Territory of Oregon    )
County of Jackson       )  s.s.
    John E. Ross of said county being first duly sworn says--I resided in Jackson County aforesaid during the summer and fall of 1853. I was engaged in the Rogue River War so called. I acted as col. commanding. The first act of hostilities was committed on the second day of August 1853, by Indians called Tipsey's band--killing a white settler by the name of Edwards, and the shooting of cattle. I have learned during the continuance of said war, from a conversation with an Indian called "Jim," a principal chief of the Rogue River Tribe, that there was a difficulty between Jim and one of "Tipsey's" band in regard to a squaw. I appeared that a Spaniard among the whites had the squaw and Jim charged the wrong upon the whites. The Indian of Tipsey's band then left the camp of "Jim" declaring that he would cause a general war of extermination against the whites in Rogue River Valley. This was on the night before the killing of Edwards. From this time all the Indians in Rogue River Valley assumed a hostile attitude towards the whites and carried on an aggressive war by murdering citizens, burning houses and other improvements and property, killing and driving off stock &c., in all which acts of hostilities the Rogue River Tribe of Indians were either actors in the first instance or accessory as allies to straggling bands of neighboring tribes.
    This war continued from the date before mentioned up to the battle in the mountains in which [Pleasant] Armstrong was killed on the 24th of August 1853, when an armistice of seven days [was] declared, which was only a temporary suspension of immediate hostilities with the principal band of Rogue Rivers until a council could be held by them with the subordinate chiefs to settle upon the provisions of treaty if such should be made, or if not to determine what negotiations should be made. But hostilities did not cease, except by the band immediately entering into the armistice, until after the treaty of the 10th September 1853.
    "Jim" told me that the Indians about Grave Creek belonged to the Rogue River Tribe, and that in the difficulties in that quarter the Grave Creeks and Applegate bands were united, and acted together. I think that the Indians on Cow Creek, the other side of the Grave Creek Hills, had no connection with the Rogue Rivers in the war of 1853.

John E. Ross

Subscribed and sworn to before me at Jacksonville this 3rd day Jany. A.D. 1855.

Witness my hand and seal

L. F. Grover

(  seal  )                          Notary Public

Microcopies of Records in the National Archives No. 2, Roll 28, Records of the Oregon Superintendent of Indian Affairs.



    Sir: You will immediately proceed with your company, along the Southern Oregon immigrant trail, to some suitable point near Clear Lake or on Lost River, in the vicinity of the place where the immigration of 1852 was massacred by the Indians, where you will establish your headquarters. From this encampment you will send out detachments of such numbers as you may deem effective as far as the Humboldt River, giving them instructions to collect the immigrants together in as large companies as convenient, the better to withstand the attacks of the Indians. Each train will be strictly guarded through the entire hostile country.
    It is to be hoped that your company, in the heart of their country, will deter the Indians from committing their annual depredations upon the immigrants coming in by this route. Your treatment of the Indians must in a great measure be left to your own judgment and discretion. If possible, however, cultivate their friendship, but if necessary for the safety of the lives and property of the immigration, whip and drive them from the road.
Captain Walker.
House of Representatives, 35th Congress, 2nd Session, Misc. Doc. 47, Government Printing Office, page 8



    Dear Sir: I have the pleasure of presenting copies of my call for volunteers on the 3rd of August last, my order to Captain Walker on the 8th of the same month, and Captain Walker's report of the expedition, dated November 8, 1854.
    Captain Walker, with his whole command, arrived here on the 6th instant. The officers and privates were all generally well, and were immediately discharged. The muster rolls are not yet made out, but I will send them to General Barnum by one of our members, who will go down to Salem at the meeting of the legislative assembly. The expenses have been high, and more than I anticipated at the time the company was organized. But the evident necessity for the company, and the happy result of the expedition, it is confidently hoped, will induce Congress immediately to assume the expenses.
    It may be interesting to mention the previous character of the Piute, Modoc and disaffected roaming Shasta Indians who inhabit the country east of the settlements of Rogue River Valley, and along the immigrant road to Southern Oregon and Northern California. The Modoc and Shasta Indians, who refused to make any treaty with the United States, occupy the country near the California line, between the spurs of the Cascade Mountains and the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and the Piutes occupy the country between the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Shoshones, or Snakes, on Humboldt River. "Old Lalakes," the chief of the Klamath Lake tribe, has tried to control the Modocs and Piutes, but they dispute his authority and have confederated with the Shoshones, who inhabit the country along the Humboldt River, and have always been inveterate enemies to the whites.
    I am informed that, in the fall of 1846, Jesse Applegate and others acted as guides for the first immigration that passed through the country of the Piutes and Modoc Indians, and they annoyed the immigrants very much by stealing their stock, and murdered one of the immigrants on Lost River.
    Owing to the distance to Northern Oregon and Middle California by this route, and the hostility of the Shoshones, Piutes and Modocs, and the many difficulties which the first immigration encountered on this route, but few traveled it from 1846 until the fall of 1852, after the settling of Shasta and Rogue River valleys. In the fall of 1852 there was a large immigration came this route to California and Oregon, and about the 11th September news reached this valley that whole trains of immigrants had been massacred on Lost River. A company of twenty-two volunteers were immediately raised in Jacksonville, and they elected me their captain. The whole company left here on the 13th of September, made forced marches, and in a few days arrived at Lost River. We found the bodies of fourteen immigrants and buried them. Several of them were women and children; they were much mutilated. On our arrival at Clear Lake, about twenty-two miles beyond this, we found Captain Ben. Wright's company, from Yreka, California, stationed at the lake. He informed me that his men had found and buried eighteen bodies in the vicinity of Bloody Point, at Tule Lake and among the number were Captain Coats and Mr. Orvensby [Ornsby/Ormsby], two respectable citizens of Yreka, California, who went out to assist the immigration.
    Captain Wright's company remained out some time after the immigrants had all passed through this country. He found several more bodies of those who had been massacred by these Indians. The precise number that were massacred in a single season by these Indians, between Klamath Lake and the Sierra Nevada Mountains, probably will never be known to the whites. Some of these Indians have been killed in battle since these massacres, but not a single murderer has yet been given up by the tribes and brought to justice.
    The California legislature, at its next session thereafter, paid all expenses of Captain Wright's company, and liberally rewarded the officers and privates for their services. My company did arduous service, was out some thirty-odd days, returned with the last of the immigration, and received for our services the compliments of the Oregon legislative assembly. The last immigration was protected along this route by a detachment of dragoons and Captain John F. Miller's company (mounted volunteers), who were stationed on Lost River by General Lane, yet, notwithstanding this partial protection, they stole during the season a large amount of stock from the last immigration. Having a personal knowledge of these Indians, and knowing their deadly hostility and natural propensity to rob, plunder and murder the whites, it is truly gratifying to know that the whole of this year's immigration for Southern Oregon and Northern California have passed through the Piute and Modoc countries without a single immigrant being killed by these Indians, and comparatively with but little loss of property. Much credit is due to Captain Walker, and to the officers and men belonging to his command, for their kindness to the immigrants, and for their vigilance, energy and untiring industry in the prosecution of their mission. The animals belonging to the expedition bear unmistakable evidence of the arduous service which they have performed. The transportation and riding animals were all in fine condition at the time they entered the service, but the most of them have returned poor, emaciated and scarcely able to travel.
    In relation to the massacre near "Gravelly Ford," on the Humboldt, the report is confirmed by the immigrants and the California papers. These Indians, too, will have to be taught the power of American arms.
    I have the honor to be your most respectful and obedient servant,
Geo. L. Curry,
    Acting Governor and Commander-in-chief.
House of Representatives, 35th Congress, 2nd Session, Misc. Doc. 47, Government Printing Office, pages 14-16


