Ann Elizabeth Ross Kittering ( 1872-1951) - MISFORTUNE

Ann Elizabeth Ross was born 27 Oct 1872 in Newport, Kentucky to John Ross and Ann Elizabeth Spiece, named after her mother. She was the 6th child in the family. And sadly, her mother passed away just 6 days later.

Ann Elizabeth Ross was born on the 27th of October 1872

Ann Elizabeth Ross Sr. died on the 2nd of November 1872. Aged 35 yrs, one month 21 days. 

 

John Ross & Laura Lawrence were married 15 Oct 1873 

John Ross married Laura Morgan Lawrence the next year, so Laura was the only mother Ann Elizabeth ever knew. Sadly, we know nothing about their relationship.




As a child she was known as “Lizzie.” As an adult she was known as Elizabeth, but when she married Jesse W. Kittering of Cincinnati, Ohio in 1901, she was listed as “Anna E. Ross.”

On the back of the photo shown at the left is written, presumably by her niece Annie Elizabeth Baragwanath Forman (also named after Ann Elizabeth Spiece Ross): “Aunt Elizabeth who married Uncle Jesse Kittering, had 2 children, a boy and a girl but their necks were broken at birth.” How horrible that the death of your children is the single thing you’re remembered for! 

 I took this information as truth until I found some burial records. Virginia E. (the "E" could be Elizabeth?) Kittering was born 9 Dec 1905 but didn’t die until the 27th of December. The burial information from Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati, Ohio, indicates the baby dies as the result of a birth injury. As a mother, to me this is almost worse than losing the baby at birth. For nearly 3 weeks, Elizabeth got to love her baby, only to lose her just after Christmas. 

In 1908 another baby was born. According to the information on the back of the picture, this was a boy, but he wasn’t named and was buried the day he was born. The burial card indicated he was stillborn. There were no more babies.

Elizabeth outlived her husband by 10 years. He was an attorney so she was left in a comfortable situation. In her will she left cash settlements to her living sister, Edna Ross Bodley, and brother, B. Frank Ross. She also left her home, clothes, furniture, household goods, linens, jewelry, and other personal belongings to Edna. Her nieces Ann B. Forman and Florence Baragwanath were to receive anything Edna didn’t need or want, as well as a percentage of net income. So she was very generous to her extended family since she had no children to pass things on to.

And once again, a female ancestress’ entire life is summed up in a few paragraphs. I like to believe that the misfortunes she faced in life taught her important lessons that benefited her and those among whom she lived during her life. She died 28 April 1951 in Cincinnati, Ohio.