The Daily Gazette, Sterling, Illinois

July 5, 1938 - Tuesday, pg 9 

JOHN  A  ROSS 

TOWN SADDENED BY DEATH OF JOHN A. ROSS, TUESDAY 

Passing Follows Illness Of One Week -- Funeral At 2 P.M. Thursday 

The people of Prophetstown were saddened Tuesday morning on learning of the passing of John A. Ross, 85, who died at his home at 8:35 a.m.   Mr. Ross had been ill a week with complications caused by infirmities of age.  Mr. Ross was a frequent visitor down town and enjoyed seeing his many friends and receiving their kindly greeting. 

The body was taken to the Dudley chapel where friends may call until noon Thursday. Funeral rites will be held from the Prophetstown Lutheran Church at 2 p.m. Thursday, with Ralph Lindquist, student pastor, officiating.  Interment will be in Riverside Cemetery, Prophetstown. 

Mr. Ross was born on July 25, 1852 at Vernamo, Sweden. His parents were Anders and Johanna Anderson Johnson. He came to the united States in 1881 and located near New Bedford.  His wife-to-be, Inga Eck Peterson, followed him to the United States the next year and they were married on June 10, 1882, near New Bedford.  They celebrated their golden wedding on June 10, 1932  Mrs. Ross passed away the following year on Nov. 23. 

Mr. Ross followed the occupation of farming and in 1898 moved to the vicinity of Prophetstown where the family lived until he retired to Prophetstown in 1919.  He was a member of the First Lutheran Church of Prophetstown. He had endeared himself to a host of friends by his kindly acts and words. 

Surviving are one daughter, Mrs. Earl Allison of Mt. Carmel, two brothers, Gustav Johnson, Tampico, and August Johnson, Prophetstown, one sister, Miss Catherine Johnson, Tampico, and two grandchildren of Mt. Carmel. Two brothers, Swan Anderson and Charles Ross, preceded him in death.