Ross, Hugh

(submitted by Dr. Greg Stott)

Hugh Ross (1847–1924), a native of East Nissouri Twp. in Oxford County, was the son of Scottish immigrants Finley and Ann Ross. Hugh, or Hughy as he was better known, was married to Mary E. McLean (c.1855–). The family had located on Lot 24, Con. 6 NER, just south of Arkona.

The Ross family had at least two sons, Daniel (1873–) and Hugh (c.1877–). The elder Hugh Ross was a familiar figure when, in the evenings, he drove his cattle along the road from their pasture to his barn just south of the Arkona village limits.

When, in the early 1920s, George Fuller was demonstrating his newly acquired radio to fascinated villagers at Fuller Brothers’ Department Store, Hughy Ross was an unconvinced skeptic. After listening to the music and voices emanating from the box he openly declared, “You can’t make me believe that is coming through the air. There’s somebody in the basement speaking up through a tube!”

Chapter 24 of 25 - Ross, Hugh

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