WILLIAM BRYAN ROSS | The Book of Ross

WILLIAM BRYAN ROSS A-906

Male, Born	in Hastings, Nebraska on 4/9/1908
Died	2/17/1993 (Sheridan, Wyoming)

Parents

Siblings

Spouses / Children

Wife:

LUCINA
MILLION
SCHRATER

Their Children:

Wife:

RUBY
H
HARLOW

Their Children:

Born 9 April 1908, probably at Hastings, Nebraska, of George Granville ROSS and Olive A. (MILLION) ROSS. He was one of twelve children.

"Bill" first married Ruby H. HARLOW, BORN June 25, 1912, daughter of Leo HARLOW, in Gillette, Wyoming. Bill and Ruby had children William George and Bernard Wilbur.

Ruby re-married to Harold Elmer RANK, and they had a son, Harold Roger RANK ("Roger") who was a half-brother to William George and Bernard Wilbur. Roger was born October 26, 1938, and died February 22, 2007 in Sturgis, South Dakota. Ruby later re-married to a man named SULLIVAN. She died February 5, 1976 in Gillette, Wyoming. She was buried in Mount Pisgah Cemetery, Gillette, Wyoming.

On August 6, 1938, Bill received a homestead patent on 640 acres in Johnson County, Wyoming. The nearest town is Kaycee, Wyoming, about 25 miles to the southwest. The Pumpkin Buttes are about 20 miles to the southeast. That is some of the wildest country anywhere – even today! It is situated northwest of the intersection of the Bozeman Trail and Nine Mile Road (about 40 miles due west of his father's homestead). Since most of the homestead was in "Section eleven", that portion is located at Latitude/Longitude 43.8756°N, 106.3498°W. Below is a copy of this homestead patent. At the time the homestead was granted, the legal description says, "Coal and other minerals reserved to United States." (NOTE: The Government Land Office states that it generally took several years for the "Patent" to be issued from Washington, D.C. after the land was purchased).

Bill's brother, Howard Randall (my father), told of how they survived in that desolate place by breaking wild horses and by trapping coyotes, badger, and other animals to sell their hides. There was a bounty on coyotes in those days.

He later married Lucina ("Billie") Million SCHRATER, daughter of Robert SCHRATER, and they had children Phyllis Marie, Gary Lee, and Dianne Louise. [I am unaware of any significance to Billie’s middle name, "Million" and Bill's mother’s maiden name, "Million."]

About 1959, the couple adopted another daughter, Frances M. GARRO. Frances married Ronald E. GLADDEN. In August 2009, the couple was living in Vancouver, Washington.

Bill owned and operated a successful construction firm throughout his long life. He was a general contractor, but specialized in all types of masonry work.

He was a devout Christian man who was prominent in the Seventh Day Adventist Church. "Uncle Bill" was a guiding force during my youth, both spiritually and practically. He never taught me "how" to do something, but he instilled me with a sense that I was capable of learning and doing anything. He loved the Big Horn Mountains and was a particularly skilled trout fisherman and elk hunter.

Because I was 'away' in the Army, I only visited Uncle Bill's "mansion" (my word, not his) twice. In addition to Little Goose Creek immediately behind the house, the property had 2 fishing ponds, barns and stables, a guest house, and a carriage house. There were many bedrooms, each with its own fireplace, and a walk-in vault in the basement. Best of all, though, was the beauty of the setting – in the foothills of the Big Horn Mountains near the small town of Big Horn, Wyoming.

At the time of his death in Sheridan, Wyoming, on February 17, 1993, he was living in Buffalo, Wyoming. He is buried in Willow Grove Cemetery, Buffalo, Wyoming.

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