Member Biography

Biography

Brigadier General William Sterling Ross (Improvement Democrat13) Columbia and Luzerne Counties 1845-1848 

Early Life: 

William Sterling Ross, born, August 11, 1802, Wilkes Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania; son of Pennsylvania State Senator, General William and Elizabeth Sterling Ross; 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 State House of Representatives, 1862 term; not a candidate for reelection, 1863 term; unsuccessful campaign, Pennsylvania Surveyor General, 1863; elected, council president, Wilkes Barre; director, manager, Easton and Wilkes Barre Turnpike; director, Wilkes Barre Water Company; director, president, Nanticoke Railroad Company; director, president, Wyoming Bank; director, 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, manager, Easton and Wilkes Barre Turnpike; director, Wilkes Barre Water Company; director, president, Nanticoke Railroad Company; director, president, Wyoming Bank; director, 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, 13th district, Columbia and Luzerne Counties, 1845-1847; elected, President of the Senate, 1847; chairman, 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: 

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

Legacy: 

Son, Pennsylvania State Senator, General William Ross, (D) Luzerne and Northumberland Counties 1812-1815 (D9) Columbia, Luzerne, Northumberland, Susquehanna, Union Counties 1815-1816.

William Ross  - Pennsylvania Senate Library (pasen.gov)

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

Sterling Ross Catlin  - Pennsylvania Senate Library (pasen.gov)

Cited:

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

Gen William Sterling Ross (1802-1868) - Find a Grave Memorial