Looking for Marriage Records for Thomas and Mazouri Ross, both African-Americans living in Junction City, Louisiana. They were married around 1892-3, according to their appearance in the 1900 Census (Junction City, Union Parish, Louisiana). They are my great-great-grandparents, and any insight into their early lives would be greatly appreciated!

Hi,

Thomas Ross and Missouri Bell were married on 2/13/1892 in Union Parish. I found this info on Ancestry.com - Louisiana Marriages 1718-1925. I would think that you can obtain a copy from the Union Parish Courthouse. Do you know the names of their parents? If not, this document may have their names. Do you know if Thomas' middle name was James?

Cheryl

I don't know his middle name, but I do know his parents were Phillip and Jane Ross. Phillip was born in Kentucky in 1846 and Jane in South Carolina in 1847 (maiden name unknown), but they lived in Union Parish, LA and were there in the 1870 Census. Would you be able to track their marriage date as well?

Hi,

I was unable to find a marriage record for Phillip and Jane Ross. Are you positive that they were Thomas' parents? I found this family in 1870 and 1880. In 1870 and 1880, Phillip is shown as being born in Kentucky. In 1870, Jane is shown as being born in LA while in 1880, she is shown as being born in South Carolina. But, in 1900 Thomas gave their place of birth as Alabama. In 1880, I found a Thomas Ross, 45, who was born in Alabama and his wife, Cindy, age 39, was born in Alabama. They had a 6-year old son, James, who was born in LA ca 1874. That is why I asked if Thomas' middle name might be James. This family was also in Union Parish.

Cheryl

Thank you so much for your response!

I am positive that Thomas' parents were Phillip and Jane Ross. Thomas was born and raised in Union Parish, LA. He stayed in the Union Parish, LA / Union County, AR area until he eventually moved to Chicago with his son Levi Ross (born after 1900) and daughters Betty Ross (Langford) and Minerva Ross. From what I have been told from surviving relatives, Thomas' wife Mazouri (Missouri Bell) passed away relatively young - between 1900 and 1920, and Thomas moved to Chicago as an older man to live with family - he passed away in Chicago in the 1940s. I am unsure exactly when Mazouri passed away, nor do I know if she passed away in Union Parish, LA or Union County, AR. The only child of Thomas and Mazouri to stay in the area was the oldest son Phillip Ross (1892 - 1983), he lived in El Dorado, AR until he died. The rest of the Ross children moved to Chicago, with the exception of my great grandmother Caroline Ross (married John McCoy in 1915 in Jefferson County, AR) - who also passed away at a relatively young age of 43 (1937).

There is no one named James in the Ross family line. Something else interesting that I noticed - Henry Ross is listed as Phillip Ross' stepson in the 1880 Census, but he is the same age as Phillip's oldest son Robert. Surviving relatives don't know anything about Henry or Robert, but I am wondering if Henry was Phillips nephew that he took in, otherwise how could Jane have had 2 sons the same age - one Phillips, and one not his?

Hi,

Concerning Henry and Robert, if you look at the 1870 census under Hiess Ross, you'll see that Henry is shown as 6, bn LA and Robert is shown as 7, bn Arkansas. Since Robert is older, he may have been Jane's son before her marriage to Phillip. However, on the 1880 census, it is Henry who is listed as a stepson. It is also possible that Phillip was married before he married Jane. They may both have had a son and then married. Note on the 1870 census that Easter/Ester is three years old while the boys are 6 and 7. She may have been their first child together. Jane may not have been the mother of Robert even though Ancestry.com indicates that she was.

I didn't find anything on Missouri Bell. It may be that she was married before marrying Thomas and that Bell was not her maiden name. I'll see if I can find a male Bell married to someone named Missouri.

Cheryl