John W. Ross (1848-1914) was the first licensed architect in Grand Forks, North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota

Grand Forks is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Grand Forks County. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 52,838, while that of the city and surrounding metropolitan area was 98,461...

. He designed many buildings in eastern North Dakota, including the 1901 Gothic revival St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Warsaw

Warsaw, North Dakota

Warsaw is an unincorporated community in Walsh County, North Dakota in the United States. It is about 5.5 miles east of Minto and about 15 miles southeast of Grafton, the county seat. Although it is unincorporated, its name has official status...

 and the Larimore City Hall

Larimore City Hall

The Larimore City Hall is a building in Larimore, North Dakota that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. It "may be described as a two-and-a-half story rectangular structure of red-painted buff brick which rises to a hipped roof."...

, which was built in 1890.

He was born in Germany in 1848, "was brought to America by his parents when a lad of but four summers", and grew up in La Crosse, Wisconsin

La Crosse, Wisconsin

La Crosse is a city in and the county seat of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States. The city lies alongside the Mississippi River.The 2011 Census Bureau estimates the city had a population of 52,485...

. He studied architecture under Charles Ross, a leading architects in La Crosse. John W. Ross died in Grand Forks in 1914.

Works

Ross designed numerous buildings that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places

National Register of Historic Places

The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...

 and are preserved. His works include:

• Larimore City Hall
  Larimore City Hall
  The Larimore City Hall is a building in Larimore, North Dakota that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. It "may be described as a two-and-a-half story rectangular structure of red-painted buff brick which rises to a hipped roof."...
  
  , Block 64, bounded by Towner, 3rd, Terry and Main, Larimore, ND (Ross, J.W.)
• Goose River Bank, 45 Main St. E, Mayville, ND (Ross, John W.)
• One or more properties in St. Stanislaus Church Historic District
  St. Stanislaus Church Historic District
  The St. Stanislaus Church Historic District is a historic district in Warsaw, North Dakota that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.The St. Stanislaus Church was designed by John W. Ross and was dedicated in 1901....
  
  , off I-29, Warsaw, ND (Ross, John W.)
• Wells County Courthouse, Railway St. N, Fessenden, ND (Ross, John W.)
• Grand Forks City Hall
  Grand Forks City Hall
  Grand Forks City Hall is a building in Grand Forks, North Dakota that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.It was built in 1911....
  
  , 404 N. 2nd Ave., Grand Forks, ND (Ross, John W.) This building "is pure Beaux Arts. Rather small in scale and only two storys over a raised basement, the City Hall is faced with ashlar and was similar in mass, style, and materials to the recently razed Carnegie Library which was located nearby."
• Grand Forks Woolen Mills
  Grand Forks Woolen Mills
  Grand Forks Woolen Mills is a building located on the corner of Third Avenue North and North Third Street in Grand Forks, North Dakota, designed by architect John W. Ross. A three-story construction approximately by in size, it is recorded as being built in 1895...
  
  , 301 N. 3rd St., Grand Forks, ND (Ross, John W.)
• Amos and Lillie Plummer House, 306 W. Caledonia Ave., Hillsboro, ND (Ross, John W.)
• Rudolf Hotel, Central Ave. and 2nd St., Valley City, ND (Ross, John W.)
• Pisek School, E end of Main St. at Lovick Ave., Pisek, ND (Ross, John)
• Renovation of second floor of Finks and Gokey Block
  Finks and Gokey Block
  Finks and Gokey Block, built in 1881, is "one of the earliest brick commercial buildings" in Grand Forks, North Dakota. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.Its second floor was remodeled by architect John W...
  
  , Grand Forks, ND
• Attributed as probable architect of Grand Forks Mercantile Building
  Grand Forks Mercantile Building 1898
  Grand Forks Mercantile Building is a property in Grand Forks, North Dakota that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004. Built in 1898, the building includes Early Commercial architecture. Though there is no official architect on file, the style of the building and the year...
  
  , Grand Forks, ND, 1898, Early Commercial