Ross was born in Tennessee about 1815, the son of one Hugh Ross, later to be an early settler in Jacks Creek; his exact date and place of birth, and the nature and extent of his education are not known.
Ross served as a Democratic member of the Senate during the 1857-58 session for the district including Henderson, Benton, Decatur, Humphreys, and Perry counties.
He was elected to the House for the 41st General Assembly in 1878 to represent Henderson County; while he took his place at January 1, 1879 opening of the session, he was granted an indefinite leave of absence because of illness on January 9.
He resigned, and his successor Lafayette McHaney was elected and installed in office by March 6, 1879.
Their oldest child, a daughter named Neden, was born around 1846; they would have four more children: John, Margaret, Hugh, and Alice.