Ossian M. Ross

Major Ossian M. Ross
Portrait of Ossian M. Ross on wood, probably painted in New York around 1820 before he left for Illinois.
Born	(1790-08-16)August 16, 1790 Dutchess County, New York
Died	January 20, 1837(1837-01-20) (aged 46) Havana, Illinois
Place of burial	Oak Hill Cemetery Lewistown, Illinois
Allegiance	United States of America
Rank	Major
Battles/wars	War of 1812 Winnebago War
Spouse(s)	Mary (Polly) Winans
Other work	Farmer, merchant, hotel owner, ferry owner
Signature

Ossian M. Ross (August 16, 1790 - January 20, 1837) was a pioneer farmer, stock-raiser, and merchant in Illinois, who served as a major in the War of 1812 and subsequently founded the Illinois towns of Lewistown and Havana, and who also played a prominent role in establishing Fulton and Mason counties in that state.

Ossian Ross was born in Dutchess County, New York, on August 16, 1790, the son of Joseph Ross and Abigail Lee. He was married to Mary (Polly) Winans on July 7, 1811, in Seneca County, New York. While living in New York, he engaged in agricultural pursuits. Ossian and Mary Ross had three children during this period: Lewis Winans (1812-1895), Harriet M. (1816-1890), and Harvey Lee (1817-1907).

Ross served as a major under General Winfield Scott in the War of 1812. Following the war, he was given a half-section (320 acres) of land in the Illinois Military Tract, a region that was allocated by the United States Government as bounty lands to compensate volunteer soldiers for services rendered during the war. Ross later served in a company of Illinois volunteers in the Winnebago Indian Disturbances of 1827.

Ossian Ross moved to Illinois in 1821, shortly after the territory became a state, in order to claim his allotment in the Military Tract. It was Ross’ apparent intention to establish a town in that region, because he brought with him a blacksmith, a carpenter, and other workmen. Ossian Ross, his family, and his companions settled in an area that is now known as Lewistown, Illinois, a town which he founded and named after his oldest son, Lewis. Ossian Ross donated a quarter-section of his land to the town for the establishment of a public square, courthouse, jail, church, and Masonic temple. Ross himself was a Freemason: a member of the Frontier Lodge and active in the Grand Lodge of Illinois. Ossian and Mary Ross had three additional children in Illinois: Lucinda Caroline (1821-1900; the first white child born in the region, and who married William Kellogg), Leonard Fulton (1822-1901), and Pike Clinton (1825-1890).