James A. Ross, a farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Holmes County, Ohio, November 9, 1829, and is a son of Dr. Joseph Rose, whose sketch appears in this work.  Our subject received a common school education, and early adopted the profession of a farmer, which he has followed through life with marked success, now being the owner of seventy-one acres of good land.  His farm is well improved and thoroughly cultivated, and has good piked roads on three sides of it.  He has made his way in the world entirely without aid, having started with nothing but a year old colt.  He is a horse fancier, and he and his brother own one of the best Norman horses in the county.  He was married, October 27, 1852, to Nancy Headley, who was born in Coshocton County January 4, 1833 ; she is a daughter of Isaac and Sarah (Dial) Headley, the former of Pennsylvania and the latter of Virginia.  By this union three children were born Laura E., wife of L. O. Slemmons; Lawrence E., deceased, December 18, 1878, accidently shot while out hunting; and Imogene, now attending school.