Description
A Port William Minister Led a Varied Career - Born in Slavery, the Rev. G. W. H. Ross Has been an Acrobat, a Steamboat Hand, and Finally Preacher - Served in Indian Campaigns - A Expert Rifle Shot When in Army - Belonged to Texas Rifle Team and Later to Missouri Rifle Team - now President of Ministers' Institute" - - The Rev. and Mrs. G. W. H. Ross, colored, who lived for many years in Leavenworth and who are well known here, recently celebrated their 60th and 40th birthdays (~1850 and ~1870) respectively, at their home in the Port William settlement, north of this city. Mr. and Mrs. Ross are remarkable couple. They have been the parents of 26 children. Two sets of twins have been born to them. Despite this remarkable birth record Mrs. Ross is an unusually well preserved and young-looking woman for her age. Eight of their children are living, and they are a bright, good looking and well-behaved family of boys and girls.
Mrs. Ross’ maiden name was Sarah Allen. She is a daughter of the late Rev. William Allen of Leavenworth, whom it will be remembered died very suddenly while kneeling in prayer at a funeral in this city several years ago. Mr. Allen was an ex-slave, his master having been the late Tom Steele, a well known citizen of Platte County, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Ross were married in Leavenworth 27 years ago (~1883).
Mr. Ross’ full name is George Washington Harrison Ross. His career has been a varied and interesting one. He was born in slavery at Chatham, Virginia in 1850. When a boy he became a stage driver between Lynchburg and Danville, and also followed the races. In 1862 he was taken to Alabama, where he was put to work on the Memphis & Meridian Railroad. Later he joined old John Robinson’s circus, and worked his way up from cook to equestrian, acrobat, and minstrel. He was with the circus 3 years and visited Leavenworth, Weston, Atchison, and other towns in this section.
Peter Lee, a former Leavenworth colored man, who now lives at Port William, and who is noted for his remarkable memory, saw Ross with Robinson’s circus at Weston in 1869 and when Ross settled at Port William, 12 years ago this spring. Lee immediately recognized him. Ross quit the circus in Arkansas, and went to work as a roustabout on steam boats on the Arkansas, White and Mississippi Rivers. Then he went to Tennessee as porter in a wholesale grocery at Nashville.
While in Nashville he enlisted January 7, 1876, in the 24th Infantry, was sent to Columbus, Ohio, where he remained 3 months, and then to San Antonio, Texas, where he was assigned to his company and regiment, which was Company F of the 24th. From there he started on scouting expeditions and Indian campaigns under Col. W. R. Shafter, later of Spanish-American War fame. He visited the Pecos Valley, the famous Howard’s Well, and other points in the Southwest. In 1878 he went to Old Mexico with General McKinzie and Colonel Shafter, scouting the Santa Rosa Mountains for horse thieves, outlaws and Indian renegades. He was in the service 8 years and 3 months, finally leaving the army on account of disability. His first discharge occurred at a cantonment on the North Fork of the Canadian River, in the Indian Territory, January 6, 1881. He re-enlisted the next day and was finally discharged at Fort Elliott, Texas, February 22, 1883.
During his service he was promoted from corporal to sergeant in Capt. Charles C. Hood’s company of the 24th Infantry, March 1, 1879, and remained continuously in this capacity until his final discharge. He has a letter from Captain Hood recommending him in the highest terms, and in both of his discharge papers his character is marked “excellent”.
He was a member of the department rifle team of Texas for two years; also of the Missouri rifle team in 1881-82, and was in competition at Fort Leavenworth. He now draws a pension of $14 a month.
After leaving the army he went to Texas with the Ryan brothers of Leavenworth and drove cattle to Montana for two years. Returning to Leavenworth he worked for a time at the old sugar factory and with brick masons. He then went to coal mining and stuck to this for 12 years. About 1895 he was licensed in the Baptist ministry, and 4 years later was ordained and set aside as an elder. For several years he was pastor of the Mount Zion Baptist Church, at Port Williams. At present he is vice-president of the Minister’s and Deacon’s Institute of Northeastern Kansas. He is a member of the Masonic order and was at one time chaplain of the American Protective Association in Kansas. He takes an active part in local politics and has been a member of the Atchison County Republican central committee for several years.
Mr. Ross is an excellent cook, having served an apprenticeship under a French cook on a Mississippi River steamboat. He has drawn a high salary as bead cook on steamboats. He is an expert horseman, and can drive a four-in- hand or six horse team as dexterously as the average man can drive one. He always keeps a good team and his horses are well trained. He is an all- around handy man in his community. He cooks for barbecues and picnics, officiates at weddings and funerals, presides at political and other public meetings and even works on a farm. Mr. and Mrs. Ross are the kind of citizens who are a credit to their race. They are intelligent, straight forward and above all, strictly honest and have the confidence and respect of all their neighbors.Date(s) of Creation
5/15/1910