Sir
    The Treasurer of the United States will remit to you the sum of $2238.60, being the amount of your claim for beef furnished the Oregon & California Battalion of Volunteers for the Rogue River Indian War in Southern Oregon on the 7th Septr. 1853 received at this office from the 2nd Auditor on the 9th Augt. 1854, the same having been acted on by the Accounting Officer of the Treasury and all and in full under the decision of the Secretary of War of January 2nd 1855.
    For the above amount of $2238.60, when it shall have come to hand, you will please forward your receipt to this office.
John E. Ross Esq.
    Present
Ernest E. Mingus private collection


To E. M. Barnum
    Adjt. Genl.
        Respected sir yesterday I mustered into the service of Oregon at Vannoy's ferry the four companies from Jackson County called for by the proclamation of the Governor of the date of Oct. 15th 1855. As soon as mustered they went into an election for major which resulted in the election of Captain James Bruce.
    The troops had been commanded by Col. John E. Ross, C. S. Drew acting as his aide, both of them endeavoring to prevent the men from organizing under the proclamation. I never saw as much cold calculation & open blackheartedness, in fact, open rebellion against the laws, as was manifested on this occasion. Had it not been for the influence of Doct. Ambrose, Mr. Hughes & some of the other good citizens, the troop would have went home and not have formed into mounted volunteers, as the proclamation called for. Much credit is due to Capt. James Bruce for his noble conduct on this occasion. Col. Ross ordered him to disband his men or to come under his (Col. Ross') orders. Capt. Bruce told him that he and his men were mustered under the proclamation & would not obey him any longer, at least when he would be going against the Governor's orders. Ross then ordered the commissary to not issue rations to any but those companies under the 9th Regiment of Oregon Militia, commanded by him (Ross). Capt. Smiley Harris, being one of Ross' & Drew's party got an order from Ross to draw all the ammunition and ten days' rations & sent his men out under pretense of guarding a pack train on the Crescent City trail. This was done for the purpose of preventing many of his men from joining the volunteers under the proclamation as many of them wished to do so. I met [Quartermaster] Genl. John F. Miller at Evans Ferry last night on his way to headquarters. He & Bruce will soon straighten things. I write in haste as the mail will soon go out. It has rained here incessantly the last three days. I will inform you more particularly soon as possible.
To Genl.
    E. M. Barnum
Oregon State Archives, Yakima and Rogue River War, Document File B, Reel 3, Document 708.


    Col. Ross, the member-elect, is doubtless a clever gentleman, but I think would before at ease in discussing a "bill of fare" than a "council bill."  

    Written between dark and daylight by H.H.B. [Hubert Howe Bancroft] while the Colonel's horse was standing at the door, the whole night being occupied in the work.
   
