SEA MERCHANT
Before 1760 Ross ships were headquartered in Portland, Maine and sailed to many destinations. A sizable trade was established in the Caribbean in the 1800s. Ladings were predominantly rum and sugar.
Nathaniel Ross and John Lynch owned a four story building at 209-213 Commercial from which to sell goods they imported from the West Indies and other sources. This section of the waterfront and its docks vanished overnight in the Great Fire of July 4, 1866 which started in a boathouse on Commercial and spread to a lumberyard. The New York Times of 10 July reported 1,500 buildings destroyed. The loss was calculated to be 10 to 12 million dollars. There were high winds. Cinders fell in Bath, 30 miles away.
Before needed financial assistance could be received from distant cities, Portland itself needed raise an enormous cash sum to prove its intent to quickly rebuild. The Committee of 100 formed in New York City included James Gordon Bennett; Horace Greeley, John Jacob Astor and Nathaniel Ross, a new widower who was the 9th most generous contributor. By this time, Ross was well established in Brooklyn in the Gowanus neighborhood. He lived at 421 Smith Street.
By 1860 Ross ships were based at the foot of the Chicago River with warehouses on land that is now part of the Art Institute. A wholesale grocery business was operated by George Ross at 47 Michigan Avenue. Horses and delivery wagons were based 3 blocks away. Nathaniel owned a large home at 106 Park Avenue (Washington Blvd. & Park) Then came the great Chicago Fire in 1871.
Hoping to strike silver, Nathaniel & Mary Ann moved to Prescott, Arizona before 1879 and invested heavily in the Mona-Savage mine. In 1881 he sank two shafts, 40 & 50' deep. They were never successful with this or any other mine.
Before 1760 Ross ships were headquartered in Portland, Maine and sailed to many destinations. A sizable trade was established in the Caribbean in the 1800s. Ladings were predominantly rum and sugar.
Nathaniel Ross and John Lynch owned a four story building at 209-213 Commercial from which to sell goods they imported from the West Indies and other sources. This section of the waterfront and its docks vanished overnight in the Great Fire of July 4, 1866 which started in a boathouse on Commercial and spread to a lumberyard. The New York Times of 10 July reported 1,500 buildings destroyed. The loss was calculated to be 10 to 12 million dollars. There were high winds. Cinders fell in Bath, 30 miles away.
Before needed financial assistance could be received from distant cities, Portland itself needed raise an enormous cash sum to prove its intent to quickly rebuild. The Committee of 100 formed in New York City included James Gordon Bennett; Horace Greeley, John Jacob Astor and Nathaniel Ross, a new widower who was the 9th most generous contributor. By this time, Ross was well established in Brooklyn in the Gowanus neighborhood. He lived at 421 Smith Street.
By 1860 Ross ships were based at the foot of the Chicago River with warehouses on land that is now part of the Art Institute. A wholesale grocery business was operated by George Ross at 47 Michigan Avenue. Horses and delivery wagons were based 3 blocks away. Nathaniel owned a large home at 106 Park Avenue (Washington Blvd. & Park) Then came the great Chicago Fire in 1871.
Hoping to strike silver, Nathaniel & Mary Ann moved to Prescott, Arizona before 1879 and invested heavily in the Mona-Savage mine. In 1881 he sank two shafts, 40 & 50' deep. They were never successful with this or any other mine.
SEA MERCHANT
Before 1760 Ross ships were headquartered in Portland, Maine and sailed to many destinations. A sizable trade was established in the Caribbean in the 1800s. Ladings were predominantly rum and sugar.
Nathaniel Ross and John Lynch owned a four story building at 209-213 Commercial from which to sell goods they imported from the West Indies and other sources. This section of the waterfront and its docks vanished overnight in the Great Fire of July 4, 1866 which started in a boathouse on Commercial and spread to a lumberyard. The New York Times of 10 July reported 1,500 buildings destroyed. The loss was calculated to be 10 to 12 million dollars. There were high winds. Cinders fell in Bath, 30 miles away.
Before needed financial assistance could be received from distant cities, Portland itself needed raise an enormous cash sum to prove its intent to quickly rebuild. The Committee of 100 formed in New York City included James Gordon Bennett; Horace Greeley, John Jacob Astor and Nathaniel Ross, a new widower who was the 9th most generous contributor. By this time, Ross was well established in Brooklyn in the Gowanus neighborhood. He lived at 421 Smith Street.
By 1860 Ross ships were based at the foot of the Chicago River with warehouses on land that is now part of the Art Institute. A wholesale grocery business was operated by George Ross at 47 Michigan Avenue. Horses and delivery wagons were based 3 blocks away. Nathaniel owned a large home at 106 Park Avenue (Washington Blvd. & Park) Then came the great Chicago Fire in 1871.
Hoping to strike silver, Nathaniel & Mary Ann moved to Prescott, Arizona before 1879 and invested heavily in the Mona-Savage mine. In 1881 he sank two shafts, 40 & 50' deep. They were never successful with this or any other mine.
Before 1760 Ross ships were headquartered in Portland, Maine and sailed to many destinations. A sizable trade was established in the Caribbean in the 1800s. Ladings were predominantly rum and sugar.
Nathaniel Ross and John Lynch owned a four story building at 209-213 Commercial from which to sell goods they imported from the West Indies and other sources. This section of the waterfront and its docks vanished overnight in the Great Fire of July 4, 1866 which started in a boathouse on Commercial and spread to a lumberyard. The New York Times of 10 July reported 1,500 buildings destroyed. The loss was calculated to be 10 to 12 million dollars. There were high winds. Cinders fell in Bath, 30 miles away.
Before needed financial assistance could be received from distant cities, Portland itself needed raise an enormous cash sum to prove its intent to quickly rebuild. The Committee of 100 formed in New York City included James Gordon Bennett; Horace Greeley, John Jacob Astor and Nathaniel Ross, a new widower who was the 9th most generous contributor. By this time, Ross was well established in Brooklyn in the Gowanus neighborhood. He lived at 421 Smith Street.
By 1860 Ross ships were based at the foot of the Chicago River with warehouses on land that is now part of the Art Institute. A wholesale grocery business was operated by George Ross at 47 Michigan Avenue. Horses and delivery wagons were based 3 blocks away. Nathaniel owned a large home at 106 Park Avenue (Washington Blvd. & Park) Then came the great Chicago Fire in 1871.
Hoping to strike silver, Nathaniel & Mary Ann moved to Prescott, Arizona before 1879 and invested heavily in the Mona-Savage mine. In 1881 he sank two shafts, 40 & 50' deep. They were never successful with this or any other mine.
