Marvin Historical Society History

"The Ross Sisters" 

Sallie and Maggie Ross were the daughters of Susan Burleyson Ross, daughter of Jonathan Burleyson, and Nathan Ross, son of Martin Ross. They grew up before the Civil War so poor they had to pull the plow in the field. Jonathan’s will provided for Susan to live on his farm but banned Nathan for his failure to support the family. In 1875, Susan apprenticed a Black child, Bob Ross, and brough her into their home near the present Marvin A.M.E. Zion Church. 

In 1887, Bob and his wife Alice sent their daughter Mittie Bell to live with the white sisters and their brother Dennis. In 1892, the Rosses and Mittie Bell moved to the house built by Dr. J.J. Rone on Newton Road in Marvin. Dennis died in 1896 of injuries received in a cotton gin accident. In 1907, the sisters wrote a will that left their 800-acre Burleyson homeplace to Bob and Mittie Bell. Susan died in 1909. After Maggie died in 1920, more than 100 cousins sued to break the will, claiming the bequest to the Black family proved mental incompetence.

 Two all-white juries in the 1920s upheld the will.