Member Biography

James Harrison Ross 

Member
Sessions Office Position District Party
1879-1880       28 Democrat
1881-1882       28 Democrat
1883-1884       28 Democrat
1885-1886       28 Democrat

COUNTIES: York  


Biography

04/25/1828 - 01/19/1889


James Harrison Ross (D28) York County 1879-1886

Early Life: 

James Harrison Ross, born April 25, 1828, McVeytown, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania; son of James and Susannah Satzler Ross; public school education; private, Mexican War, 1846-1848; private, Civil War, 1862; canal boat driver; engage, farming, 1843-1863; elected, council, McVeytown (3 years); school director, McVeytown (6 years); elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1862 term, not a candidate for reelection 1863 term; whiskey Inspector, 17th Pennsylvania District, 1866; owner, National House, York, Pennsylvania 1871-1875; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate 1879-1886, not a candidate for reelection 1886; married, Martha Kime Ross, 1850, children, Mary Ellen Ross, Mary Ellen Ross, James Harrison Ross, George Elmer Ross, John Vinton Ross, Andrew Swartz Ross, Josephine Ross, Annie E. Ross Allison, Olive Horton Ross Ely, Edgar Cowan Ross, Otis Ross, Maude Hyde Ross Minish, May Ross; died, January 19, 1889, York County, Pennsylvania; interment Mattawana Cemetery, McVeytown, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania.

Early Career:

Private, Company B, 1st Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Mexican War, 1846-1848; private, Company C, 4th Regiment, Pennsylvania Emergency Militia, Civil War, 1862. 

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Mifflin County, 1862 term, not a candidate for reelection 1863 term.

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 28th district, York County, 1879-1886, not a candidate for reelection 1886; committee assignments, Appropriations, Compare Bills, Constitutional Reform, Corporations, Railroads

Pennsylvania House of Representatives Biography:

Official Website - PA House Archives Official Website (state.pa.us) 

Cited: 

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members "R""Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University. 

Smull’s Legislative Handbook, (1885). Smull, W.P., (Editor) Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pages 844, 849-851, Biographical Sketches of Senators, page 813.

James Harrison Ross (1828-1889) - Find a Grave Memorial