Josiah Ross, one of the first settlers of Santa Ana, was born in Clinton County, Indiana, in 1844. His parents were Jacob and Elizabeth (Thompson) Ross, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. For a number of years the subject of this sketch has been a quiet but successful tiller of the soil on his fine farm one mile west of Santa Ana. Most of his attention has been given to horticulture, and his well kept orchards show many varieties of deciduous and semi-tropical fruits.
He has not cared to take an active part in political matters, but is a supporter in his quiet way of the Democratic party. About eight years ago he erected a fine country residence on Seventeenth street, a mile north of Santa Ana.
He was married in Illinois, January 12, 1865, to Sarah A. Prather, a native of that State. Her parents were Uriah and Sarah (Ritter) Prather, natives respectively of Kentucky and Pennsylvania. Of their twelve children, all are living except two, as follows: Uriah J., who married Miss Hattie Maulsby, and is a successful farmer near Santa Ana; Sarah Elizabeth, William H., deceased; Eva Evalyn, Edward Isaac, Christie Belle, George W., David Delmar, Orma Rosanna, Edith Irene, deceased; Elva, Olive and Ethel.