Ross Family in St. Helens

https://sites.google.com/a/colcomuseum.org/columbia-county-museum-association/170-columbia-blvd/170-columbia-blvd/170%20Columbia%20Blvd%20William%20Ross%20home%20with%20descip.jpg?attredirects=0

Edwin Ross

Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III,

Published 1928, Pages 455 - 456

Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

EDWIN ROSS, M. D. One of St. Helen's most highly esteemed citizens is

Dr. Edwin Ross, who for many years has been engaged in the practice of

medicine, in which he has been more than ordinarily successful and has been

active and influential in matters affecting the wellbeing of the community.

Dr. Ross was born in Fayette county, Iowa, on the 31st of December, 1864, a

son of Levi and Mary (Morse) Ross, the former a native of Vermont and the

latter of Maine, while both were of Scotch descent. His father, who was a

farmer, moved to Wisconsin in 1865 and there followed agricultural pursuits

until his death, which occurred in 1879. His wife died in 1875. To them were

born seven children: William M., who died at St. Helens, Oregon; Joseph, who

lives in Wisconsin; Mrs. Jennie Grimes, deceased; Mrs. Dora Barker, deceased;

Edwin; Mrs. Hattie Synstegard, of Wisconsin; and E. A., who is engaged in the

furniture business in St. Helens.

Edwin Ross attended the public schools of Wisconsin, to which state the

family moved when he was about one year old. He was also a student in Beloit

College, at Beloit, Wisconsin, and in 1887 came to Oregon, locating at

Pendleton, where he worked as a clerk in a drug store. In the fall of 1888 he

went to Portland and took a course in pharmacy, and two years later located in

St. Helens, at which time the town had a population of about two hundred and

fifty. Here he opened a drug store and in the meantime attended the medical

school of the University of Oregon at Portland, being graduated with the

degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1894. He entered upon the active practice of

his profession at St. Helens, also continuing the drug business until his

store was destroyed by fire in 1904, since which time he has confined his

attention to his medical practice. Well educated, with a thorough knowledge of

the properties of drugs and an accurate diagnostician, he has rendered

valuable service to his community and has not only enjoyed a large and

lucrative practice, but has held a high place in the confidence of the public.

Together with his brother, William Ross, the Doctor aided in organizing the

first bank in Columbia county, known as the Columbia county bank, and erected

the bank building of native stone. He is now president of the First National

Bank of St. Helens.

In 1903 Dr. Ross married Miss Matilda Muckle, who is a native of

Tennessee and a daughter of Robert and Mary Elizabeth (Davis) Muckle. Her

father was born in Canada and her mother at McConnell, Tennessee, in the manor

house on the old Southerland plantation which consisted of thousands of acres

taken up from the United States government in the early days when that portion

of the state was a wilderness, the property remaining in the family for five

generations. The parents of Mrs. Ross died in McConnell, Tennessee, and at the

age of eight she came to Oregon to live with her uncle, the late Charles

Muckle, of St. Helens, who in partnership with his brother, James Muckle,

owned the sawmill and had extensive timber holdings, the brothers being

prominently identified with the upbuilding of St. Helens through their

business interests and other connections. They owned a sawmill, a store and a

hotel and were prominent in the early affairs of the community.

Dr. and Mrs. Ross have a daughter and a son, Harriet, born in Portland,

completed the high school course at St. Helens and then pursued the courses of

Art and Education in the University of Oregon being graduated with the B. A.

degree in 1927. She was married June 14, 1927, to Douglas Wright of Portland,

where they now reside. Charles M., born in St. Helens, graduated from the high

school here, and is now a student in Pacific University, at Forest Grove,

Oregon.

The Doctor is a member of St. Helens Lodge, No. 32, A. F. & A. M., of

which he is a past master; Avon Lodge, No. 62, K. P., and the Woodmen of the

World, and he and his wife are members of the Order of the Eastern Star. They

reside at "Tanglewood on the Columbia" one of the most attractive homes in the

town, located on the bank of the river, and noted for the beautiful flowers

and shrubs which are cultivated by Mrs. Ross, who is an ardent lover of

flowers. They have long occupied an enviable position in St. Helens where they

have an extensive circle of friends. Through his professional activities Dr.

Ross has long rendered valuable services to his fellowmen and is still the

loved family physician in many households.

Dr. L.G. Ross

Dr. Levi Gilbert Ross Biography

Dr. Levi Gilbert Ross, physician and surgeon, who for many years has acted as city and

county health officer, was born in October, 1879, in Avon, Wisconsin. His father,

William M. Ross, though not a pioneer of Oregon's early days, was certainly a pioneer

in the commercial growth of the state. He located in St. Helens in 1905 and organized

the Columbia County Bank the following year. He was elected its president and served

in this capacity until his death in 1916. Under his guidance the bank, now the oldest in

the county, prospered and during his incumbency as president the present handsome

bank building was erected. Next to the County courthouse it is the most attractive

block in the city and is built entirely of St. Helens rock.