    John E. Ross born 1818 Feby. 15th in Madison County, Ohio, removed to Indiana in 1828, thence to Illinois in 1834, emigrated to Oregon in 1847, yet unmarried. Left Independence in May. The company consisted of some 40 wagons called [the] Ross  Train, of which Mr. Ross was captain.
    The train divided into two companies at Little Blue River and the train that was behind Mr. Ross' was surrounded in crossing the divide between Little Blue River and Platte River near Ash Hollow by Pawnees who did no damage. They only demanded tobacco and salt, which was given them.
    In traveling up the South Platte a guard had to be kept before and behind the train to keep off the buffalo which were very numerous as it was, and notwithstanding this precaution some stock was lost. The buffalo appeared to be traveling south. There was no end to them. For miles there seemed to be a moving mass of buffalo. Men on horseback were kept to frighten them off, to make them divide; otherwise they would rush over the train and carry off horses and cattle which would get among them and rush off with them. When within 40 miles of Laramie they got out of the buffalo range and were troubled no more with them.
    Had to ford Platte River by tying ropes round the horns of the leaders of the oxen, and men on horseback would lead them across. In some places horses & cattle would have to swim over holes, the wagon in such cases being submerged; the load was elevated to the top of the wagon bed, which was fastened to the running gear.
    In coming up the Little Blue, through a level country, the train stampeded, the cattle became frightened at something, nobody knew what, and all started off simultaneously to run. They kept it up for about two miles. A child had a leg broken, and several oxen came out minus a horn. This sort of thing was of not infrequent occurrence in crossing the plains.
    Arrived at Laramie about the first of July. It was a trading post of the fur company then under Choteau. Kenner was then going through to Bridger.
    Crossed the North Platte as they had crossed the South Platte. Several persons had been drowned there in crossing a few days before Mr. Ross' party arrived.
    Through by Sweetwater and Independence Rock. The buffalo were again encountered at Horseshoe Creek but not in alarming numbers.
    Halted a few days on Sweetwater where Mr. Vener going to Bridger joined the train. Halted likewise a few days at Fort Bridger.
    Followed the road by Soda or Steamboat Springs to Fort Hall then occupied by H.B. Co. Down Snake River, which stream they crossed at Salmon Falls, where they lost some stock by the Indians.   
    At Fort Hall, where they rested three days, met Stockton with his command returning from California. Thinks he had Fremont with him under arrest. The old mountaineer Greenwood, who gave the emigrants a good deal of valuable information regarding the country and the way to travel through it, was Stockton's guide.
    After leaving Fort Hall traveling down Snake River they lost many cattle from their drinking poisoned or alkali water which was found in the pools and springs in that region. The cattle after drinking it would bloat up and die. The remedy which in many cases proved successful was to give them salt bacon, cutting it in strips and forcing it down their throats.
    Struck Boise River about 15 miles above where Boise City now is. Followed down the stream to old Fort Boise where they re-crossed Snake River and took a southwesterly direction to what is called the Malheur River, whence turning north again they struck Snake River again along which they traveled for one or two days, and then turned and traveled up Burnt River, then crossed the divide into Grand Ronde Valley. Here Mr. Ross left the train with two other men and traveled horseback across the Blue Mountains to the Umatilla, where he met Dr. Whitman. Camped with him one night and he advised them to have a guard about Indians, for the Walla Wallas were disposed to be hostile. This advice was followed by camping early, eating supper, and then moving to some more secure retreat off the trail. Met some Indians who appeared sulky. The third day they reached a spot where they were satisfied emigrants had been attacked by Indians. Feather beds were cut open and books were torn and various articles scattered about. There they expected to find hostile Indians. They traveled at night.
    Col. Ross was notified by some Indians at the mouth of Rock Creek on John Day's River that there was trouble ahead. Hurrying forward after crossing John Day's River he passed up through a cañon a mile and a half in length. There he found four families who had been robbed and stripped of clothing & their cattle taken. There 2 old women & 4 young women grown and some children. One family was named Warren, a man by the name of Hoyt and his wife were missing. The women after being stripped found a bolt of factory cloth of which they made slips, and in these white slips the fair sisterhood were arrayed. Their outrage was supposed to have been committed by the Walla Wallas. None of the party were killed. The men belonging to these families were away in search of cattle at the time, which had been driven off by the Indians. Col. Ross remained with these people several days until other trains came up. He traded his clothing what he had on to the Indians for salmon and split peas for the destitute women to live on. He also hired an Indian to hunt for their cattle & he succeeded in bringing in two yoke. Col. Ross gave to these women his blankets, keeping only a buffalo robe for cover from the frosty night for the three men. In lieu of warm clothing, they gathered greasewood and burned it on the sand in order to warm the ground, which they afterward slept on.
    Arrived at The Dalles the latter part of October; it was too late to cross the Cascades. Rains had set in and many emigrants had congregated there. Many left their cattle at The Dalles; others drove their stock down to Ft. Vancouver. Many built flatboats below The Dalles and putting their goods aboard sailed down the river. At the Cascades they unloaded the boats and carrying the cargoes over the portage turned the boats adrift over the falls. Some of the boats were dashed to pieces, others went down the rapids in safety.
    At the Cascades Col. Ross hired out to a man named Seby who had a boat to help emigrants down the river. He rowed the boat for thirteen days at a dollar a day, working sometimes half the night and sometimes all night and in the rain. He had borrowed 2½ dollars from an old lady, all the money she had, at Grand Ronde Valley to buy biscuit with to travel on.
    Stopped at Portland one night. On the east side lived one Stevens, and on the other side there was one house. When Col. Ross went to Oregon City, where he found his sister whose husband, Mr. Edward Trimble, had been murdered by the Pawnees the year before at Platte River. Started in the butcher business with Stephen Meek, brother of Jo Meek, & was in business one month when the Cayuse War broke out.
    On the 8th day of Dec. 1847 the news of the Whitman massacre reached Oregon City. The legislature was then in session at Oregon City. A call was made that evening for volunteers, and a company was raised of 40 or 50 men, who held an election for officers next morning resulting in H. A. J. Lee for captain, Jacob Rinearson or Magone 1st lieut. and John E. Ross 2nd lieut.
    The same day the company started for Ft. Vancouver. Commissioners, consisting of Peter H. Burnett, Jesse Applegate, Geo. L. Curry and James W. Nesmith, were appointed to negotiate for boats and supplies.
    Proceeding up the Columbia in their boats the company got windbound at Wind Mountain and lay there for ten days, but a company of ten men went on afoot and finding the mission at The Dalles deserted took possession of it. Those who were windbound joined them at The Dalles Christmas night.
    After fortifying the place the company remained there until April when they were reinforced, but on the 8th day of January 1848 they had a fight which lasted nearly all day. The Indians came down in pretty strong force and attempted to drive off some stock. Barlow with some man were out in search of the stock when the Indians attempted to cut them off. But one white man was wounded, shot through the leg, and two Indians killed.
    In April Capt. Gillem came up with reinforcements consisting of five companies. Capt. H. A. J. Lee was promoted. The first company of which Lee had been captain was then reorganized, and John E. Ross was elected captain.
    After the war Col. Ross again engaged in the butchering business in Oregon City, and in August 1848 he was running a small threshing machine which was made there, old man Zachary made by Wallace run with an endless chain, had four mules attached to it, did chaffing & was the first threshing machine in Oregon.
    News was rec'd. at Oregon City of the discovery of gold. Coming into town one Saturday night Col. Ross heard the news. There was great excitement. Monday he went out and got his mules with which he had been running the machine. He took his mules and was off for Cal. & on his return both the machine & Zachary were gone and he never heard of them after.
    Scott's house was the only house at that time on the south side of the Calapooya Mountains until you reached Reading's in the Sac. Valley. There was fourteen days' travel between houses. Indian troubles began at the north end of the Canyon, where Canyonville now is. Shots were given and returned. The gold hunters fought them at every point they met them until they passed Shasta Valley. There were thirty-seven in Col. Ross' company. No wagons had been over the road at this time. Thomas McKay took a train of wagons through from the Willamette through the Canyon & on to Feather River in the autumn of 1848.
    Col. Ross reached the mines on Feather River the last of Sept. or the first of Oct. where Bidwell, Potter, Neal and Toms were working Indians in the mines at Bidwell's Bar washing gold in wooden bowls which had been dug out for that purpose. They treated the newcomers with courtesy, taught them how to wash out gold.
    After remaining in that vicinity for a short time the party divided. Hearing of good diggings below, Col. Ross proceeded to Sutter's Fort where was Brannan trading of whom they obtained supplies. Then he went to a place called the Dry Diggings, afterwards called Hangtown. Subsequently the miners met and organized to give the place a name which was Placerville. This was in the winter of 1848 (?). The circumstances of the hanging were these. There were 3 Frenchmen and a Portuguese and one or two Spaniards. There was also a Chilean there who had been robbed of considerable money. A meeting of miners was held and the men above named were tried and 3 or 4 of them sentenced to be whipped which was done. Afterward it was ascertained that they had murdered a man for his money on Weaver Creek & had shot another man who was there at the time and showed a scalp wound which the pistol shot had made. So they rearrested the men, at once, right there on the ground. The voice of the crowd was to hang them so they were hung not an hour after they had been whipped. This was in February 1849 when they were hung and it was afterward that the name was changed to Placerville.
    In the spring of 1849 Col. Ross joined several of his old companions and went prospecting below Coloma, then called the Mill. Part of the company then went to Coloma for supplies, and while thus engaged five, all of those who were left, were killed by the Indians at a place afterward called Murderer's Bar, so called from this incident, and thrown into the river. Among the killed were Bob Alexander & Ben Woods.
