Jonathan Ross (politician)

Ross was born in Waterford, Vermont, on April 30, 1826, the son of Royal Ross and Eliza (Mason) Ross.^[1] Ross attended the public schools and St. Johnsbury Academy.^[1] He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1851 and was principal of the Chelsea and Craftsbury Academies from 1851 to 1856.^[2] He studied law in the Chelsea office of former Congressman William Hebard, and later with Charles Davis of Danville and William A. Fletcher of Michigan; he was admitted to the bar in 1856.^[3]

Ross was Treasurer of Passumpsic Savings Bank from 1858 to 1868.^[1] He practiced law in St. Johnsbury until 1870.^[1] After being State's attorney for Caledonia County from 1862 to 1863, he was appointed a member of the State board of education, holding that office from 1866 to 1870.^[1]

From 1865 to 1867, Ross was a member of the Vermont House of Representatives and he was a state senator in 1870.^[1] He served on the Vermont Council of Censors in 1869.^[1] He was judge of the Vermont Supreme Court from 1870 to 1890 and chief justice of Vermont from 1890 to 1899.^[4][5]

In December 1898, U.S. Senator Justin S. Morrill died.^[6] Governor Edward Curtis Smith offered to appoint Benjamin F. Fifield to the vacancy, and Fifield tentatively accepted.^[7] Several days later, Fifield declined, and Smith then offered the appointment to Ross, who accepted.^[7] He served from January 11, 1899, to October 18, 1900, when a successor was elected.^[8] While in the Senate, he was chairman of the United States Senate Committee to Examine Branches of the Civil Service (Fifty-sixth Congress) until October 18, 1900, when he was replaced at Special Election.^[9] He was not an active candidate for reelection in 1900.^[1] In October 1900, Ross was elected president of the Vermont Bar Association, and he served a one-year term.^[10] In November 1900, he succeeded David J. Foster as chairman of the state board of railroad commissioners, and he served until being succeeded by Fuller C. Smith in November 1902.^[11]

Ross retired to his home in St. Johnsbury, where he resided until his death.^[1] He died on February 23, 1905, from injuries sustained when his sleigh was struck by a train a few days earlier.^[1] According to published accounts, Ross and his wife were stopped at a crossing while a train passed by.^[1] Their horse became frightened and dashed between two train cars, demolishing the sleigh and killing Mrs. Ross.^[1] The train crew transported Ross to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with a broken hip and other injuries, and remained until his death.^[12] Ross is interred at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in St. Johnsbury, Vermont.^[1]

Ross married Eliza Ann Carpenter (1826–1886) on November 22, 1852.^[1] They were the parents of eight children, including Caroline C., Eliza M., Helen M., Julia, Martha E., Edith Helen, Edward H., and Jonathan C.^[13] In 1887, he married Helen Daggert, and they remained married until her death.^[1]