Cleophas J. Moross was the son of Joseph S. Moross, proprietor of the Ross House in Erie, Michigan. He was in poor health, so after he graduated from Toledo High School in 1906, his parents sent him to the West coast for the health benefits. He traveled throughout the West including Colorado, Washington, Idaho, Oregon, California, Arkansas and Texas. In May 1907 he went to Monterrey, Mexico. A couple weeks later, he drowned; he was 18 (his brother Harry had drowned in Lake Erie a few years before also at the age of 18).
From the description of Letter book of Cleophas J. Moross, 1904-1907. (Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens). WorldCat record id: 733061481