Catherine S. Miller (1886-1956)

Seated: Catherine S. Miller and Linus Ross 2nd Row: Virginia Hoschouer, Forest Hoschouer and Esther Ross 3rd Row: Mary (Ross) Hoschouer and Earnest Jennings Hoschouer Photograph taken at the Ross farm 1½ miles west of Rossburg, Ohio. The buildings are no longer there [8/2006].

Front Row: Martha (Johnson) Allen Back Row: Ruth Hole holding Junior Allen & Paul Zeller, Catherine Ross, Cora (Johnson) Schultz, Mary Ross Raymon Zeller is by the grinding wheel.

Photographs Courtesy of Robin (Hoschouer) Zeller

I1 Catherine S. Miller, born June 18, 1886, died July 4, 1956 married December 4, 1903 Linus D. Ross born February 4, 1872, died July 26, 1951 (view marriage certificate). Two children.

Linus Ross was the son of Solomon Ross, born March 2, 1841, died December 27, 1924, and Christina Lindenberg, born 1846, died 1933.

Solomon Ross was a Civil War Veteran. He entered the service on September 20, 1861, serving in Company G, 44th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was a Prisoner of War in Beverly, West Virginia (Libby Prison), reuped, Company G, 82nd Regiment of Ohio Volunteers, Col. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 23rd Corporal, Army of Ohio. He was then was transfered to Company G, 8th Ohio Volunteer Infantry on January 4, 1864.

I was also given Solomon's Civil war items that I treasure. Solomon's uncle was John Chapman (Johnny Appleseed) and Christena's father fought against Nepoleon at the Battle of Waterloo.

Catherine was the first born of 10 children. When she was but 14½ years old her mother died, thus leaving her to look after her siblings. Her father was a carpenter by trade so was not home much.

She was in charge of housekeeping, cooking, laundry and baths. There being no well where they lived, she and her 10 year old brother would haul water with a horse and dray for all of the above chores plus water for a cow.

Within a year she lost two brothers. Then her father broke up the home by putting the children out. Some were put to work, some to grandparents and two in county home.

Catherine, or Cassie as friends called her, went to work for William and Salome Fischbach. They had tobacco to strip and hired Linus Ross to help. This is where Cassie and Linus met. They in time fell in love and married.

In 1906 their home was blessed by a daughter, Mary. They became farmers and exchanged farm work with neighbors, such as threshing grain and butchering. It was Carrie's job to bake chocolate cakes and butterscotch pies for the meals at thrashing days.

When butchering days took place in the neighborhood, she was the chief sausage stuffer.

In 1915 she and her husband had another daughter, Esther. She and her husband lived on her mother's farm until her mother's death. Then they moved to town, and Cassie worked in a factory until she retired. She then sat with some grandchildren as her health permitted.

She loved and was loved by all.

J1 Mary Inez Ross, born November 9, 1906, died September 25, 1993; married Earnest Jennings Hoschouer, born 1908, died February 5, 1956.

J2 Esther Ellen Ross, born January 3, 1915, died 2000.