San Luis Obispo County Biographies

W. L. ROSS

Submitted by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


W. L. ROSS was born in Virginia, December 2, 1845, being one of a family of eight 
children. His father, a fanner by occupation, is still living. Remaining at his 
home until the age of eighteen years, he then enlisted in the Confederate army, 
in 1863, joining the Fifty-first Virginia Regiment, Company D. Mr. Ross took part
 in several important engagements, among them was the retreat before Sheridan, 
during his famous run, which but a short time previous had almost been a great 
victory for the Confederate troops. After the war Mr. Ross spent a year at home, and 
finished his education in a town in North Carolina. He now returned to his home in 
Virginia, where he remained until 1869, in that year starting for the West. He spent a 
year in Kentucky and Tennessee, and in 1870 reached California. Taking up some land 
in Tulare County, he located there for four years, at the end of which time he disposed
of his property. Since then this land has proved to be very valuable, and had Mr. 
Ross held on to it, it would have been a rich holding. Frequent attacks of chills and fever 
Drove him to the coast and in 1875 he located in Cambria, where he was engaged in 
farming and dairying for three years. In connection with his brother, he owned some 
valuable stock. In 1882 he came to his present ranch, located on the Corral de Piedra 
Rancho. Mr. Ross has 1,240 acres, upon which he is engaged in dairying and stock-raising. 
This property is beautifully situated, has considerable oak timber, and is well adapted for 
stock-raising and diversified farming. The climate here is delightful. The frequent cool winds 
that are felt on the other side of the coast hills are not noticed in this valley. Mr. Ross 
is unmarried. 

History of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties, California  - by 
C.M. Gidney, Benjamin Brooks, Edwin M. Sheridan, Vol I, II.  -Lewis Publ. Co., 
Chicago, 1917.