Bio: Ross, Joseph Warren (1914)

Poster:: Crysal Wendt

Surnames: Ross, Garfield, Skoien, Hall

----Source: History of Eau Claire County, Wisconsin (1914) pages 847-848

Joseph Warren Ross, who is considered one of Eau Claire's pioneer concrete contractors and substantial business men, is a native of Clearfield county, Pennsylvania. He was born December 16, 1859, the son of John and Mary H. (Hall) Ross. The former was born March 30, 1835, in Pennsylvania, and the latter September 25, 1835, in the same state. They are the parents of twelve children, seven sons and five daughters, all of whom are now (1914) living and all married. The parents are both living at Osseo, Wis., where they are enjoying their declining years in the comforts of their pleasant home, surrounded by a host of friends and acquaintances, who admire them for their ambition to perform for themselves the labors connected with their home. The grandfathers, named respectively George Ross and John Hall, were counted among the early settlers in the Keystone state.

Joseph W. Ross came to Wisconsin with his parents and received his education in the common schools of Trempealeau county, where he grew to manhood. He came to Eau Claire in the spring of 1891 and engaged in contracting in concrete work, which he successfully carried on until 1904, when he established the Eau Claire Concrete Company, of which he is president and general manager. This concern manufactures all kinds of concrete building material, and under the careful management of Mr. Ross are doing a flourishing business. As a citizen he is public spirited and enterprising and ready to contribute of his time and means to the advancement of the public interest and general good. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Foresters.

Mr. Ross was married December 22, 1890, to Miss Mattie Louis Garfield. She died November 22, 1891, leaving besides her husband and infant daughter, Bernice Vida Ross, born October 18, 1891, who is a graduate of the Eau Claire high school and now in attendance at Lawrence College at Appleton, Wis. On November 20, 1897, Mr. Ross was again married, this time to Anthonette Skoien, of Pigeon Falls, Wis.