William B. Ross
Encyclopedia
William Bradford Ross was the 12th Governor of Wyoming from 1923 to 1924. He was born in Dover, Tennessee
to Ambrose B. Ross and Sue (Gray) Ross.
As a young lawyer in Dover, Ross met Nellie Davis Tayloe
while she was on a visit to her relatives. The two married a year and a half later, on September 11, 1902, in Omaha, Nebraska
. They would have four sons: twins George Tayloe and James Ambrose (b. 1903), Alfred Duff, (born in 1905 and died ten months later), and William Bradford (b. 1912).
Ross decided to practice law in the West, and the young couple moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming
after their marriage. His general law practice there was very successful there and soon he became one of the leaders of the Democratic Party
in the state. He ran for office several times, but always lost in heavily Republican Wyoming.
Finally, in 1922, Ross was elected governor of Wyoming by appealing to progressive voters in both parties. He advocated stronger Prohibition
laws and called for tax cuts, government assistance for poor farmers, banking reform, and laws protecting children, women workers, and miners. However, after little more than a year and a half in office, he died from complications following an appendectomy. Soon thereafter, his widow became the first female governor in United States
history.
Ross was a delegate to the 1924 Democratic National Convention
. He was an Episcopalian, a Freemason
, and a member of Kiwanis
. He is buried in Lakeview Cemetery in Cheyenne.
Dover, Tennessee
Dover is a city in Stewart County, Tennessee, United States, westnorthwest of Nashville on the Cumberland River. An old national cemetery is in Dover. The population was 1,442 at the 2000 census...
to Ambrose B. Ross and Sue (Gray) Ross.
As a young lawyer in Dover, Ross met Nellie Davis Tayloe
Nellie Tayloe Ross
Nellie Tayloe Ross was an American politician, the 14th Governor of Wyoming from 1925 to 1927, and director of the United States Mint from 1933-1953. She was the first woman to serve as governor of a U.S. state. To date, she remains the only woman to have served as governor of Wyoming...
while she was on a visit to her relatives. The two married a year and a half later, on September 11, 1902, in Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
. They would have four sons: twins George Tayloe and James Ambrose (b. 1903), Alfred Duff, (born in 1905 and died ten months later), and William Bradford (b. 1912).
Ross decided to practice law in the West, and the young couple moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming
Cheyenne, Wyoming
Cheyenne is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Wyoming and the county seat of Laramie County. It is the principal city of the Cheyenne, Wyoming, Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Laramie County. The population is 59,466 at the 2010 census. Cheyenne is the...
after their marriage. His general law practice there was very successful there and soon he became one of the leaders of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
in the state. He ran for office several times, but always lost in heavily Republican Wyoming.
Finally, in 1922, Ross was elected governor of Wyoming by appealing to progressive voters in both parties. He advocated stronger Prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
laws and called for tax cuts, government assistance for poor farmers, banking reform, and laws protecting children, women workers, and miners. However, after little more than a year and a half in office, he died from complications following an appendectomy. Soon thereafter, his widow became the first female governor in United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
history.
Ross was a delegate to the 1924 Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
. He was an Episcopalian, a Freemason
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
, and a member of Kiwanis
Kiwanis
Kiwanis International is an international, coeducational service club founded in 1915. It is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Current membership is 240,000 members in 7,700 clubs in 80 nations...
. He is buried in Lakeview Cemetery in Cheyenne.