A. L. Ross, a particularly capable farmer owning nearly two hundred acres in sections 5 and 8 of Avon township, has been a resident of this locality for more than thirty years , during which time he has won a high degree of respect from his neighbors and his acquaintance in general. He is , however, a native of Pennsylvaia, his family having been located at the time of his birth and boyhood at Northampton county, Pennsylvania. His parents were Joseph G. and Sarah A. ( Lockard ) Ross, the father being a mechanic who made a specialty of stair building. In the Pennsylvaia home of Mr. Ross' childhood there were seven children , of whom he was the fourth in line and the second His brothers and sisters were the following : Sarah, deceased; Emma E. , who is Mrs. Edward Radcliffe, of Hackensack, New York; and Cyrus G., of Brooklyn , New York.

A. L. Ross was born on September 25 , 1858, and after a general education obtained from the public schools he began farming at the early age of fifteen . After three years of this work he determined upon a change of location and on March 4, 1878, he came to Rochester, Michigan, with the inconsiderable sum of two dollars. He had, however, the adequate fortune of a strong heart, two capable hands and a clear, purposive mind. After ten years of work for other agriculturists he purchased his first property of one hundred acres in Avon township, to which he has since added eight-five acres . In the meantime his parents had come to Michigan and had been established in the home he had made ready for them. He had also been united to his life's companion and had prospered materially. Mr. Ross has developed his land for the purposes of general farming, with specialties of dairy work and of potato growing. He is also bringing his orchards to a high state of productivity.

An interesting family has been reared by Mr. and Mrs. Ross during the years of their life together. The estimable helpmate of A. L. Ross was before her marriage Miss Anna Tienken , a daughter of Henry and Meta Tienken , natives of the German Fatherland. Her brothers and sisters who are now living are the following: Etta , Mrs. W. J. Luisen, of Denver, Colorado ; John Tienken, of Oakland county; William Tienken, of Rochester; and Henry Tienken, of Oakland county The marriage of Anna Tienken and lir. Ross took place on April 25, 1885, and the children who were born to them and who have lived to maturity are these: Henry Ross, who assists his father at home; Anna C. , now Mrs. Albert Schults , of Avon township ; Nettie B. Ross, of Pontiac ; Meta, of Pontiac ; and Laura E. , at home. The Ross home is an attractive and spacious structure, in harmony with all the excellent buildings with which the up-to-date farmer has improved his property. The homestead is roofed with slate which Mr. Ross had secured for this express purpose from his old home in Pennsylvania.

Interested in all public matters which concern the general good of the community, Mr. Ross has been much appreciated by all those who know how to estimate real worth . For ten years he has been incumbent of the office of supervisor of Avon township and had before that time been a member of the board of review . The Monitor Insurance Company of Oakland county is fortunate in having A. L. Ross as a member of its directorate; he and the two other directors having charge of this work supervising its operations in no less than eight townships. Frater nal societies have sought his membership and have accorded him hon orable place ; he is connected with the Grange, the Independent Order of Foresters, the Maccabees of the World and the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the last named organization ranking him in its Blue Lodge. Mr. Ross's political activity has always been in harmony with the tenets of the Republican party: His religious predilections are of the practical sort, conforming more nearly to the body of theory char acterizing the Congregational church.