Jonathan Ross, U.S. Senator

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Ross_(senator)

Jonathan Ross (April 30, 1826 – February 23, 1905) was a United States Senator from Vermont.

Born in Waterford, Vermont, he attended the public schools and St. Johnsbury Academy; he graduated from Dartmouth College in 1851 and was principal of the Chelsea and Craftsbury Academies from 1851 to 1856. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1856 and practiced in St. Johnsbury until 1870; he was State's attorney for Caledonia County, 1862–1863 and was appointed a member of the State board of education, holding that office from 1866 to 1870. From 1865 to 1867 he was a member of the Vermont House of Representatives and was a State senator in 1870. He was judge of the Vermont Supreme Court form 1870 to 1890 and Chief Justice of Vermont from 1890 to 1899.

Ross was appointed as a Republican to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Justin S. Morrill and served from January 11, 1899 to October 18, 1900, when a successor was elected; he was not an active candidate for reelection in 1900. While in the Senate, he was chairman of the Committee to Examine Branches of the Civil Service (Fifty-sixth Congress). After his time in the Senate, he was chairman of the board of State railroad commissioners (1900–1902). He died in St. Johnsbury in 1905; interment was in Mount Pleasant Cemetery.

Ross married twice. He first married Eliza Ann Carpenter on November 22, 1852 with whom he had eight children. Years after her death in 1886, he married Helen Daggert. His wives are buried at either side of his grave.