A party of emigrants for Kansas from Milwaukee, Wisconsin came in May 1857, to Topeka, under the leadership of Mr. Edmund G. Ross. In 1859, he was a member of the Wyandotte Convention. This convention was the one which formulated the constitution under which Kansas was finally admitted to statehood. Gov. S. J. Crawford, to fill the vacancy caused by death of General James H. Lane appointed Ross United States Senator, July 25, 1866. While Senator he cast the deciding vote against the impeachment of Andrew Johnson. President Cleveland appointed him Governor of New Mexico in 1885.

His daughter Mrs. George Leis (Lillian Ross Leis) of Lawrence gave this picture to Spencer Library in November 1929.