    When Col. Ross returned with those who had gone to Coloma for supplies and found those they had left murdered they raised a company of Oregon men and of about twenty and went in search of the Indians. They found about 130 Indians, squaws and all, at Green Springs, some 20 miles west from Coloma. Taking them all prisoners they set out for Coloma. Soon they fell in with Spaniards, who were anxious to have the Indians brought to justice. Camping they selected two young Indians to direct them to the camp of those who had done the murder. They found the camp but it had been fired, and the remains of an Indian was still seen smoldering in the embers. This was an Indian who had been killed or wounded by the five men who were murdered. The Indians themselves had fired their camp and fled. They had with them 5 or 6 thousand dollars in gold dust which they had taken from the Oregonians. They had been trading with Hastings, who had a store about a mile from the Mill on the hill above Coloma. Hastings had given one of them a pass to show that he was a good, friendly, trusty Indian. Showing this pass to the Oregonians, the latter trusted him and his band and so were killed. Finding the band of murderers, by the aid of the young Indians, following their trail over the [omission] at the mouth of Haver Creek. There they were surprised while holding a great feast, and 14 of them killed, and among the rest the chief who had this pass from Hastings. Afterward Ross saw Hastings and asked him if he had given that pass. He said he had. Ross then told him that he had countermanded that pass and would so countermand him if he ever gave an Indian another.
    Returning to where the Spaniards were guarding the captured Indians, bringing with them 15 additional captives from the band lately attacked, all squaws, no man, the Oregonians proceeded with the whole to Coloma to hold a council over them with the assistance of the miners & to get by the aid of an interpreter at the facts.
    There seemed to be a jealousy manifested by the California miners against the Oregonians. There were at Coloma Mr. Weimar, Marshall & others. Marshall started in to advocate the cause of the Indians but he had to leave. A man named Everman [Heffernan?] had raised his gun to shoot Marshall when Col. Ross struck it up and so saved Marshall's life. Marshall was given five minutes to leave the place in which he gladly availed himself of.
    John Greenwood and Britain Greenwood were sons of the mountain man Greenwood, half-breeds. The father died in California in 1849 between Bear River & Yuba River. He had two children with him, a boy and a girl. He was a very large man. Greenwood Valley on the divide between the South and Middle forks of the American River [is named after him]. John Greenwood was captain and guide in this hunt after the murderers.
    Arrived at Coloma with about 150 captives in all a council was held. There were then at Coloma a good many men, Yankees who kept shops, and miners. Mr. Weimar had a daughter whom the miners wished to act as interpreter, but Miss Weimar indignantly refused. She had an Indian at that moment secreted in her house, one of those implicated in the murder. The miners took him out, and he with four others were held as being guilty. They were confined in a cabin for the night. It was the intention next day to give them a trial. The rest were dismissed with presents.
    In the morning when the five were brought forth to trial they broke and ran. One plunged into the river and escaped. The other four were killed. The place where the five men were murdered was afterwards known as Murderers Bar.
    Four days after an Oregon man by the name of Dougherty was found murdered between Hangtown and Coloma. This raised the miners again and some sixty Indians were killed in retaliation. Some of them were shot in Daly's yard. Daly was an Englishman who had a ranch on the Cosumnes. The Indians were followed clear down to his ranch. Perry McComb had a ranch near Daly's.
    From there Col. Ross went prospecting in company with F. R. Hill and discovered Yankee Jim's Diggings. Yankee Jim was in company with them and he gave his name to the place, but Col. Ross discovered the diggings.
    Yankee Jim was a notorious character. Yankee Jim was a sailor, a rough man, a very bad man. He was hung afterward. He was a man of marked ability, knew Spanish and several other languages perfectly. All this was in 1849.
    Col. Ross then went to the North Yuba and discovered Wambo Bar, and thence went to the South Fork of the Yuba in company with Poole who discovered gold at Jacksonville. Col. Ross discovered several rich mines on these rivers. In the autumn of 1849 Col. Ross with several of the party who had gone with him returned to Oregon by water.
    Col. Ross went again to Cal. in the spring of 1850 by water, fell in with a company of Oregon boys who made their headquarters on Cache Creek where Woodland now is. Twelve of them fitted themselves out for an expedition to search for mines aiming to strike the South Fork of the Trinity. They went out on Cottonwood and struck through the redwoods north toward Humboldt Bay and struck the Klamath River about 20 miles from the mouth of it, and crossed it supposing it to be the South Fork of the Trinity. They followed up the river and discovered gold at Sawyer's Bar and elsewhere. Near there they were robbed of their horses by the Indians who were thick there and wild, being apparently entirely ignorant of white people. This was the first party of white men that ever hunted for gold on the Klamath. They had to burn up their goods in order to keep them away from the Indians.
    The first day's march after they had been robbed they came onto a camp of Indians where they found three of their stolen horses tied. They made a rush on the camp, Col. Ross receiving a wound in the thigh. There were three large Indian horses well supplied with tons of dried salmon, to which they set fire after routing the Indians. Seizing the boats of the Indians they re-crossed the Klamath River some distance below the mouth of Scott's River. Then they turned into the high mountains and came down onto Scott's River. This was in June 1850. Scott's River being high they could not cross it. The Indians again captured their animals, all but one. Then they came out and saw Mt. Shasta. Then they knew where they were, and that Trinity River was still to the south of them.
    They finally found their way, entirely destitute of provisions, to Salmon River, where they were found by a party of prospectors. Two of their number became insane from hunger and thirst, though they afterward recovered. Col. Ross carried a crow for three days, expecting to be obliged to eat it.
    Joseph Scott was one of the party who found Col. Ross and his comrades. Ross was satisfied that gold was on Scott's River and so informed Scott, who went over and discovered Scott's Bar, and gave his name to the river. Scott's River was first called Ross' River, being discovered by Col. Ross. But as Scott, under Ross' direction, found Scott's Bar, which became famous as a rich mining locality, the river naturally took the same name. Scott returned to Salem from Scott's River, being driven out by the Indians.
    Col. Ross remained on Salmon River until his wound was healed. Then in company with James Owens he obtained supplies at Weaverville on the Trinity and in Sept. 1850 joined a big rush for Scott's Bar. Scott had displayed his gold and created an excitement. They remained at Scott's Bar four or five days, fearing the winter would be so bad that they could not get out.
    To show how things went then, the mines at Scott's Bar were spotted; the gold was coarse. One man might pick up $200 to $300 in an hour, another find a crevice with a thousand dollars which could be emptied in a day. Others might scratch around a week and find nothing. The latter would become disgusted and say "there is nothing here; we must get out of this." And so they came and went to and from Scott's Bar after the manner of miners in those days.
    Col. Ross and his friends went from there to the Sac. Valley again. But before they had proceeded far the Indians tried to capture their horses. They succeeded in killing three of the Indians, shooting them at daybreak.
    Arrived at Sac. in the fall of '50, Col. Ross met his nephew, Angus Brown, commonly called Hank Brown, whom he left with money, 30 ounces, to buy a six-mule team, and falling in with monte sharps he lost all, leaving Col. Ross nearly broke. Then Ross joined a party of twelve which wintered at Churn Creek on the east side of Shasta City, on the east side of Shasta River. Remained there until the last of February '51. The Indians were very troublesome, had several fights with them. Then all the party, among whom were E. J. Curtis, Jeremiah McKay, Hank Brown, Col. Ross and others went to Clear Creek and remained there until April. While there they discovered French Gulch. A party had been out fighting Indians. A Frenchman of the party picked up the first gold and so the place was called French Gulch. News there reached them of the rich diggings discovered at Yreka. Thereupon all hands gathered themselves up and set out for the place. McKay and Ross packed up a load of goods from Shasta, called Reading Springs, the original name of Shasta City, and opened store at Yreka. Was there a few days when a council was called and stringent resolutions were passed against the whites for their treatment of the Indians.
    An Indian had been killed by one Gage for stealing a horse, and Mr. Vail, alcalde at Yreka, with Turner and others wanted Indian offenders to be brought to justice before the alcalde the same as white offenders. Nothing was done to Gage.
    Col. Ross opposed these sentiments, and spoke against them, and he was supported by the crowd.
    The night after this council, those same Indians after receiving presents stole forty mules and horses from William Martin's corral, and as usual Col. Ross was requested to go after them.
    With 20 men he followed them for three days and surprised them in Butte Falls 60 miles east from Yreka. Seven scalps were brought in though 15 Indians were killed in the fight, and among the rest the scalp and the cap of a chief prominent in the Vail treaty. Three or four white men were wounded, and one named Betts died after reaching Yreka. The wounded man was brought in on a litter consisting of two poles swung to the sides of two mules. Returned to Yreka Col. Ross displayed the chief's scalp and cap to Vail, as an example of the sort of faith kept by Indians. Col. Ross also brought in 5 or 6 female prisoners, for the purpose of ascertaining to what tribe they belonged. They were supposed to be Shastas, but they proved to be Modocs.
    Ben Wright was at Yreka at the time and he pitched his tent with a long pole to the top of which someone fastened an Indian scalp. An interpreter was found to officiate at a council which was held to ascertain what tribe of Indians had stolen the horses. No sooner had the Indian interpreter saw the scalp than he broke and ran, and he was shot to death.
    The next gold excitement was the discovery at Josephine Creek, and thither Col. Ross went. The Indians were very troublesome. Col. Ross and his party first discovered diggings on Cañon Creek which proved to be very rich. There had been some fighting of Indians by Major Long near the mouth of Applegate a few days before Col. Ross arrived. After working the mines there a month Col. Ross sold out and removed to Salem. Thence he returned to the Umpqua, Douglas County, located a land claim, remained there a short time when he was joined by his partner from Yreka who had sold out the store at Yreka. Then they went to the Willamette Valley and bought cattle and brought them to Rogue Valley in the spring of 1852 and commenced butchering at Jacksonville.
    The fall of '52 the Indian troubles on the emigrant trail, the southern emigrant road, broke out. News reached Jacksonville that a company of emigrants had been surrounded by Indians and massacred near Tule Lake in the lava beds of the Modocs. A company of 30 men was raised at Jacksonville and started next day. Ross was elected captain. He made a forced march and joined Ben Wright's company east of Tule Lake, at what is now called Clear Lake.
    Proceeding on the road they met Capt. Snelling's company, supposed to be the last of the emigration. On their return east of the natural bridge on Ross River near Tule Lake, they found and buried some fourteen bodies of persons killed by the Indians. For this Capt. Ross received the thanks of the Oregon Legislature.
    In the winter of 1852-3 John E. Ross married Elizabeth Hopwood, the first wedding ever in the town of Jacksonville. In 1853 in August the Rogue River Indians broke out in general war. Ross was elected colonel.
    In 1855 Ross was again elected colonel of the 9th Regiment and commissioned by Gov. Davis, which he held during the war of 1855-6. In the fall of 1855 he was elected to the territorial council to fill a vacancy caused by the death or removal from the county of Dr. Cleaveland. In 1866 he was elected to the state legislature of Oregon, and in 1872 was commissioned by Gov. Grover as brigadier general in command of the state troops in the Modoc War, and in 1878 was elected to the state senate from the county of Jackson
Bancroft Library MSS P-A 63


