Born in Germany, Ross came to America in 1852 with his parents who settled in Sauk City, Wisconsin.

Later he studied architecture under his brother, Charles Ross, then a noted architect in LaCrosse.

In 1880, John Ross moved to Grand Forks where he opened his architectural office.

Ross also designed schools in Minto, Minot, Williston, Hamilton, and Hallock.

This article about a property in North Dakota on the National Register of Historic Places is a stub.