Biography

08/11/1802 - 07/11/1868

Brigadier General William Sterling Ross Improvement Democrat 13 Columbia and Luzerne Counties 1845-1848

Early Life: 

William Sterling Ross, born, August 11, 1802, Wilkes Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania; son of State Senator, General William and Elizabeth Sterling Ross; graduated, Princeton College (now Princeton University); brigadier general, Wyoming Volunteers, 8th Regiment, Pennsylvania Militia; married, Ruth Tripp Slocum, 1825; appointed, associate judge, Luzerne County, 1830-1839; operator, Ross Coal Company; elected, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1845-1847; elected, President of the Senate, 1847; farmer; elected, Union Democrat, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1862 term; not a candidate for reelection, 1863 term; unsuccessful campaign, Pennsylvania Surveyor General, 1863; elected, council president, Wilkes Barre; director and manager, Easton and Wilkes Barre Turnpike; director, Wilkes Barre Water Company; director and president, Nanticoke Railroad Company; director and president, Wyoming Bank; director and president, Wyoming Insurance Company; director, Wilkes Barre Bridge Company; director, Home for Friendless Children, Wilkes Barre; died, July 11, 1868, Wilkes Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania; interment, Hollenback Cemetery, Wilkes Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.

Early Career:

Captain, Luzerne County Militia; Brigadier General, Wyoming Volunteers, 8th Regiment, Pennsylvania Militia; thirty year military career.

Professional titles; business ownership; board memberships; local government; club memberships:

Director and manager, Easton and Wilkes Barre Turnpike; director, Wilkes Barre Water Company; director and president, Nanticoke Railroad Company; director and president, Wyoming Bank; director and president, Wyoming Insurance Company; director, Wilkes Barre Bridge Company; director, Home for Friendless Children, Wilkes Barre.

Pennsylvania Politics:

Appointed, associate judge, Luzerne County, 1830-1839.

Elected, Improvement Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 13^th district, Columbia and Luzerne Counties, 1845-1847; elected, President of the Senate, 1847; chair, Militia Committee, 1847.  

Elected, Union Democrat, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1862 term; not a candidate for reelection, 1863 term;

Unsuccessful campaign, Pennsylvania Surveyor General, 1863.

Pennsylvania House of Representatives Biography:

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/BiosHistory/MemBio.cfm?ID=7958&body=H

Legacy:

Son, Pennsylvania State Senator, General William Ross, 1812-1816.

Uncle, Senator Sterling Ross Catlin (R21) Luzerne County (part) 1904-1919.