    One whole night I spent with Ross at Jacksonville, writing down his experiences; and when at early dawn my driver summoned me, I resumed my journey under a sickening sensation from the tales of bloody butcheries in which the gallant colonel had so gloriously participated.
Hubert Howe Bancroft, Oregon Biographical Sketches   Bancroft was being charitable. See here.


    On last Saturday's stage there also departed that old hero of Southern Oregon and whole-souled old gentleman, Gen. John E. Ross, who, for the first time in many years, has gone east of the Rocky Mountains. He contemplates a general tour of the States on this parallel of latitude, and during his absence of several months will pay a visit to the national capital. We all wish him a pleasant journey and safe return.
"Personal," Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, October 25, 1873, page 3


    Gen. John E. Ross, of Jacksonville, Oregon, one of the oldest western pioneers and a prominent Indian fighter, is in the city visiting his friends, whom he has not seen for twenty-seven years. Gen. Ross was one of the first settlers in Chicago, and together with Mark Beaubien built the first frame house in the city, then known as the Sauganash Hotel. He left here in 1847, and emigrated to Oregon, where he has since resided. He was colonel of the Oregon volunteers during the Indian war of 1853-4, has been a member of the Oregon Legislature, and commanded the volunteers during the late Modoc War. He will remain in the city for a few days, and then leave for Washington.
"Personal," Chicago Tribune, November 11, 1873, page 3


    Coos Bay has a company of militia called the Ross Rifles, named in honor of Gen. John E. Ross, of this county. T. G. Owen, formerly of this place, is one of the lieutenants.
"Local Brevities," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, April 16, 1875, page 3


    PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY MILL CO.--An association of prominent Grangers have purchased the Wimer Flouring Mills of Phoenix, and they propose in a short time to assume the management thereof. They filed articles of incorporation in the County Clerk's office on the 16th instant. The association will be known as the Patrons of Husbandry Mill Company. The capital stock is placed at $12,000, divided into shares of $100 each. The objects of the company is to carry on a general milling business--buy wheat, sell flour and grind. the following gentlemen are the incorporators: John E. Ross, J. N. T. Miller, Fred Barneburg, Jacob Ish, F. M. Plymale, Conrad Mingus, John S. Herrin, N. C. Dean, John O'Brien, James D. Buckley, L. Chappel, Thos. Wright, Wm. Ray, Jesse Dollarhide, John Watson.
Democratic Times, Jacksonville, April 30, 1875, page 3


    STOCKHOLDERS MEETING.--The first regular meeting of the stockholders of the Patrons of Husbandry Mill Company was held, by mutual consent, for the election of a board of directors and the transaction of other business, at Jacksonville Grange Hall on Monday, May 17, 1875, at 1 o'clock p.m. D. S. K. Buick was elected chairman, and W. J. Plymale and J. M. Hoxie secretaries. The following named persons were elected directors for the ensuing year: Jacob Ish, F. M. Plymale, J. S. Herrin, Sam. Colver and J. E. Ross. Meeting adjourned subject o call of directors.
Democratic Times, Jacksonville, May 21, 1875, page 3


Democratic Times, Jacksonville, April 4, 1876, page 2


    PHOTOCHROMES.--Messrs. S. A. Scott and H. M. Barnes, of Yreka, are now in this valley delivering the pictures for which orders were taken last fall, and are also taking additional ones. We were shown a number of these enlarged pictures, among them one of General John E. Ross, which for beauty of finish and general lifelikeness cannot be excelled. They intend remaining in this section a short time yet, and we would advise all those wishing an enlarged picture of themselves or friends to give them a call at once. Their charges are very reasonable.
Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, August 7, 1878, page 3


    John E. Ross was born in Madison County, Ohio, February 15th, 1818. Moved to Fountain County, Indiana in 1828; removed to Cook County, Illinois in 1834, and came to Oregon (Territory) in 1847. At the beginning of the Cayuse war, Dec. 9th 1847, was elected and commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, 1st Co., of Oregon Riflemen by Geo. Abernathy, then Governor of the Territory of Oregon; was chosen captain of the same company in March 1848, and served in these capacities. Was elected Colonel in command in Rogue River war of 1853, and served under Gen. Jo. Lane. Was elected Col. Of 9th regiment of Oregon militia, June 5, ’54, and served under commission of Jno. W. Davis, Governor of the Territory of Oregon in the Indian war of 1854-5. Was a member of the legislative council of Territory of Oregon from Jackson County in 1855; was a representative of Jackson Co. in legislative assembly of 1866. Was commissioned Brig. General 1st Brig. Of Oregon militia by L. F. Grover, Gov. of Oregon, and commanded state troops in Modoc War 1872-73. At present State Senator from Jackson County. Was originally an old line Whig. Afterwards acted with the Democrats and is now an Independent with Democratic proclivities.
"Biographies of the Members of the Senate," The East Oregonian, Pendleton, October 12, 1878, page 2


    As the committee appointed by the last legislature to investigate the affairs of certain state officials has about completed its labors, Senator Ross, one of the members of the committee, will not return as he first intended. Sickness in his family has prevented him from joining in the investigation.
"Local Items," Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, November 20, 1878, page 3


    Col. Ross, of Jackson County, passed through town on Friday morning en route for Salem. From him we learn that it is expected the investigating committee will close its labors within two weeks time.
"Local Notes," Douglas Independent, Roseburg, December 7, 1878, page 3


