on February 17th. Wife Mary, who was left with five young children, remarried to a farmhand in 1887.
In February of 1884, a storm of hard sleet struck the area near the farm, knocking down trees and damaging homes. It was said to be the worst storm of its kind that anyone could remember. James' house suffered some damage to the roof, and he was forced to repair it. Being exposed to the elements in the dead of winter caused him to come down with pneumonia, and he died less than a week later on February 17th. Wife Mary, who was left with five young children, remarried to a farmhand in 1887.
Children:
1. Laura Ethol Ross – B. 24 Sep 1873, Jersey County, Illinois; D. 17 Mar 1917, Los Angeles, California; M. Howard Milton Sheridan (1871-1951), 6 Mar 1895, Oswego, Kansas
2. James Anderson Ross – B. 8 Aug 1875, Jersey County, Illinois; D. 20 Feb 1939, Iowa; M. Alberta Louella Goodknow (1883-1956), 12 Sep 1900, Clarksville, Iowa
3. Charles Howard Ross – B. 4 Aug 1877, Jersey County, Illinois; D. 2 Dec 1918, Los Angeles, California
4. Edward Auguster Ross – B. 23 Jan 1880, Labette County, Kansas; D. 4 Jan 1964; M. Ora Itasca Turner (1895-1987), about 1912
5. John L. Ross – B. 6 Aug 1882, Labette County, Kansas; D. 28 Sep 1892, (probably) Labette County, Kansas
Sources:
1860, 1870 and 1880 U.S. Census, Illinois and Kansas
Pardon petition file of John Ross, Springfield, Illinois, 1867-1868
Marriage record of James Ross and Mary Edith Luckey, Jerseyville, Illinois, 24 Jul 1872
Family Bible of Mary E. Leonartz, transcribed by Ora Ross
Letter from Ora Ross to Beulah Larsen, 15 Sep 1976
History of Labette County, Kansas, Nelson Case, 1893
Death certificate of Laura Ethol Sheridan, 17 Mar 1917
Kansas marriages database, 1840-1935
Death certificate of Howard M. Sheridan, Mar 1951
Social Security death index
