John Gudgel Ross served for the Union in the Civil War. He first enlisted with the 2nd Regiment, Missouri Cavalry (Merrill's Horse), and then he enlisted with his father, Charles R. "Uncle Charley" Ross, on 7 Jan 1862 in the 6th Missouri State Militia Calvary, Company E in Cameron, Clinton, Missouri. He was discharged in 27 May 1863, in California, Moniteau, Missouri, due to a pulmonary contusion. He enlisted with his own horse and horse equipment.

John Gudgel Ross was known to have one of the best Clydesdale horses in Caldwell County, Missouri.
According to Dora Marie Ross Nelson, the great granddaughter of John Gudgel Ross: John Gudgel Ross left Caldwell County, Missouri to homestead in Shields, Lane, Kansas. John Gudgel Ross and family left Shields, Lane, Kansas and moved to Wellington, Sumner, Kansas, for a short time before moving to Turlock, Stanislaus, California. Charles Edwin Ross was the only son to be old enough to homestead when the family moved to Shields, Lane, Kansas. His great granddaughter, Dora Marie Ross Nelson, and her husband, Jimmie Howard "Jim" Nelson, are the third generation of farmers of this land.

John's grandfather Maston Ross served in The War of 1812 during the 1813 Creek Indian War in the Second Regiment, Tennessee Volunteer Militia.

John's great grandfather Charles Ross served in the American Revolutionary War.

John Gudgel Ross married 17 Dec 1863 to Permelia Albina Phares. Their children,

1. Charles Edwin "Ed" Ross, born 10 Aug 1865, Caldwell County Missouri died 10 Sep 1955, Shields Lane Kansas.
2.Joel Grant "Joe" Ross, born 29 Dec 1866, Caldwell County Missouri died 2 Jan 1946, Turlock, Stanislaus, California
3. William Oliver Ross, born 9 Oct 1868, Caldwell County, Missouri died 17 Dec 1942, Los Angeles County, California
4. James Daniel Ross, born 03 Jun 1870, Caldwell County, Missouri died 8 Jul 1908, Wellington, Summer, Kansas
5. Ellen "Ella" May Ross, born 29 May 1873, Caldwell County, Missouri died 8 Jul 1908, Wellington, Summer, Kansas
6. Louisa Jane Ross, born 19 May 1875, Caldwell County, Missouri died 19 Feb 1878, Caldwell County, Missouri
7. Wilbur W. Ross, born 22 Jun 1880, Caldwell County, Missouri died 7 Mar 1882, Caldwell County, Missouri
8. Oscar Gay Ross, born 17 Feb 1882, Caldwell County, Missouri died 27 Nov 1970, Fresno County, California
9. Alta Melissa Ross, born 5 Sep 1887, Kansas died 21 Apr 1913, Wellington, Summer, Kansas.