    BIOGRAPHICAL.--The Salem Statesman is publishing short biographical sketches of the members of the state legislature, among which we find the following of Gen. Ross, of this county: "John E. Ross, Independent, was born in Ohio (we have lost the date), moved from that place to Illinois, from which state he came to Oregon in 1847, was lieutenant and captain in the Cayuse war in 1847-8, was a colonel under Gen. Lane in the Rogue River war in 1855, and a brigadier in the Modoc war in 1873, was a member of the territorial council in 1855-6; a member of the House in 1860, was one of the presidential electors for Bell and Everett, was also placed on the investigating committee by President [of the Oregon Senate] Whiteaker, but could not stand fire and went home. Col. Ross has a pleasant face and a very finely shaped gray head, and is a very agreeable gentleman. His course in the Senate was one which would lead me to suppose he would be careful to make friends, and but few enemies wherever he went. He took but a small part in the discussions, but made several good speeches."
Ashland Tidings, December 13, 1878, page 3


Oregonian, Portland, January 14, 1879, page 2


    The Salem Mercury affectionately refers to Gen. Ross as "Saleratus John." Such is fame.
"Brief Mention," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, February 21, 1879, page 3


    Mrs. Elizabeth Lawrence, sister of Genl. John E. Ross, died at Burlington, Iowa, on the 13th inst.
"Local Items," Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, April 30, 1879, page 3


    The name heading this biographical sketch is familiar to the people of Oregon. General Ross was born in Madison County, Ohio, February 15th, 1818. When ten years of age he emigrated with his parents to Cook County, Illinois. In 1840 he was married to Miss Margaret Robinson, daughter of Alex. Robinson, of Chicago. His wife survived but eight months after her marriage, when she was taken suddenly ill, and died in a few brief hours. In 1847 he came to Oregon, overland by way of Fort Hall and the Snake River route. At that time the Indians on the plains were generally hostile and when near John Day's River the General and his company saved a company of emigrants from being massacred and brought them to The Dalles in safety. The women of the party had been robbed of their clothing and, when rescued, they were dressed in single garments made of domestic which the savages had permitted them to retain. He settled first in Oregon City and engaged in the butchering business, in which he continued but a short time when he volunteered with a company of Oregon riflemen to fight the Cayuse Indians. He was commissioned First Lieutenant under Captain Henry J. Lee, in which capacity he served for a short time only, when he was elected Captain of the company, Captain Lee having been promoted to Major in the regiment, under Colonel Gillem, who was killed during the war. Dan Barnes was first and Nathan Olney second lieutenants under Ross. By virtue of his authority he solemnized the marriage of Nathan Olney and his first Indian wife, the daughter of a famous chief. Gen. Ross was in the first battle fought near The Dalles on the 8th of January, 1848, and in which Wm. Berry was severely wounded. This fight was brought on by Barlow & Boswell endeavoring to retake a band of stock stolen by the Indians. Near the close of the war he returned to Oregon City and again engaged in butchering. He continued in the business for a short time only when he purchased an interest in the first threshing machine ever run on Tualatin plains and started in to thresh grain. News of the gold mines in California caused the threshers to desert their machine in the field and start with their work horses packed for the diggings. The party located on Feather River, where they mined for a short time and then went to Hangtown to winter. Gen. Ross was present when the parties were hung from whose tragic fate the place derived its name. He next went to Bird's River where he worked for a time with Flem. Hill. During his mining operations he discovered the famous mines known as Yankee Jim's Diggings. He remained in the mines until 1849 and returned by water to Oregon. In 1850 he returned to California and organized a company of eleven men to go on an expedition to discover the mouth of Trinity River. They failed to find the object of their search, and in crossing the Klamath River they were attacked by Indians and robbed of everything they possessed but their arms and ammunition. During the fight the General was shot through the thigh. After wandering in the mountains for several days the party was found by a company of prospectors on the South Fork of Salmon River destitute of provisions and almost worn out with fatigue. After resting a few days they proceeded to [the] Sacramento Valley and wintered. In the spring of 1851 they returned to Yreka and Gen. Ross was selected to command a company of twenty men to go after the Indians who robbed Bill Martin's corral of a band of horses. After the expedition was ended he went to butchering and continued in the business for a few months. He then went with an expedition to Josephine County, Oregon, and discovered the Canyon Creek diggings. After a short stay at that place he proceeded to the Willamette Valley, bought a drove of cattle and returned, locating in Jacksonville. In the fall of 1852 he was chosen captain of a company to rescue a train of emigrants surrounded by Indians at Tule Lake. On the way he was joined by Ben Wright and company from Yreka. The General and his company after burying fourteen dead bodies of emigrants, murdered by the savages, escorted the remainder into this valley and the company disbanded. In January 1853 he was married to Miss Elizabeth Hopwood, the wedding being the first ever solemnized in Jacksonville. In December of the same year he located the ranch on which he now resides, three miles from this place, and was a short time thereafter elected Colonel of the volunteer forces called out to subdue the Indians. He served during the war under Gen. Joe Lane. In 1854 he was commissioned Colonel by Governor Davis and served through the wars of that and the two following years in Southern Oregon. In the fall of 1855 he was elected a member of the Territorial council to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of Dr. Chambers. In 1866 he was elected to a seat in the Lower House of the State Legislature. He was one of the first Directors of the Oregon Central Railroad Company before that franchise was transferred to Ben Holladay. In 1872 he was commissioned Brig. Gen. of the First Brigade, Oregon State Militia and served in that capacity during the Modoc War. In 1878 he was chosen State Senator from Jackson County and was selected as a member of the committee appointed to look into the accounts of the State officers who had just retired from office. The. General is Independent in his political views and sentiments, and liber- [cut off] Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, September 17, 1879, page 2


    THE INDEPENDENT PARTIES.--Among the members of the legislature on the train yesterday from the south was Col. John E. Ross. The Colonel is usually good humored, but this time he was short in his answers. All allowed for the fact that the Colonel had not slept since the night before, and rode on the stage ninety miles during a part of the time, but feeling there must be something else in the way they asked him what was his trouble. The answer was: "Dem John Burnett. He resigned the position of Senator to run for Judge, when if he had remained, the Senate would have been a tie, and I would have had the casting vote," slapping his hand upon his stomach. With a twinkle in his eye, the Colonel continued, "then you'd have seen what we, us and the Independent Party, would have done. We would have ruled the state." This is all true, since Col. Ross would have held the deciding vote.--[Salem Statesman.
Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, September 22, 1880, page 3


    We had the pleasure of meeting with Col. John E. Ross, senator from Jackson County, on Monday last. The Colonel was in the enjoyment of the best of health, and was heartily greeted by his numerous friends in Roseburg. We really believe Col. Ross is as popular in Douglas as in Jackson County.
"Southern Oregon Notes," Douglas Independent, Roseburg, October 30, 1880, page 3


    Mrs. Powell of Linn County arrived here on Thursday's stage. She is a sister of Col. John E. Ross, Mrs. Ganung and Mrs. Helms. She had not seen her younger sister, Mrs. Helms, for 36 years. Mrs. Powell will remain some weeks.
"Local Items," Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, August 6, 1881, page 3


