Ross, Reuben, d. 1839

Virginia native Reuben Ross participated in the Gutiérrez-Magee Expedition of 1812-1813, which fought in Texas on the side of the Mexican Army during the Mexican War for Independence. Ross served as senior Anglo-American officer and fought at the battle of Rosillo. While attempting to obtain land from the Mexican government several years later, Ross was killed by robbers.

Ross’ nephew Reuben Ross (d. 1839) served as an aide-de-camp for Felix Huston in the Texas Revolution, rising to the rank of captain. In 1837, Ross acted as land agent for Huston, and the next year, he became captain of the Houston Volunteer Guards. In 1839, Ross served as captain of the Gonzales Company of frontier Texas Rangers, then joined the Mexican Federalist movement as colonel under Antonio Canales. Ross returned to Gonzales, where he challenged Ben McCulloch to a duel on behalf of Alonzo B. Sweitzer. When McCulloch refused the duel, Ross the wounded him in the arm. Several months later, Ross was killed in an altercation with Ben’s brother Henry E. McCulloch.

Sources:

Ross, Reuben (?-?). Handbook of Texas Online . Accessed February 22, 2011. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fro83 .

McLendon, James Hays. Ross, Reuben (?-1839). Handbook of Texas Online . Accessed February 22, 2011. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fro84 .

From the guide to the Ross, Reuben, family papers 1942., 1825-1861, 1928, (Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin)