"James Whitcomb Ross, second son
of Abner L., Sr., was born in Lebanon, in 1838; he was
one of the first scholars of Holbrook's Normal
School. At the first call for volunteers to suppress the Rebellion,
James was one of the very first to follow the drum and fife to Washington
Hall, and put his name on the list; he was chosen for a second lieutenant
in Company F, Twelfth Ohio Regiment;
after one of the first battles in Virginia, he was elected first lieutenant;
and at the battle of South Mountain he was promoted to Captain of Company
H, of the same regiment. He served with honor and distinction until the
very close of the war. In October, 1865, he married Miss Melsena, the
eldest daughter of Peter Wikoff,
of Mason, Ohio; to them was born one son, Pete Wikoff Ross. James was
soon elected Auditor of Warren County, in which office he served two years,
and retired on account of failing health from confinement to indoor work.
He then joined Polk Wikoff in conducting one of the largest stores ever
in Mason. He died in 1869, and was buried in the Mason Cemetery with military
honors."