    Mrs. John E. Ross, we regret to say, is on the sick list.
    Senator John E. Ross returned from Roseburg this week, where he has been taking his sister, Mrs. Arabella Powell, of Brownsville, Linn County.
"Local Items," Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, August 27, 1881, page 3


    John E. Ross, born in Madison County, Ohio, on the 15th of February, 1818. Emigrated to Oregon, in 1847, from Illinois, engaged in farming.
"Southern Oregon Pioneers," Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, July 8, 1882, page 3


    GENERAL JOHN E. ROSS.--The subject of this sketch was born in Madison County, Ohio, February 15, 1818. His father moved to Fountain County, Indiana, when he was ten years old; thence to Cook County, Illinois, in 1833. He married, in 1840, the daughter of Alexander Robinson, of Chicago, who died after they had been married about eight months. In 1847 General Ross came to Oregon, and was captain of a company which crossed the plains. Col. Ross, Jo. Kline, and an Englishman, left the company at Grand Ronde, with the intention of coming on through ahead of them. On the road beyond Rock Creek, they discovered where a train had been attacked by the Indians. They overtook the emigrants after crossing John Day River, who proved to be the Warren party. They had been robbed of all they possessed, the Indians not even sparing them their wearing apparel. Mr. Ross traded his clothes to the Indians for provisions for this destitute band, and remained with them until his own train arrived--all coming to Oregon together. General Ross landed at The Dalles without a dollar, and went to work on a boat--which brought down emigrants to the falls--at one dollar per day. About the first of November, 1847, he went to Oregon City and opened a butcher shop, which he conducted about one month. Then the Cayuse War broke out, and he enlisted in the first volunteer company, with H. A. G. Lee, captain, Joseph Magone, first lieutenant; and Mr. Ross, second lieutenant, and went to the mission station at The Dalles, on the Columbia River. Lee and Magone were promoted, and General Ross was commissioned captain of the company, holding this position during his term of service in that war. He returned to Oregon City after the Cayuse War in 1848, and was engaged in running a threshing machine when the news reached him of the discovery of gold in California. Leaving his machine standing in the field--which he never saw afterwards--he went to the mines on Feather River, and there engaged in mining until the fall of 1849, when he returned to Oregon; went back to the mines in California, in the spring of 1850, and was one of the first discoverers of gold on Scotts River. In 1851 he came to Yreka, thence to Josephine Creek, and was one of the first discoverers of gold on Canyon Creek, in Josephine County. He returned to the Willamette Valley in the winter of 1851 and purchased a band of cattle, drove them to the Rogue River Valley in January, 1852, and opened a butcher's shop at Jacksonville. In the fall of 1852, General Ross raised a company of thirty men and went to rescue immigrants who were attacked at Bloody Point on Tule Lake. They joined Ben. Wright's company at Clear Lake, and with them met a party of immigrants between Clear and Goose lakes, returning with them. On the road.they buried about fourteen of the immigrants, who had been killed by Indians. Ross and his company paid their own expenses on this trip, and for pay they received the thanks of the Oregon legislature. In January, 1853, he married Elizabeth Hopwood, this being the first marriage in Jacksonville; the ceremony was performed by a Methodist preacher by the name of Gilbert. He settled on his present farm in December, 1853. In August, 1853, an Indian war broke out, and he was colonel in command of two battalions of mounted volunteers. After operating a few days in conjunction with Colonel Alden, of the U.S. army, and having only a few skirmishes with the Indians, General Lane arrived and took command. After a hard-fought battle on the headwaters of Evans Creek, in which engagement General Lane and Colonel Alden were wounded, and [Pleasant] Armstrong killed, the Indians made a treaty with General Lane. Colonel Ross acted as interpreter, both at the preliminary arrangements for the treaty, and at the treaty itself, although J. W. Nesmith was the appointed interpreter by General Lane, and is so reported by him. The Indians, however, did not know Nesmith, and were acquainted with General Ross, and it was only through him that they would communicate what they had to say in relation to the treaty. In 1854 he was ordered by the Governor to organize a company and send them out to protect the immigrants on the southern route, which was done, Captain Walker commanding. On the fifth of June of that year he was commissioned colonel of the 9th regiment by Gov. John W. Davis. In the fall of 1855, a breakout of the Indians, not only in this county but in the northern part of the state as well, resulted in a general war. Colonel Ross being in command of the 9th regiment, took the field, fought several severe battles, and was at length superseded in command by Col. [John] K. Lamerick. At a special election held December 15, 1855, he was elected to represent Jackson County in the territorial council to fill a vacancy caused by removal of Dr. Cleaveland, and at the general election in June, 1866, to the legislative assembly. In 1866-7 when the California and Oregon Railroad Company was formed, Colonel Ross was elected one of its directors, and the directors transferred the franchise to Holladay. He was appointed brigadier-general of the first brigade of the Oregon militia by Gov. L. F. Grover, on Dec. 2, 1872. The next important move was at the beginning of the Modoc War, when he was commissioned brigadier-general and took the field, commanding as such throughout the war, and participated in the principal engagements. In 1878 he represented Jackson County in the state senate, and was honored by being appointed chairman of the military committee. He was appointed one of the investigating committee to report upon the acts of the preceding administration. Gen. Ross' portrait, and a view of his residence, will be found in this work.
A. G. Walling, History of Southern Oregon, 1884, page 538-539




    John E. Ross was born in Madison Co., Ohio, Feb. 15, 1818. Emigrated with his parents to Ind. when 10 years of age, and to Ill. when 16 years old. At the age of 29 he started for Or., and was capt. of his train of forty wagons. In the Cayuse war which broke out soon after he arrived in Or. he served as lieut. and capt. He resided for some time at Oregon City, engaged in various pursuits. When gold was discovered in Cal. he went to the Feather River mines, and in 1850, after having returned to Oregon, explored in the southern valleys and in northern Cal. for gold, discovering several rich placers, known as Yankee Jim's, Wambo Bar, Jacksonville, etc. For a numbers of years he was almost constantly engaged either in mining or selling supplies to miners, and in 1852 again commanded a company who went out to fight the Indians on the southern route. In the winter of 1852-3 he was married to Elizabeth Hopwood, of Jacksonville, theirs being the first wedding solemnized in that place. They have 9 children, 5 girls and 4 boys. When the Rogue River war broke out, in 1853, Ross was elected col., and again in 1855 was elected col. of the 9th reg., and commissioned by Gov. Davis. He was a member of the ter. council in the same year; and in 1866 was elected to the state leg. When the Modoc war broke out, in 1872, he was commissioned by Gov. Grover as brig. gen. in command of the state troops. In 1878 he was a member of the state senate from the county of Jackson, where he has resided for many years. The Salem Statesman, in remarking upon the personal appearance of Ross, describes him as having a well-shaped head, pleasant face, and a reserved but agreeable manner. Ashland Tidings, Dec. 13, 1878. One whole night I spent with Ross at Jacksonville, writing down his experiences; and when at early dawn my driver summoned me, I resumed my journey under a sickening sensation from the tales of bloody butcheries in which the gallant colonel had so gloriously participated.
Hubert Howe Bancroft, History of Oregon, vol. I 1834-1848, San Francisco 1886, page 638