Dr. Ross began his education in the grade schools of Janesville, Wisconsin. Later he

worked his way through college, graduating from the Northwestern Medical University

in 1907, with the degree of M. D., and came immediately to Oregon. Determining not

to be a burden to his parents while obtaining his medical education, he worked at

various jobs to obtain the necessary funds. He taught in the State Industrial School,

served as a waiter during vacations, and for one year served under the railroad

surgeon in the construction camps at Huntington. Later he served at the Good

Samaritan Hospital, where he met the charming young woman who later became his

wife. Since coming to St. Helens Dr. Ross has through his ability as a physician

advanced to the very forefront of his profession, while as a citizen his record is as

good as his professional standing. He attempted to enter the medical corps for war

service but was debarred by the government's decision to decline enlistments from all

health officers, on the ground that their services were needed at home. Devoting his

efforts solely to his profession, he has steadily declined to hold public officer and has

built up a very large practice in this section. Dr. Ross specializes in gynecology and

obstetrics and has attained fame in that branch of medical science.

During his work at the Good Samaritan Hospital Dr. Ross became acquainted with Miss

Vena E. Shaffer, a native of Ohio, who was taking the trained nurse's course in the

hospital. They were married in 1911, and have become the parents of one child, John

Morse, named after the distinguished inventor of the telegraph, who is one of his

forbears.

Dr. and Mrs. Ross are both prominent in social and club circles in the city. During the

war Mrs. Ross organized a class in nursing and instructed a number of young women

for war service. Dr. Ross was the physical examiner of all enlistments and county

chairman of the Red Cross drives. He is a director of the Columbia County Bank and is

an active member of the Chamber of Commerce. He is superintendent of the

Methodist Sunday school and prominent in church and social affairs. Fraternally Dr.

Ross is a Mason and holds membership with the Knights of Pythias and the Modern

Woodmen. He is a man of high personal worth as well as marked professional ability.

From:

History of Oregon Illistrated

Vol. 3

BY: Charles H. Carney

The Pioneer Historical Publishing Company

https://docs.google.com/a/colcomuseum.org/file/d/0B2ymQ0Zr7o6aSy1HZjIzZUZBQjA/edit

LG Ross

Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 35-36
Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

High on the list of the able and successful physicians of the Columbia
River valley stands the name of Dr. Levi G. Ross, of St. Helens, Oregon, where
he has been engaged in the practice of his profession continuously since 1910.
He was born at Avon, Wisconsin, in October, 1879, and is a son of William M.
and Clara (Ross) Ross, who though of the same name were not related. His
father was reared to the life of a farmer in Wisconsin, but later turned his
attention to educational affairs, teaching school for a number of years and
serving as county superintendent of schools of Rock county, that state. Later
he went to Janesville, Wisconsin, where he was employed in newspaper work on
the staff of the Janesville Gazette for several years. In 1905 he came to St.
Helens, Oregon, and, liking the appearance of the place, made a few
investments. In 1906 he established the first bank in Columbia county, known
as the Columbia County Bank, of which he was the first president and cashier.
A few years later he established a bank at Scappoose, Oregon. He was greatly
interested in the development of St. Helens, serving as mayor and on the city
council. His death occurred October 17, 1916. He was married twice, by the
first union having two children, Levi Gilbert, of this review, and Mrs. Amy
Knutson, of Hadley, Minnesota. By his second marriage he became the father of
two children, Harold, who enlisted for service in the World war and died at
Vancouver Barracks from the "flu," and Dr. Cecil J., who is engaged in the
practice of medicine in Portland, Oregon.

Levi G. Ross received his early education in the public schools of
Janesville, Wisconsin, after which he matriculated in the medical school of
Northwestern University, at Chicago, from which he was graduated with the
degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1907. He paid his own way through college by
working at various occupations. He then came to Portland, Oregon, where he
served one year as interne in the Good Samaritan Hospital, and in 1908 went to
Huntington, Baker county, Oregon, where he was associated with Dr. William
Spencer for two years. In 1910 Dr. Ross came to St. Helens, where he has met
with notable success as physician and surgeon, specializing in gynecology and
obstetrics. He rendered a distinct and appreciated service to this section of
the country when, in 1925, he built and equipped St. Helens general hospital,
which in all respects is modern, having the latest medical and surgical
appliances. Sincerely devoted to his profession, and with a profound sympathy
for the sick and afflicted, he has proven well worthy of the confidence and
respect in which he is held throughout the community. Dr. Levi G. Ross has
been county health officer of Columbia county, Oregon, since 1910, and is now
the oldest health officer in point of continuous service, in the state.

On August 31, 1911, in Montana, Dr. Ross was united in marriage to Miss
Verna E. Shaffer, who is a native of Indiana and whom he first met in the Good
Samaritan Hospital, from which she later graduated in nursing. Dr. and Mrs.
Ross are the parents of one child, John Morse, born February 11, 1916, the
name Morse being after the inventor of the telegraph, who was of this same
blood. Dr. and Mrs. Ross are also bringing up Frances Ann Ross, born April 25,
1923, of whom they are legal guardians. The Doctor is a member of St. Helens
Lodge No. 32, A. F. & A. M.; St. Helens Chapter, No. 53, R. A. M.; and Avon
Lodge, No. 62, K. P. He also belongs to the Kiwanis Club and the Chamber of
Commerce. He is a member of the board of education and is a director of the
Columbia County Bank, which was established by his father. He is an active
member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he is a steward and is also
a member of the choir, in which he takes an active interest. During the World
war he was the physical examiner of all enlistments and was county chairman of
the Red Cross drives, and Mrs. Ross organized a class in nursing and
instructed a number of young women for war service. Dr. Ross possesses a
genial and kindly manner, calculated to inspire confidence on the part of his
patients, and all who have come in contact with him hold him in the highest
measure of regard.