 Ross was educated at Dickinson College located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, with the class of 1815, although he did not graduate with his class.During 1818, Ross entered into the Presbyterian ministry, emancipated his slaves, and then he moved to Kingsport, Tennessee, where he had his massive Rotherwood mansion, constructed on the Netherland Inn Road.Ross had his daughter, Rowena, educated at boarding schools located within the northern United States.