    SERIOUS ATTACK OF HEART DISEASE.--Gen. John E. Ross, of Jackson County, a pioneer of 1847, arrived here by the east side train yesterday afternoon, and just as he alighted at the East Portland depot was prostrated by severe illness, which at the time was thought to be paralysis. He was speechless and unconscious and thought to be dying. Without delay he was taken to the Portland general hospital and placed under personal charge of Dr. Keene. The attack was palpitation of the heart, and the symptoms were most alarming. His pulse was over 150, and as Gen. Ross is about 70 years old, there was little hope of his recovery. Under skillful treatment the pulsations were reduced, and at 9 o'clock last night the heart beats were 120 per minute, and consciousness had returned though the patient was still speechless. It is thought he will come out of the attack all right. Gen. Ross has suffered in years past from heart trouble but never until this time had an alarming attack. His visit here was for the purpose of attending the grand lodge of Masons and the pioneers reunion at Oregon city today. Probably the excitement of the trip brought on the attack. His daughter, Mrs. Reames, and her husband are with him, and he has every attention that loving hearts and skillful hands can provide.
Roseburg Review, June 18, 1886, page 3


    RECOVERING.--Gen. John E. Ross, who was seized several days ago with a dangerous attack of palpitation of the heart, is fast recovering. He is strong enough to be driven out, and in a few days will leave for the coast. Gen. Ross was probably the greatest Indian fighter among the militia men of the Northwest Coast. The savages could not kill him, and though he is past three score and ten, he is still able to fight disease, though he had a very close call two weeks ago. May the brave pioneer see many more years of peace and comfort.
"Local and General," Oregonian, Portland, June 24, 1886, page 5


    RECOVERING.--Gen. John E. Ross, who was seized several days ago with a dangerous attack of palpitation of the heart, is fast recovering. He is strong enough to be driven out, and in a few days will leave for the coast. Gen. Ross was probably the greatest Indian fighter among the militia men of the Northwest coast. The savages could not kill him, and though he is past three score and ten, he is still able to fight disease, though he had a very close call two weeks ago. May the brave pioneer see many more years of peace and comfort.--Oregonian.
Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, June 26, 1886, page 3


    Genl. John E. Ross again shook hands with his many friends in Jacksonville on Tuesday last, looking weak from his late illness but improving rapidly. He was heartily welcomed by all.
"Local Items," Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, July 24, 1886, page 3


    General John E. Ross, in 1843, left Chicago and pitched his tent on the banks of the Willamette, near Portland, and accumulated considerable stock. When the gold mines broke out at Jacksonville he moved, with all personal effects, near Jacksonville, and nearly all was destroyed in 1853 by the Rogue River Indians. Thus the hard labor of ten years of the ablest part of his life was swept from him. He is a true type of a bold pioneer. He sold his land at Chicago for a nominal sum, and his claim near Portland for but little. His Chicago land today is worth probably two millions of dollars, and his claim at Portland not less than half as much more. He has raised a family of ten bright, lovely children, and since the above was written he has had paralysis and is now poor and on the verge of the grave.
B. F. Dowell, The Heirs of George W. Harris, 1888, page 52


    Col. John E. Ross is lying dangerously ill at the residence of his sister, Mrs. A. Helms of Jacksonville.
    Dr. Geary of Medford was here Tuesday, to hold a consultation over the case of Col. Ross with Dr. Sommers.
"Personal Mention," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, April 4, 1889, page 3


    Gen John E. Ross, one of the bravest and best pioneers with which Oregon has been blest, is lying at the point of death at his home near Jacksonville.
State Rights Democrat, Albany, Oregon, May 10, 1889, page 1

    At this time the Governor called for volunteers to go out and meet and act as guard to the emigrants that were coming into Oregon by the southern route. My friend John Ross was appointed Captain. I volunteered. This was the fall and winter [that] so many emigrants were murdered near Tule Lake by the Modoc Indians. A bluff on the east side of the lake was known as Bloody Point. Quite a number of emigrants had been killed here earlier in the season.
    At the time we were organized here a volunteer army Was also gathered in California. It was under Captain Ben Wright. Our company met them at the Natural Bridge on Lost River about four miles above Tule Lake. This lake has no outlet. The two companies separated the next day after finding 28 skeletons, most of whom were women and children. Our company followed a wagon track (that had left the road) for about a mile out in the sagebrush where we found a wagon that had been burned, and also the remains of eight people. One or two were men and the rest were women and children.
    We had a little skirmish with the devils the next day, but no one was hurt on our side. We couldn't tell if we had killed any Indians or not as they hid so well in the tules. Nor could we follow them, as it was too marshy. We went back to Lost River that night and the next day a party of our men were detailed to go up the valley, cross the mountain and strike the Lost River higher up to spy out Indian camps if there were any in that part of the country.
    We expected to be gone several days and took supplies for the trip: one blanket, two pounds of raw bacon, two quarts of flour, a little coffee, and a tin cup. I can assure you I relished our food hugely! We were gone three days and found no fresh Indian signs. We mixed our flour with water on our saddle covers and cooked the hoe cakes before the fire on our ramrods. We also used the ramrods to cook the bacon. It was food fit for a king!
    We stayed here during the fall and winter and escorted in about fifteen emigrant trains through the most dangerous part of the country. We had several scraps with the Utes and Modocs, but none of our men were killed or wounded. We returned to Jacksonville and were discharged.
William Grandison Hill, "The Adventures of Wm. G. Hill,"  Umpqua Trapper, Douglas County Historical Society, Spring 1969, pages 18-19


    In the fall of 1854 we were again called out and Col. John Ross put in command, as he was then in command of the state troops. Capt. Jesse Walker was in command of my division. Our orders were to protect the incoming emigrant trains coming in from the south and passing near Clear Lake and Bloody Point. We also were to guard near Table Rock and the country around the Siskiyou Mountains. [Editor: Wm. G. Hill is shown on the muster rolls as sergeant.]
    Capt. Walker led us toward Goose Lake where a band of Piutes were destroying and burning buildings and running off cattle and horses. They had committed several murders of the settlers, also.
    We chased them several days and finally met them near Warner's Rock, east of Mt. Shasta. Here they were entrenched for battle. We attacked but were repulsed. We retreated and reorganized our company and planned to surprise them at daylight the next morning. To do this we planned to surround the rock and attack from all sides. Bill Bybee and I were sent out as scouts to locate their camp and found that the Indians had gone down on the creek to make camp. We were returning to our company to report when one of our men, thinking we were Indians, fired on us and I was severely wounded in my left arm and a shot through my jaw that took out most of my teeth and the end of my tongue.
    They immediately arranged a litter of poles and fir boughs and started me for Jacksonville to get help. They sent with me my horse. He was a beauty I had purchased for this campaign, a beautiful black. I stayed on the litter all that day, but the next morning I begged the men to let me get on my horse. They stood the litter up against a tree and the men of the company said they found it several days later as they were coming back and that they spent several hours looking for my grave as they did not think I could live to get home.
    The surprise attack by surrounding the Indians worked completely and they were driven pell-mell into the woods and up into the mountains. Many Indians were killed, but I was the only one of our company to be injured. But it took almost a year for my wound to heal and before I could join my company again. For several weeks I was fed through a quill placed in my throat, but thanks to the strenuous outdoor life I had led, I finally seemed as strong as ever and was able to join the volunteer company being organized at Roseburg in the fall of 1855.
William Grandison Hill, "The Adventures of Wm. G. Hill,"  Umpqua Trapper, Douglas County Historical Society, Summer 1969, pages 29-31



Last revised April 13, 2023