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One of the industries which has been most prolific of revenue to the
dwellers in the great state of Washington is the manufacture of lumber and
lumber products. One of the well skilled and deeply interested promoters of
this business in Stevens county is the gentleman whose name appears at the
head of this page. He resides about five miles north from Chewelah, and has
there a valuable estate improved with good buildings. In addition to this he
owns near the estate, a fine sawmill and shingle mill and a residence in
Chewelah.
Clarence E. Ross was born in Canton, IIlinois, on November 15, 1867,
the son of Stephen M. and Matilda (Blackburn) Ross, natives of Virginia and
Maryland, respectively. The father was a nephew of the noted Indian fighter,
General Morgan, and traces his ancestry back to early days of Scotland. The
Mrs. Ross, who designed the flag for General Washington, which now proudly
floats over the grandest nation the world has ever seen, was a member of the
family. The father was a miller, operating both saw and flour mills, which is
the secret of the ability possessed by our subject. He died in Bogard, Missouri, in 1895 and three years later at the same place his widow followed
the way of all the earth. Two children were born to this marriage: Leland,
now on the old homestead at Bogard, Missouri, and Clarence E., the subject of
this review. The parents were both married previous to this union and the
father's child by his first wife was George T. To the mother were born two
children, W.F. Davey, deceased; C.A. Davey, manager of the American cigar
factory in New York City where he handles six hundred men. Our subject was
educated in Carroll county, Missouri, and when twenty-three left the
parental roof. We see him next in Spokane, Washington, where he did various
work until 1891, the date of his advent to Stevens County. In 1892 he bought
a man's right to the place that he now occupies. In 1895, in company with
E.J. Arrington, he built a sawmill, and two years later purchased his partner's interest. He has conducted the mill since and in addition to his
quarter sections has purchased eighty acres more of land.
On April 30, 1890, Mr. Ross married Miss Edna E., daughter of Sexter
and Roxania (Huntley) Millay, natives of Maine and Illinois, respectively.
They lived in Illinois for twenty years and then moved to Carroll county
where they now abide. On March 27, 1903, this venerable couple celebrated
their golden wedding. They are the parents of the following children: Mattie Gaines, Harlow, Cynthia Ingram, Hattie Hood, Viola McPherson, Lena
Lytle. Our subject and his wife were parents of eight children: Laura, Ella,
Fay, Steven, Viola, Matilda, Ruth, deceased, and Dexter. Mr. Ross ever manifests a keen interest in all local affairs and in general politics. He
is satisfied with the principles of the Republican party and is a stanch
member of the same. Fraternally he is affiliated with the I.O.O.F. and the
M.W.A., being one of the moving spirits in the erection of the M.W.A. hall
in Chewelah.
Mr. Ross is just completing a beautiful residence on his farm. It is
a twelve-room structure of modern architectural design and provided with all
conveniences known to the science of building now. Each room will be well
supplied with water, while the entire house will be lighted with a special
electrical plant. Without doubt it is the finest rural abode in the Chewelah
valley. |
