Perpetuates the name of Gen. William S. Ross, who at the time of its formation, 1842, was one of the associated judges of Luzerne county. It was taken from Union and Lehman townships. While mostly upland it has one-fourth that was, many years ago, under cultivation, and to the present farms are slowly being added, some of the hill farms proving moderately productive. It has a superficial area of forty-six square miles, and would be called hilly, with some narrow valleys. As early as 1865 there were five sawmills in it, busy cutting the valuable lumber of its great forests of oak, hemlock and pine. In 1850 its population was 709; in 1870, 990; 1880, 1,053; in 1,890, 1,102. The north part is mountainous and rugged, so much so that when the timber is gone there is but little to tempt men to stay longer. All the additions therefore of recent years have been to the southern portion of the township.
The first settler came in 1795—Abram Kitchen. His farm was eventually that of James Crockett.
Irish Lane postoffice carries in its name an item concerning the settlement. The prominent Irish families, Crockets, Irwins and Holmes came as immigrants to this county and cut their road to come on. This came at once to be widely known as "Broadway." When it became known that they had been given a postoffice and had to select a name the three had such a long contention about the matter that finally the gordian knot was severed by calling it Irish Lane.
Francis Irvin came in 1808. The notable thing about him was that he owned and drove the first team of horses of any of the settlers. That was a distinction then about equal to owning a yacht now. Paul Wolf, who settled in the south end of the township, was here two years before. Irvin came and a reasonable yoke of lean calves was the best he could do in the way of a family tally-ho coach for his family and needs. Timothy Aaron and Jacob Meeker settled near Grassy pond in 1796, and after a stay of four years sold to G. M. Pringle and Hiram Berth.
[p.642] The first settler, so far as now is known, in the township was Daniel Devore, in 1793—celebrated in the history of the county by living to be its oldest man—passing the century and four years in active farm life.
Archibald Berth, a Revolutionary soldier, who escaped from the British service, came in 1800 and lived on his farm till he died in 1820. Another Revolutionary veteran was John Wandell, who came the same year as Berth; he was present at the surrender of Burgoyne. His descendants are many still in the township. Benjamin F. Wesley was a soldier in the War of 1812; taken prisoner at Queenstown. He lived in the township till he died of old age in 1830; leaving descendants. Another soldier of the War of 1812 was Ebenezer Wilkinson.
The following, is the record of the Ross township raen in the late Rebellion:
Col. E. P. Crockett, Capt. James Davenport; George W. Holmes, killed; Wilson Long, Luther Dodson, I. R. Dodson, Abiel Sutliff, Andrew Sutliff, A. W. Sutliff; William Thompson, died in service; A. S. Rood, James Henry, I. M. Culver, I. P. Long, C. Rood, Almon Rood, James Rood, Henry Sutliff. D. W. Seward, J. R. Seward, S. H. Sutliff, J. Blanchard, Elijah Moon, I. B. Stevens, Wilbur Stearns, H. H. Holmes, J. M. Holmes, Isaac Naphus, Sidney Naphus, Thomas Shaw, John Shaw, Cyrus Rummage, Lewis Rummage, Jordan Wolf, Edward Mott, Lafayette Hann, William Edwards, Thomas Long, Nathaniel Wolf; W. F. White, killed; Lorenzo Ruggles, William Nagle, Wesley Hontz, Josiah Hontz; Henry White, died in service; Alonzo F. White, wounded; Aaron Phillips, Richard Morris; Charles Wesley, killed; Weston D. Millard, killed; John Rood, Silas Nevil; James Nevil, lost an arm; Jacob Novil, killed; Webster Long, killed; Samuel P. Wandel, Samuel Montgomery; C. Moore, wounded in eye; Warren Mott, killed; George Moore, killed; Henry Kitchen, P. D. Edwards, Clark Edward, David Ross, Miles Ross, William Lewis, Abram Agnew, J. W. Davenport, William Wesley, Benjamin Wesley, Edward Wilkinson, Joseph Totten, James Congleton, Jonah Post, — Post, — Post, Zephaniah Long; Morris Hatten, wounded; Jerome Hatten; Aaron Freeman, wounded; John Freeman.
Bloomingdale was the place where was the first store, by Alvin Wilkinson in 1835. It now contains a postoffice and store; schoolhouse and church. Once had seventy-five inhabitants, sawmill and, blacksmith shop.
Sweet Valley is the prominent village in the township. Josiah Ruggles was the pioneer merchant and postmaster here. The first schoolhouse was built in 1820, and Joseph Moss and Anna Turner the pioneer teachers.